|
|
 |
| |
MP Jeremy Corbyn |
‘WHITTINGTON FACING DEATH BY CUTS' ALERT
MP warns Commons that A&E loss could mean complete closure
MP JEREMY Corbyn warned the House of Commons on Wednesday that Whittington Hospital is threatened with complete closure.
The Islington North Labour MP had secured an adjournment debate on “The Future of the Whittington” in the main chamber of Parliament. It followed reports in the Tribune that the Archway hospital could be stripped of its emergency department under massive funding cuts.
The debate was attended by half a dozen MPs, including Islington South Labour MP Emily Thornberry and Health Minister Mike O’Brien.
Mr Corbyn, wearing his trademark blue suit, told the Commons: “I have spoken at length with people at the hospital and with the Primary Care Trust. If the emergency unit is taken out it means major surgery cannot take place in other parts of the hospital – because the A&E is a back-up unit. I see this as part of a trajectory that ends up with closure of the hospital.”
NHS bosses are investigating proposals to downgrade Whittington to a local hospital without a casualty unit. It would leave Islington without emergency cover and tens of thousands of patients facing longer journeys to the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, University College London Hospital in Euston or Homerton Hospital in Hackney.
The plans have led to more than 3,000 patients signing various petitions. Islington Council’s Lib Dem leader, Councillor Terry Stacy, was expected to propose a motion at the Town Hall last night (Thursday) calling for the plans to be scrapped.
Mr Corbyn said he was concerned to learn that a group called Participate had been hired by the NHS and had already begun a consultation exercise with some patients.
He said: “We are not sure who was involved and whether this was an internal or private group – I certainly wasn’t asked for my thoughts. We are understandably concerned that the future of the hospital may be decided on this.”
The Tribune has been told that some patients have been paid £75 each to take part in the survey and that patients who admitted membership of campaign group Keep Our NHS Public were barred from taking part.
Ms Thornberry told the Commons: “I had my life saved by the Whittington. I remember sitting in a dark room weeping. I had gallstones. They were messing up the lining of my pancreas.”
After the debate she said she was pleased that the minister had taken the Islington MPs’ warnings seriously.
The Whittington, faced with huge funding cuts over the next five years, is in discussions with the Royal Free about forming a “single organisation” and sharing patient services. Both hospitals currently treat about 80,000 patients in their emergency departments.
Frank Dobson, Labour MP for St Pancras and Holborn, has warned that any closure of the Whittington’s accident and emergency unit would stretch the Royal Free and University College London hospitals to breaking point. He said: “They are already turning away patients for elective surgery because of the number of emergency cases they are dealing with. They are getting far too many patients already.”
Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, added: “The merger talks might be sensible when it comes to sharing patients. But the proposals for the A&E are about budget cuts – it is all mixed up with Lord Darzi’s health reforms.” Lord Darzi, the former health minister who quit earlier this year, proposed moving services out of hospitals and into super-size surgeries.
The cuts to hospitals in north and central London – around £900million over the next five years – are part of a wider belief that most treatments could be provided in community settings. But there is little evidence funding is being poured into expanding doctors’ surgeries in Islington – only one new health centre has so far been approved and Finsbury Health Centre is threatened with closure. It means Islington patients face losing major life-saving services for little gain. |
 |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
