‘For+as+long+as+it+takes’+-+Haringey+Adsvertiser+-+Friday,+18+December+2009

By Lucy Purdy

THE battle lines have been drawn by determined campaigners who have vowed to unite to fight sweeping cuts to health services in Haringey.

Concerned residents, patients’ groups, trade union representatives, cross-party politicians and even hospital staff crammed into a small room of the Whittington Community Centre in Archway on Monday and thrashed out details of their plan of attack against proposals to scrap the Whittington Hospital’s A&E department.

After two hours of passionate discussion, the Defend The Whittington Coalition was formed and a mass demonstration planned for February 27 to show health chiefs in charge of shaking up north London’s health services just how fiercely people feel about protecting the Highgate Hill hospital.

Representatives from all five boroughs covered by the North Central London division of the NHS have pledged to fight proposals, penned by chief executive Rachel Tyndall and leaked to the media, setting out four options for a cost-cutting reshuffle of hospitals and services. The Whittington was downgraded to a “local hospital” in each, meaning it would have no emergency department or specialist services – a particularly alarming prospect for people in Haringey which already has no major hospitals within its borders. Under one of the proposals, North Middlesex University Hospital in Edmonton – the next nearest A&E for many – could also be downgraded to a local hospital without a 24-hour A&E.

A rallying cry was issued at the meeting by Keith Flett, chairman of Haringey Trade Unions Council, who warned the battle would be protracted and exhausting – yet vital.

“We need to keep going for as long as it possibly takes,” he said. “Unless we stand up now, they’ll run consultations and exercises and pay no attention whatsoever to anything we say.

“Trusts have a way of operating that is best summed up as relentless – their aim is to wear us down. But we must keep that A&E open no matter what we do. We have certainly got to be here in six months and we have got to be here in a year. We mustn’t give up.”

Candy Udwin, chairwoman of Camden Keep Our NHS Local campaign group, also urged all residents in Haringey, Barnet, Enfield, Islington and Camden to get involved, warning the removal of a hospital’s A&E department often sounds a “death knell” for other services. She said: “This is happening across London and there are billions in cuts on the horizon. Not only do they want to save money, they plan to split our NHS into bite-sized chunks for privatisation. This is the tip of the iceberg. We need a demo to say we’re not going to let them shut this department and run this hospital down.”

Though health chiefs have pledged not to make changes without consultation, this has not dampened fears patients’ lives may be at risk. Since details of the covert proposals emerged four weeks ago, signatures have poured in to online petitions and it is hoped efforts to save Whittington ’s A&E will be consolidated into one unified campaign.

Pete McAskie, Parliamentary Candidate for Hornsey and Wood Green, said: “We’ve been affected by the cutting back of services at Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield, putting extra pressure on Barnet General and North Mid. This is very much a regional issue. The A&Es are groaning at the seams.”

Mick Gilgunn, Islington Trades Union Council, added: “Is this about prime real estate in Highgate? Hopefully this is only a scenario I’m dreaming up but it’s one we know too well.”

Health boss Ms Tyndall faced the public and MPs at another meeting last week, trying to reassure them that no changes will be made unless hospital and ambulance services can accommodate the plans. She told those present: “Our main focus is on improving services across this area, not closing hospitals or services – it is about enabling them to better focus on the things they do best.”

The next meeting of the next DTWC will take place at 7pm on Thursday January 7 at the Whittington Community Centre in Yerbury Road and is open to all.