A&E services at Whittington Hospital under threat (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

A&E services at Whittington Hospital under threat

November 24, 2009 12:28 PM

Liberal Democrats protest the threatened A&E closure at the Whittington Hospital

Islington Council leader Terry Stacy and Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone joined local Liberal Democrats to protest the closure of theWhittington's A&E services.

Accident and Emergency services at Whittington Hospital, Archway are under threat and could be cut under plans put forward by local NHS chiefs.

The plans were revealed in a letter from North London NHS boss Rachel Tyndall which sets out four options for reorganising NHS services across North London. All four options described in the letter would see Whittington designated as a local hospital with 'no emergency services', which will mean casualty services being axed.

Local residents and councillors have reacted furiously to the news that A&E services at the Whittington are under threat.

Local Lib Dem councillor, Tracy Ismail said:

"This is outrageous! Local people need to know that in an emergency there is somewhere nearby they can go to get the treatment they need. The NHS should not be considering cutting the emergency service they provide here in Islington.

"If the A&E service at the Whittington is cut, people in the north of the borough will have to go to the Royal Free or UCLH for their nearest emergency service. That's too far. The Lib Dems will be campaigning to save the Accident and Emergency service at the Whittington.

"What really worries me is the prospect of even more cuts, the Government's handling of the economy means there will be less money to go around and more services could be axed."

Local resident, Lorraine Constantinou said:

"I don't know what the NHS think they are playing at. It's obvious we need emergency services to stay at the Whittington.

"Local residents have all paid National Insurance for years. The least we expect is it that if the worst happens, we can go to the A&E at our local hospital to get help."

240 people a day use the A&E at the Whittington. The only A&E services in the area if the Whittington casualty unit closes will be: UCH, Homerton and the Royal Free. This follows on from the closure of Barts A&E in 1995.

You can sign the Lib Dem petition against Labour's plans at www.savethewhittington.com.