Having heard Cllr Fairley-Churchill tell the last council meeting that King George and Queen’s are the worst and second worst hospitals, in the country I would like to set the record straight.

Before the plans to close maternity and A&E at King George were agreed in 2010/11, both hospitals actually performed quite well on A&E, not necessarily the best but certainly not the worst. Maternity at King George also had a good reputation.

The policy to push up the numbers of births at Queen’s started the decline in standards, made worse by the decision to close the labour ward at King George in 2010/11. Ditto the impact of the hundred or so beds closed across the Trust which has undermined the performance of A&E.

As the cabinet member for health, Cllr Fairley-Churchill should recognise that our local hospitals need saving and support, not judge them on his personal experience.

 Neil Zammett, Gloucester Road, Wanstead