Labour campaigners were joined by shadow health minister Diane Abbott last weekend as they spoke to Tufnell Park residents about proposed cuts to the local Whittington Hospital.
The campaigners were joined by the outspoken MP as they went door-knocking to raise awareness and support for the hospital which serves approximately 440,000 people.
The proposed cuts to the Whittington Hospital will mean a loss of up to 100 beds for the elderly and new parents and 570 job losses, including over 200 nurses and 20 doctors. Also, staff accommodation is to be closed and sold and births at the hospital will be capped to 4,000 a year.
Talking exclusively to Islington Now, Ms Abbott said: “The Whittington is important for everyone in the area because people are frightened. These land sales and the cuts in the number of beds means that we’ll get a worse service in this part of London – not a better service – at a time when the population is rising and public health needs are rising.”
Whittington Health Trust Board’s Estates Strategy report indicates that many of the hospital buildings are old and expensive to maintain and hospital infrastructure is in need of being updated.
The report states that in the next five years, £10 million will be invested in maternity services, £2.8 million on a new assessment centre and £7 million will be spent on an electronic patient record system.
Councillor Paul Smith, deputy leader of Islington Labour, said: “This is a direct result of the government’s changes in the way that healthcare is funded. The Health Associate Care Bill means that hospitals up and down the country, including the Whittington, are having to make choices that are not based on patient need, they’re based on arbitrary financial considerations.
“We need to make sure we have a service based on the needs of people rather than how much they can pay. It’s a critical decision facing every person in this country.”
Lindsay Thomas, 60, explained why he was volunteering to campaign for the Whittington: “It’s a community centre and a community service – I’ve been there, I’ve taken my kids to their A&E; most people who live in Islington have.
“It’s important that the service is running properly – it’s not just about the politics. It’s about talking to people and reminding them that this is a community and you need to stand up to save community services.”
In a statement, the Whittington Health Trust Board maintained the need for the cuts in hospital services: “The strategy responds to the health trends of our local population.
“More people are receiving healthcare in their homes, health centres and GP surgeries. Technology will increasingly support more care, especially for people with long term conditions.
“The frail elderly are often best cared for in community settings. Over time, the dependency on hospital wards will decrease, which will see some staff relocate to health centres.”
35,000 marched to save Lewisham Hospital last month. Similar numbers are expected on Saturday, 16 March as activists march again to show their opposition to proposed changes at Whittington Hospital.
