Whittington A&E protests shift up a gear
Posted by Karen | Posted in Health, News, Whittington | Posted on 24-02-2010
I went to this morning’s photo shoot outside the Whittington with the Ham and High and the Highgate Society. The campaign to save the A&E at the Whittington is shifting up a gear: on Saturday 27 February local people, former patients, staff, trade unions and politicians will gather and march in protest and will show the strength of feeling and support for the Whittington and the community it serves.
It’s clear from the most recent documentation from the North Central London NHS Strategic Health Authority that they plan closures of Accident & Emergency Departments including the 24 hour A & E Department at the Whittington.
With Jeremy Corbyn, Labour MP for Islington North, l have been involved in two public meetings in December and January which were attended by hundreds of people. We now have this important march/demonstration. This is the beginning of the protests; there are many more campaigning activities to come to keep the pressure up. In reality what is in jeopardy is much more than the 24 hr A&E provision.    Other services are also at risk. This will include intensive care, surgical and operating departments, maternity and neonatal care.
I have been petitioning to raise the profile to save the Whittington with Councillors and volunteers. We have made over 4,000 contacts since the New Year going door to door and on the streets of Hornsey, Highgate, Muswell Hill, Crouch End in Hornsey and Wood Green.
As a former nurse I have worked in the NHS, therefore I know how demoralising it is to work in a hospital under the threat of closure. As a leading campaigner for the National Health Service I also know how effective a local campaign can be in preventing the closure of an A&E Department.
All proposals from North Central London NHS must include the continued provision of 24 hour Accident and Emergency Department at the Whittington. We need a hospital that is fully functioning and there to serve our community’s needs. Nothing less is acceptable.
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