| |
Fight threat to close St Luke’s
• I WAS shocked to read of the proposed closure of St Luke’s Hospital which, though based in Muswell Hill, is used by Camden residents if they suffer a serious mental breakdown (Patients rally to save hospital from closure, January 8).
Through personal experience and through my work I am aware of this beautiful and peaceful setting for a psychiatric hospital.
Many people have told me how they have been helped by the dedicated team of nurses, doctors and ancillary staff.
If I had a breakdown, it would be my first choice of hospital.
Is the National Health Service poised to sell off this valuable piece of land at the expense of high-quality care and a well-cared-for precious environment?
The intensive care ward for the mentally ill in St Pancras Hospital has already been shut down, which means that seriously ill people are being shunted off to private wards far away from their families until beds become available in Camden and Islington.
It is extremely lucky that the newly-built health centre in Batholomew Road was finished before the economic crisis as other schemes to build schools and hospitals funded by PFI are unlikely to materialise.
Vulnerable people and essential services cannot be left at the mercy of the vagaries of the free market economy.
Please support our Keep Our NHS Public Campaign by coming along to our protest march against the privatisation of any more GPs’ surgeries in Camden on February 14 (meeting at Mornington Crescent at 11am).
Caroline Taleb
Oseney Crescent, NW5
|
 |
|
|
| |
| |
