Public+services+-+health+services+-+Whittington+Protest+&+Update+(20.1.10)

[|www.haringeyresidents.org]
 * Haringey Federation of Residents’ Associations**

On 20th January, the Defend Haringey's Health Services coalition organised an excellent lobby (15 people) of the Overview & Scrutiny Cttee at the Civic Centre. This was in response to the appearance there of the Chief Executive of the Whittington Hospital, following shocking proposals to close the A&E department there. The proposals had been secretly developed by health bosses, but had been 'leaked'. They are part of a package of threatened cuts to hospital services across North London which have outraged and united people in all the affected boroughs.
 * Save The Whittington Hospital A&E - and defend services at all North London's hospitals! **
 * Report of protest and presentation to Haringey Council's Scrutiny Cttee **

There were protest banners outside the Civic Centre (including one from the Haringey Defend Council Housing Campaign who were attending in solidarity with health campaigners), highly detailed background documents produced for the Cttee, and a heartfelt and persuasive presentation by the Defend Haringey's Health Services coalition's Co-Secretary Janet Shapiro backed by Kieron McGregor from the Save Chase Farm (Enfield) campaign. Campaigners insisted the Committee should exercise its statutory powers to suspend the controversial and unsupported proposals for cuts, and pressurise the NHS to withdraw and abandon them.

The Chief Executive of the Whittington Hospital, as expected, claimed that the internal proposals to cut A&E services shouldn't have been leaked, that formal 'options' are now being developed which he conceded would now include one 'to retain the full Emergency Department'. Under pressure to admit that the proposed changes were to save money not improve services he admitted that 'money is an important driver'. He also admitted that they were looking into setting up an Urgent Care Centre at the Hospital, but incredulously claimed that this would not be to replace the A&E department (as had been originally floated) but as an addition, 'in parallel'. He also admitted that the Hospital was using the highly controversial and secret 'McKinsey Consultants Report' for its 'modelling' of future services.

Councillors on the Cttee expressed support for many of the DHHS campaigners' points, including the concern that these are clearly cuts in services that are not 'clinically-driven'. The Cttee has so far not committed to any effective response except to call for 'transparency' from the Hospital and NHS, that all the relevant documentation be made public, and to say that they will be monitoring the situation closely.

It looks like it will be well covered in the local press. Also people present took away hundreds of leaflets to publicise the Feb 27th 'Save The Whittington' demo.


 * How everyone can get involved in the Whittington campaign **
 * [|www.dwhc.org.uk]**


 * Saturday 23rd January**, 12.00 outside Selbys/Morrisons in Holloway Road - **petitioning and leafleting**


 * //In Haringey://** Crouch End Broadway - 11.30am ** Wood Green (in front of Library) - 2pm ** Stourd Green (Tescos) - 11.30am


 * Monday 25th January**. 7.00 **Save The Whittington** - **Public Meeting** in Archway Methodist Church Hall, on Archway Roundabout. Rachel Tyndall, Chief Exec of the NHS Islington will attend to answer the public's questions.


 * Thursday 28th January** 9.00 **Lobby of Islington Area Health Board Meeting.** 3rd floor Conference Room, 338-346 Goswell Road, London EC1V 7LQ.


 * Monday 1st February** 7.00 **Lobby of Islington Council Scrutiny Committee,** members of which will be answering questions of the NHS managers, and eventually agreeing or not to the proposals. (If they disagree the decision goes to the Minister of Health)


 * Monday 1st February** 7.30 **Defend Haringey's Health Services coalition.** Open campaign meeting for all Haringey residents and workers. Hornsey Health Centre, Park Rd, N8 (opp. Barrington Rd).


 * Monday 8th February** 7.00 The next **Whittington Coalition public planning meeting** at Whittington Community Centre, Yerbury Road, N19. Everyone welcome


 * Monday 22nd February** 7.00 **Whittington Coalition Planning Meeting** at Whittington Community Centre, Yerbury Road, N19.

We need this to be as huge as possible to get a very strong message across. We will also be needing helpers on the day. Please let us know if you can help us to steward it. we will be sending out and printing off an updated leaflet after Monday's demo. You will be able to collect leaflets and petitions from the Whittington Community Centre.
 * Saturday 27th February** 12.00 **Save The Whittington DEMO!!!** Assemble Highbury Fields, N5 (near Highbury & Islington tube).

The Whittington Coalition have a new website, from which you can get loads of updated info and documentation and get to the **on-line petition**
 * WEBSITE [|www.dwhc.org.uk]**

This is the key tool (in addition to the demonstration). Please download petitions from the website, and return to the address at the bottom.
 * Petitioning**

You can do this on **stalls** with your mates, and at **tube stations** as people are coming home from work. Also local **GP surgeries**. Other people have got masses of signatures at shops and pubs. You can also try your public libraries, and anywhere else you can think of.

Please return completed petitions to the Whittington Community Centre, Yerbury Rd, N19 - addressed to the Defend the Whittington Hospital Coalition.

//Note: The Defend Whittington Hospital Coalition is committed to defending all services at North London hospitals including at the North Middx. The campaign is backed by the Defend Haringey's Health Services coalition (which in turn is supported by the Haringey Federation of Residents Associations).//