Shadow Health Secretary Norman Lamb MP joins local campaigners to help Save the Whittington (Islington Liberal Democrats)

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

Shadow Health Secretary Norman Lamb MP joins local campaigners to help Save the Whittington

February 9, 2010 10:22 PM

Local Councillors and campaigners joined Bridget Fox and Norman Lamb MP to support the Save the Whittington campaign

Lib Dem Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb MP joined Bridget Fox today to support the campaign to keep the Whittington hospital's 24 hour A&E open.

Local campaigners joined Islington South and Finsbury Parliamentary Campaigner Bridget Fox at the hospital to shout the message loud and clear: Save our A&E."

Norman spoke with local campaigners and hospital users about what losing the service would mean to them. He said:

"It's clear that the campaign to Save the Whittington A&E has the support of local people. I've heard today how people value their local A&E, how easy it is to get to the Whittington on public transport and how badly affected people would be if they had to travel to other hospitals which are further away.

"We have to get Accident and Emergency provision right, otherwise it really can be a case of life or death. It is quite wrong that secretive decisions are being taken by unelected bureaucrats who are not answerable to local people. The Government need to realise that cutting patient care instead of bureaucracy could cost lives, and that is a price we are not willing to pay."

Bridget Fox added:

"It was great to have the support of Norman Lamb in Islington today. He is the only front bench health spokesman of any party to back our campaign. Liberal Democrats are united in wanting to put patient care first.

"Norman heard first hand from local people who are campaigning hard to save the Whittington. We are passionate about our NHS. Islington is a 24 hour community and we need a 24 hour A&E. Help our fight to save the Whittington by signing the petition at www.savethewhittington.com"

Bridget Fox was joined by campaigners from across Islington and Camden, including Holborn and St Pancras Lib Dem campaigner Jo Shaw. If the Whittington A&E closes, Islington residents will be sent to the busy casualty unit at the Royal Free, putting pressure on services there.

Campaigners heard a message of support from neighbouring Hornsey & Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone. Lynne says:

"It's great that people from all the affected constituencies are coming together to join the campaign to save the Whittington. We need to work together to show the Government that people from a very wide area will lose out should the department close."