Disbelief, heckling and anger at 350-strong Hornsey 'Save The Whittington' Public Meeting organised by Lynne Featherstone (MP for Hornsey and Wood Green) at the Greig School Academy on March 4th

Haringey public pass their verdict on NHS proposals: Total opposition

350 people attended a very lively and angry public meeting. Everyone was asked to sign the 'Save The Whittington A&E' petition, given Defend Whittington Hospital Coalition (DWHC) March 22nd campaign meeting leaflets, and also Defend Haringey's Health Services coalition ones...

Lynne Featherstone MP explained that she had called the meeting. In her intro she praised last Saturday's magnificent Whittington demonstration and commended the DWHC as the organisers of it. She expressed scepticism about the NHS executives' claims regarding the proposed cuts to the Whittington and other North London hospitals, and whether any consultation would be genuine.

NHS/PCT executives Rachel Tyndall and Richard Sumray spoke next and tried to justify the threats of cuts by pretending they were clinically led (a line which collapsed as the meeting went on), but claiming that large financial savings (ie cuts) needed to be made. They threw in a lot of waffle about the need for 'world class' services, and that they would take notice of people's views..

Dave Morris, as a rep from the DWHC, was asked to respond first - he thanked all those who'd attended the historic mass demonstration. He outlined the basic views of the Coalition that everyone should work together to demand no cuts or privatisation of any North London hospital services (including A&Es, maternity units etc), and that adequate public resources must be released to ensure this. He also explained that in Haringey there was an active local coalition which had been fighting cuts, closures and threats of privatisation to a range of local health services for the last 4 years, and urged those present not to be taken in by the 'typical' spin being put on these latest threats.

There then followed a 'Q&A' session with 20-25 people present asking searching questions, speaking about their experiences, or making other telling contributions. Most of the points received enthusiastic applause or shouts of 'hear hear!'  There were Whittington medical consultants and other NHS staff present who spoke out challenging many of the bureaucrats' views as not clinically-led and not backed by evidence. Most speakers focused on how essential a local A&E and a local hospital is, and others on the need for local maternity units and stroke services. There was a great deal of articulate objections, of awareness of the realities, and of general anger and refusal to be cowed.

The NHS/PCT executives responded to many of the points. They tended to repeat at length their well-rehearsed and vacuous reassurances, to try to bamboozle people with irrelevant clinical-sounding side-issues, and to avoid answering certain key questions (like 'What will you do if as a result of your official consultation you find that the public are overwhelmingly against the A&E closures?'). Their responses often provoked heckling, groans of impatience, and looks of disbelief.

Final result: 0 for closure - 350 against.

Report by Dave Morris
- Defend Whittington Hospital Coalition
- Defend Haringey's Health Services coalition

5,000 demonstrate to defend local hospital services - now the campaign continues

The demonstration on February 27th was a magnificent show of public support for retaining our local hospital services under threat, and of public support for the NHS. It turned out to be one of the largest protests ever held over a local issue in this area! There is a detailed report, below.

We in the Defend Haringey's Health Services coalition were very proud to have helped to organise the event, having been instrumental in launching the recently-established Defend Whittington Hospital Coalition. The DWHC was launched in December to ensure that there would be a strong grass roots campaign which united all concerned people in all the affected boroughs. It has been a huge success! For info, signing up to the on-line petition, and to subscribe to regular updates, please check out: www.dwhc.org.uk  The Whittington Coalition will be holding a special 'Where Next?' campaigning meeting on Monday 22nd March, 7pm at the Whittington Community Centre, Yerbury Rd, N19.

A big thanks to everyone in Haringey who helped publicise the march, including passing on the emails calling for people to attend, and helping distribute 15,000 of our own special Haringey leaflets door to door and outside tube stations.

The next meeting of the local Defend Haringey's Health Services coalition will be on Monday 15th March, 7.30pm at the Hornsey Health Centre, Park Road, N8 (opposite Barrington Road).

At that meeting we will be discussing what to do to continue to defend all our local hospital services (A&E, maternity etc), including at the North Middx Hospital - as well as defending Haringey's neighbourhood-based facilities (GP surgeries, clinics, chemists etc), many of which the local NHS bosses want to force to relocate into just 4 or 5 polyclinics. There is also the constant background threat of privatisation of some facilities and services, and government failure to commit adequate long-term resources for all the front line services we depend on.

However, it seems that the growing volume of objections, publicity and protests, not just in Haringey but across London and the UK, are having considerable success, despite the constant secrecy and propaganda from NHS executives. We need to keep up the pressure.

All residents are welcome to attend, especially reps of concerned local organisations. Please come along and help make a real difference, together!

Cost-cutting health plans author faces torrent of abuse

Haringey Advertiser - Wednesday, 27 January 2010

OUTRAGED residents bombarded health chiefs with questions during a packed-out meeting to discuss “disgusting” proposals to scrap accident and emergency department at The Whittington Hospital.

Bosses behind a leaked letter which set out proposals to remove a 24-hour A&E at the hospital in Highgate Hill faced a two-hour interrogation from more than 300 concerned residents, hospital workers, campaigners and politicians who flocked to Archway Methodist Church Hall on Monday evening.

Former health secretary Frank Dobson was among those pledging unwavering support to the campaign which has snowballed since the proposals were leaked in November.

Richard Greening, of Islington Labour group, directly challenged the panel of health bosses which included the author of the leaked letter – Rachel Tyndall, chief executive of the North Central London NHS division.

He told her: “We will use every single part of the powers invested in us to stop you closing that A&E. That money is ours – not yours. We only know about these plans because they were leaked by a member of The Whittington staff who was deeply concerned about what they knew was an evolving plan by NHS bureaucrats. They felt you were leading us down this road to an A&E department which should be free at the point of access – but the problem is you may die on the way to accessing it.”

Fears have been raised that A&E departments at neighbouring hospitals will be swamped and lives endangered, particularly those of elderly and vulnerable people living in Haringey which has no major hospital within its borders.

Speakers also expressed anger that polyclinics designed to treat people “locally and cheaply” are merely a sweetener in plans for the mass closure of general hospitals across north London.

There was also concern about NHS services being farmed out to profit-hungry private companies. And many believe the closure of the Whittington’s A&E would sound the death knell for other services at the hospital.

Sean Vernell, TUC representative based at Islington College, said: “Efficiency, savings – every word is being used except cuts. There is a real smell of dishonesty about this. We are not stupid, we’ve been around the block. These polyclinics are untried and untested so why haven’t we put the money spent on these into the A&E?”

Paul Brandon, a TUC representative from Holloway bus garage, said: “I could spend an hour telling you about times my colleagues and passengers too have needed The Whittington after being injured. This isn’t about value for money – we all know this is about cuts.”

Members of the Defend The Whittington Coalition urged people to get involved in the campaign and take part in a mass demonstration past the hospital on February 27.

Gesturing to the panel of health chiefs, joint chairwoman Shirley Franklin said: “It seems only four people in this room actually support this. We need to get the message out to people in all the affected boroughs just what these disgusting proposals are about.

"Don’t just bring yourself, bring your entire street, your family all your workmates. These are terrible, terrible proposals. People are horrified and terrified.”

But Ms Tyndall repeatedly insisted no decisions have yet been made over the hospital’s future and that a full consultation process would take place once options had been decided.

When questioned on the wisdom of drafting proposals before the general and local elections, she said: “We are mindful that whatever government there is, the money that is going to be available to the NHS is going to be less in the future than we have been used to.

"Whatever the colour of that government we can anticipate that all public services will go through a time of constrained money. While we have no control over that, what we do have is a responsibility to use this money, taxpayers’ money, to the best possible effect. We are going to have to make difficult decisions.”

She added there was “still some way” to go until a formal three-month public consultation period but insisted everyone would get their say.

Frank Dobson MP, who has campaigned to retain services at The Whittington in the past, told the packed-out hall: “I take the idea of The Whittington being run down very personally. Many people will find it difficult to access services further away if the Whittington’s A&E closes – and the most vulnerable people will find it most difficult. The services are already there, they have been paid for, this is why this whole thing makes no sense. I’m supporting everything that’s being done and I will continue to do so.”

Islington TUC president Gary Heather closed the meeting with a rousing speech.

He said: “While Rachel and her colleagues have said no decision has been made, I think we can see from tonight that this is clearly in their minds. We need to give a clear message that we’ll be mobilising to defend health services in all these boroughs.

"If you think this is a big turnout and a raucous meeting, you haven’t seen anything yet.”

A demonstration against the proposals will take place on February 27, with campaigners assembling in Highbury Field in Highbury at midday.

Visit www.dwhc.org.uk to find out more.

On 20th January the Defend Haringey 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 of the Chief Executive of the Whittington Hospital. There were banners outside (including from the Haringey Defend Council Housing Campaign who were attending in solidarity with health campaigners), highly detailed documents produced for the Cttee, a great presentation by our Co- Secretary Janet Shapiro backed by Kieron from Save Chase Farm campaign.

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 would 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 Report' for its 'modeling' of future services.

Councillors on the Cttee expressed support for many of our 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.

People present took away hundreds of the Defend Haringey Health Services coalition leaflets to publicise the Feb 27th 'Save The Whittington' demo.