Public+services+-+health+services+-+Local+campaigns+-+protest+21.5.08

Statement 22.5.08.
 * Stop Haringey Health Cuts Coalition **


 * ANGRY RESIDENTS PROTEST AGAINST HEALTH BOSSES PLANS TO CLOSE 45 OF HARINGEY'S 60 GP SURGERIES **
 * - Haringey Primary Care Trust Board defy public opinion and vote through a 10yr strategy involving the highly controversial creation of 5 polyclinics in place of neighbourhood-based services (especially local GP practices).**

On Wed 21st May at 3pm about 50 people took part in a protest lobby and deputation to the Haringey Primary Trust Board meeting in St Ann's Hospital. The 'Save Our Surgeries' protest was called by the Stop Haringey Health Cuts Coalition at 3 days notice as the PCT had only released the details of their 'polyclinics' plans on Friday evening, 16th May. The PCT's new proposals were for 5 polyclinics 'hubs' with 15 GP practices 'spokes' (45 local practices being closed down).The PCT had not publicised their plans - which they know are unpopular and highly controversial - in any way and it had been left up to the Coalition to alert their members as best they could.

Before the meeting started many of the campaigners protested outside, some holding their organisation's banners - including the Stop Haringey Health Cuts Coalition, Better Local Healthcare Campaign, Haringey Federation of Residents Associations and the Haringey Trades Union Council. [photo available on request]. There were also reps from other groups including the Haringey Forum for Older People, Young At Heart, and the Mobility Forum.


 * //South Tottenham resident Mario Petrou//** criticised the Board for misleading the public and the Council's Scrutiny Committee (which has a duty to monitor and protect Haringey's health services) about the public consultation, or lack of it. **//Dave Morris, Secretary of the Stop Haringey Health Cuts Coalition,//** made a presentation to the Board calling for the strategy to be rejected as 'irresponsible', 'unpopular' and 'unacceptable' [see full presentation, below]. Alternatively he proposed the decision be postponed to allow for public consultation, the general public being entirely unaware of the details of the proposals. During the meeting members of the public present tried to address the Board with their concerns, many shouting out: 'let the public decide!'

Unfortunately, the Board agreed to adopt the strategy and said they would develop and refine it over the coming year, with its implementation starting in 2009. Residents stormed out of the meeting and vowed to continue to campaign to save Haringey's neighbourhood-based health services, especially local GP surgeries.




 * This was the presentation to the Board made by Dave Morris, Secretary of the Stop Haringey Health Cuts Coalition:**


 * 10 REASONS WHY THE PROPOSED ‘10 YEAR STRATEGY’ FOR OUR PRIMARY CARE SERVICES SHOULD BE REJECTED **


 * 1. It is irresponsible and unacceptable to propose __closure of 45 out of Haringey’s 60 local GP surgeries__.** They are the cornerstone of, and gateway into, our health services. This may be the biggest, most radical, controversial and risky proposal ever suggested for our health services since the formation of the NHS 60 years ago.


 * 2. It is irresponsible and unacceptable to threaten __closure of many neighbourhood-based local chemists__.**


 * 3. It is irresponsible and unacceptable that the details of such an important, radical and controversial strategy were __only released over the weekend__, with no public announcement let alone any consultation. The information was even concealed from 2 major PCT public events last Wednesday.** If the Strategy is not rejected outright today then the decision must clearly be postponed for three months for effective consultation and empowerment of local health care users.


 * 4. It is irresponsible and unacceptable that there has been __no adequate public consultation__ at all on the key, highly-controversial proposal the abolition of almost all Haringey’s local GP surgeries.** The Council’s Scrutiny Cttee told the PCT that // ‘the consultation [last year] did not provide sufficient detail to allow the public… to fully appraise the proposals or assess the likely impact of the planned changes..’ //
 * 5. It is irresponsible and unacceptable that Haringey PCT have __ignored the overwhelming public support for local GP surgeries.__** A recent poll on this issue found that 95% of patients wanted to keep their local surgeries. Even last year’s flawed local ‘consultation’ saw a huge majority of responders speak up for their local surgeries.


 * 6. It is irresponsible and unacceptable that the PCT is __riding roughshod over the views of local GPs__.** Last weekend the BMA, the doctors’ own national organisation, launched a national petition to defend local practices.


 * 7. It is irresponsible and unacceptable that the PCT proposes to __increase the privatisation of our health services__:** As they propose: // 'The TPCT believes that 'contestability’ (ie. competitive tendering of services against an agreed specification) is an important vehicle for securing best value and expect it to play an increasing part in how we seek to maximise health benefits from our commissioning spending future.' // An example is the current threat of privatisation of CAMIDOC, the 'after hours' service run by GPs in 4 London boroughs (including Haringey), which has recently been 'put out to tender' against the wishes of our doctors. Also there is now a threat to the management of the GP PMS practice in The Laurels Health Centre (earmarked to be a ‘polyclinic’) being threatened with privatisation.


 * 8. __St Ann’s Hospital__ is under threat as no primary care services are proposed on the site and the PCT may relocate their administration.** It is unclear what will happen to the North Mid and the Whittington hospitals if some of their services are relocated.


 * 9. __Polyclinics will NOT provide many additional services__ 4 of the 5 proposed polyclinics already exist, and the fifth (Wood Green) has no site identified yet. Instead they will swallow up local neighbourhood-based services.** Polyclinics would be useful if __additional__ to existing services rather than a threat. In any case most are small in size, with little room for expansion.


 * 10. It is irresponsible and unacceptable to force through these proposals in the __context of continuous cuts, moves towards privatisation and pressure on existing staffing and GPs__.** Over the last 2 years in Haringey there has been public anger in response to the £15-20m cuts affecting our hospitals, clinics and surgeries, and services for family planning, mental health, and the elderly. Staff face cuts in jobs, de-skilling, and increased workloads. It is clear that the Government and predatory multinational corporations will take full advantage of any major re-organisation of services to pursue their own agendas.

In conclusion we insist that the PCT join with residents, healthworkers and GPs to call for adequate funding for our health services. This can be achieved if we all work together, linking up across the UK, to put pressure on the government to implement the necessary policies and provide the resources needed.


 * __Background info:__**


 * The official proposals (released only late on Friday) for our GP practices:**


 * North Tottenham** __Currently__ 16 local surgeries and Lordship Lane clinic. __Proposed__ to be cut to 3 local surgeries (Northumberland Park, White Hart Lane and Broadwater Farm) and a Lordship Lane 'polyclinic'.


 * South Tottenham** __Currently__ 15 local surgeries and The Laurels and Tynemouth Rd clinics. __Proposed__ to be cut to 4 local surgeries (High Rd near Hackney, West Green, Noel Park South East and Harringay Green Lanes station) and the Laurels and Tynemouth Rd 'polyclinics'.


 * Central Haringey** __Currently__ 14 local surgeries. __Proposed__ to be cut to 2 local surgeries (Bounds Green and Wood Green) and a 'polyclinic' (no site identified yet).


 * West Haringey** __Currently__ 15 local surgeries and Hornsey Central Hospital site. __Proposed__ to be cut to 3 local surgeries (Muswell Hill, Highgate and Stroud Green) and a Hornsey Central 'polyclinic'.



//SHHCC: Union Office, St Ann’s Hospital, N15// //* SHHCC secretary: Dave Morris  tel 8211 0916// // * SHHCC chair: Keith Flett  tel 07803 167266 //