Memorial Trust supports call to save Northwood Hills hospital

The building, which was set up by residents in the 1920s, also acts as a war memorial and includes a commerative beam and inscription which mark out its special function.

Andrew Riley, from Northwood Hills residents association, said the building is now in such a state that residents fear it may fall down altogether.

He turned to the War Memorial Trust, which offers advice and support to help preserve war memorials, for help saving the dilapidated building.

He said: "The hospital is an important part of our heritage and must not be lost.

"A number of people gave up their lives during the first World War and we cannot simply forget this building, paid for by the public, was built as a war memorial in their honour.

"It is time for everyone to once again join together to bring this building back to life."

War Memorials Trust conservation officer Emma Nelson said: "The closure and redevelopment of memorial hospitals is, unfortunately, not an uncommon occurrence as medical needs and practices continue to develop. The trust has been involved in a number of other examples of this in the past."

She said there were now two options for the building that could be explored, which were restoring it to a useable state or demolishing and rebuilding it as something else.

This would involve removing any commemorative plaques for safekeeping while work is under way and ensuring that the name of the memorial is kept the same.

She added: "It is also important that the condition and security of the building is maintained to ensure that the significance is not diminished and the risk of damage and loss is minimised."

A spokesman for NHS Hillingdon said: "We are currently in discussion with NHS London over the future of the site. We are aware of some concerns over the war memorial, and any future proposals would involve consultation with local residents."

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