DEFEND THE WHITTINGTON HOSPITAL COALITION

Planning Meeting MinutesMonday 7th April 2014   7.00-9.00 pm

Archway Methodist Hall, N19

1. Welcome and apologies. Apologies received from Jeremy Corbyn, Steve Cook, Mick Gilgunn, Gary Heather, Alice Kilroy, Valerie Lipman.
2. Minutes of Meeting of 03.02.2014 There were no items for discussion that were not on the agenda.
3. Update – public meeting, news.

It was noted that Gill George spoke very well at the recent Public Meeting, which was attended by Steve Hitchins, who refused to confirm his attendance until the final hour. Disquiet was expressed about his speech, in particular his claim that the Whittington Hospital is not a District General Hospital (DGH), and failure to answer questions adequately or provide any information of cuts to services and staff planned at the hospital. Ed and Shosh reiterated that detailed information about the hospital is badly needed. SF emphasized that the Whittington should be telling the local community what their plans are.

Proposed meeting – SF discussed the proposed meeting with management at the Whittington, and confirmed the plan to take a list of questions that management should answer, which follow on from the public meeting.

The report from the People’s Inquiry has been published, and people encouraged to study the recommendations within it.

Islington KONP – 10% of London CCG’s have let private contracts

Islington Patients Group – proposed a working contact with DWHC

4. AOB

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Planning meeting

Monday 7th April at Archway Methodist Hall. 700 pm

Agenda

1. Introductions and apologies
2. Minutes from meeting of 3^rd February and matters arising
3. Update – incl CEO Dr Koh’s resignation
4. Proposed meeting with Simon Pleydell, interim CEO
5. Reports from other campaigns – Peoples Inquiry, Islington KONP, London KONP, Ealing Hospital workers success,
6. Future activities Peoples Parliament at Parliament on 29th April, next Board Meeting 7th May 2014 2 – 5pm, Whittington Education Centre (WEC), Room 7
7. AOB
8. Date of Next Meeting – Monday 5^th (May Day bank hol) / 12^th May?

 

 

 

 

Planning Meeting Minutes

Monday 3^rd February 2014   7.00-9.00 pm

at Archway Methodist Hall, N19

1. Welcome and apologies
2. Minutes of Meeting of 02.12.2013  There were no items for discussion that were not on the agenda
3. Update – lobby of board, staff issues, news

2. Apologies were received from Jeremy Corbyn, Steve Cook, Gary Heather, Valerie Lipman, Alice Kilroy

The successful lobby of the Board was discussed. We had a great turnout of 50 people, including the Occupy group from Barnet and people from Islington KONP and 38 Degrees. We forced Hitchins into being very defensive and having to answer our questions about privatisation and cuts. While he denied making cuts he also talked about the need to make economies. And while denying an interest in privatisation he also said it could be good for our Hospital.

Hospital staff had reported proposed cuts at the hospital . We will watch this space. Union still concerned about medical secretaries. Planning a demonstration outside the hospital on 15^th February.  There  is still a culture of bullying at the hospital , from the top, Steve Hitchins, down. Also concern about downgrading of staff . Many are having to re-apply for their jobs.

The £20 billion NHS cuts, started by the Labour Government are having a disastrous impact. The Whittington budget remains at about £275 million, with no increases, over the past three years.

There was a discussion about the need to apply for Foundation Trust status under the current legal requirements of the Health and Social Care Act. We remain opposed to Foundation Trusts, and are not concerned who eventually runs our hospital as long as it has the essential services for our health needs. It was suggested that we have an American to speak at a future meeting about how that system works, as we seem to be heading that way here. It was also suggested that we collect hospital horror stories from patients who have had refused or delayed or had long waiting times.

1. Public Meeting on 3^rd March  – speakers, building the meeting, organisation for the night. Concern was expressed that not all speakers from other campaigns had confirmed attendance. Steve Hitchins was also prevaricating about whether or not he would attend. It was conformed that he should not see a small group of us in advance as he has requested as we want him to talk to us publicly. We are concerned that he can try to be manipulative.

There was an extensive discussion about disability access at the Archway Church Hall. Shirley had been reassured that the stair lift was operating would arrange for carers to asist any who needed it onto and off the chair lift. We would have a spare wheelchair at the top. It was decided that we had made the best possible, but not ideal, arrangements for access.

Shirley emphasised the importance of building for the meeting. 5,000 leaflets were available at the meeting and participants said they would leaflet their areas, shops, near the Hospital and MG said he would take some to the Trades Council meeting. TM said he would update the website and encouraged people to use it regularly.

Tim said that he would help if we had a raffle and on the stall.  We also stressed the importance of stewarding and assisting any disabled people who may want support.

1. Next Board Meeting  5th Feb, then 5^th March – 1^st Wed in month. We decided that we would not attend every Board meeting, but that it would be helpful if people wanted to go and if they could feedback to us.
2. N London People Assembly 4th March at St Melitus Church, Tollington Park. Notice was given about this meeting. We had not been asked to speak at it.
3. Putting on an NHS Play Shirley had been contacted by someone interested in putting on a play about exploitation and privatisation in the NHS. We await further details.
4. AOB

Fears of a renewed round of service reductions and job cuts at the Whittington came to the fore at a large DWHC public meeting chaired by Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn on Monday 3 March at St Mary’s church, Dartmouth Park Hill.

Steve Hitchins, the former mayor of Islington council, recently appointed as chair of the hospital board, sought to give assurances that he was committed to securing a viable future for the hospital, despite the millions of pounds worth of funding cuts that were being imposed by the coalition government.

The revelation that he was spearheading a second hospital bid for foundation trust status had sparked huge local concern about the possibility of a return to large-scale job losses and departmental closures.

But he decalred: “The Whittington has the lowest mortality rate of any trust in England and is hitting all the national targets on waiting times.”

However, he did acknowledge that morale was low and the level of complaint was higher than the national average.

Several members of the audience continued to express dismay about the management’s latest proposals and declared their opposition to any reductions in services. A number were worried that jobs were likely to be put at risk.

DWHC chair Shirley Franklin said she was concerned about what an “integrated care organisation” would look like – that if the plan went ahead, it might sound the death knell for the Whittington as we had always known it, as a fully functioning local district hospital.

She said it was regrettable that staff morale was so low because staff worked extremely hard.

“Our campaign stopped the closure of the A&E unit and last year we helped put an end to further closures and job cuts, but rumours persist that under the management’s latest plans more could go –the rumours were that not only catering was being privatised, but also the hospital pharmacy and the IT system, and this could be only the start.

“We need to know what is going on – for the hospital management to give us the facts. It has been denied that the hospital budget is being cut by up to £40 million, but how much is being hived off the budget and what will the impact on jobs and services be?”

Jeremy Corbyn pointed out that services will survive as long as people are prepared to fight for them. “Local campaigning made sure we still have a Whittington today. Without it the A&E unit would have closed down – and that’s why we have to continue the fight,” he said.

Whittington Sell-off Campaign.  Some reflections

 

In July 2013 we stopped the sell-off of most of the buildings and jobs, and all the beds at the Whittington Hospital. Amazing! Three years ago we saved the Accident and Emergency and other departments, but this sell-off is a far bigger challenge to overcome. With the current talk in Board Meetings of cuts and efficiencies, we still have a way to go. Does the revised plan even still hold?

The problem for the Whittington Hospital is that under the destructive 2012 Health and Social Care legislation all hospitals have to become Foundation Trusts – independent hospitals, like business units, that can be taken over by a private company.

The Board of the Whittington Hospital made an appalling first application to become a Foundation Trust, massively reducing the operation of the Hospital as a proper fully-functioning hospital. They did not tell or consult with consulted with anyone. The Board took the decision to agree to these disgraceful proposals in a mere five minutes. They presented their plans as a fait accomplis, that no-one else could do anything about.

Our campaign has been relentless. The stop the sell off message sped across the community via our Coalition, through our mass leafleting and petitioning.

We held a huge public meeting, a demonstration and lobbied the Board at their monthly meetings. Our coalition includes hospital and local trade unions, who have financially and actively supported the campaign. We also have local political parties, MPs, other campaign groups, Hospital staff and patients and local newspapers. Islington MP, Jeremy Corbyn, asked several awkward parliamentary questions to the Minister of Health. This coalition of various groups has been vital in our success.

The Board has behaved very strangely. They produced their totally unacceptable plan, that they now admit was completely inappropriate. Funnily, we could see that they really did not like our stop the sell off slogan, our fab demonstration cat banner and placards – our whole visual as well as vocal campaign. We are now wondering how it is that having disposed of Joe Liddane, who stage-managed these shenanigans, the Chief Executive of the hospital, Li Mien Koh, is still in post

There are issues that remain. We are very concerned that the new model is based on early discharge of patients in our area that has a population of high levels of needs. We all know what is happening to social care under this Government.

We are also concerned about jobs that seemed to have been reduced by over 100.

We want to thank everyone who helped in our recent victory. But there is still more to do, locally and nationally.

Whose Hospital? Our Hospital. Whose NHS? Our NHS!

Shirley Franklin, January 2014

 

DWHC AGM

Minutes 2 December 2013

 

Place:  Archway Methodist Church 19.00 – 20.50

 

Chair:  Shirley Franklin   Minutes: Valerie Lipman

 

1. Introductions and apologies

Shirley welcomed everyone to the meeting.  Eleven people attended the meeting. Apologies were received from 10 people, including Jeremy Corbyn, Tony Marshall,

 

2. Minutes and matters arising of 2010 AGM

These were approved.  There were no matters arising.

 

3. Chair’s Report for 2012/13

Shirley gave a brief summary of the history of the DWHC from it first campaign, which successfully resulted in saving the A&E at the Whittington.  2011 and 2012 saw a quieter period in campaigning against the Health and Social Care Bill, with just a small core of people.  Vigorous campaigning started again at the start of 2013 in response to the hospital’s proposal for substantial cuts in services, staffing and buildings.  There had been no public consultation at all on this proposals and were revealed through an article in the local newspaper.  A relentless campaign, that included demonstrations, attendance at Whittington Health Board meetings, leafleting and running stalls, resulted in a reversal of the hospital’s plans. Shirley thanked everyone for their massive input and support.

Shirley outlined the main features of the new Health Strategy and the new three tier emergency care system: ambulatory, urgent and A&E.  The campaign had had good media coverage, including local BBC and ITN news.  The DWHC remains concerned though about some of the changes.  These are primarily to do with the uncertainty about further staff losses, the goal of getting people out of hospital as quickly as possible without there being adequate support in the community, and the future of the two buildings that are still due for closure.

A short discussion followed.  There was agreement about the need to keep MPs and Councillors informed about the health service changes.

Shirley was warmly thanked for leading the successful campaign.

4.  Treasurer’s Report

There was £3,202.85 in the account as of 30/11/13.  Noted that the greatest expenditure had been on the badges and printing leaflets  It was suggested that it is not necessary to use full colour printing, which is more expensive. UNISON have offered further funds to the DWHC which will be taken up as and when necessary.

Alice was thanks for all her work.

 

5. Elections

There being no further nominations the following positions and post holders were agreed:

Chair: Shirley Franklyn

Treasurer:  Alice Kilroy

Secretary – database and mailings: Jem Lindon

Secretary – minutes – Valerie Lipman

Website: Tony Marshall

 

6. AOB

No other business was raised.

 

7. Close of AGM 7.45pm.

 

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Planning Meeting Dec 2nd 2013

 

1. Minutes and matters arising from 4th November 2013 meeting.

The minutes were agreed.  There were no matters arising.

 

2. Update on meetings attended

VL noted that she had attended the last meeting of the CCG Board.  She was still getting to grips with these meetings, which had massive agendas, and had raised a point about consultation with minority groups, which she was for feedback on. She would be attending the next Patient and Community Group meeting on 5th December.

 

3. Other business

Shirley suggested that usual planning meetings be held once every two months, unless there was a change in the situation and further meetings were required.  Agreed by all those present.  Next meeting will therefore be on 3rd February 2014.

 

4.  Meeting closed at 8.00

 

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AGM Speaker

Gill George from Keep Our NHS Public talked about the impact of the health service changes on communities and patients.

 

Gill opened by saying that with the present level of cuts, outsourcing and privatisation that the fundamentals of the NHS would be lost by 2015.  It was not possible to maintain an organisation with 20% ‘efficiency savings’ planned.  Only savage cuts in the whole service could achieve this level of ‘savings’.  She said that CCGs had been put in place to make and manage the cuts. The long term outcome could can only result in private insurance.

In Islington Gill said that a number of services are already going out to tender, including wheelchair service, terminal care and adult continuing care.  These are particularly concerning because it would be extremely difficult to make a profit in these services, and hence big anxiety about how to maintain a quality of service.  The NHS frequently fails to get the contracts put out for tender, because all the financial  information is open to the public, and thus private companies know the figures they are competing with, and can undercut.  The NHS is also effectively subsidising private companies because they have trained all the professional therapists etc who will then work with the private company. Privatisation of pieces of the NHS also undermines and weakens the whole.

 

Gill suggested some points and actions for the DWHC to consider. It should monitor the shift from acute services to broadly what’s happening to vulnerable client groups, such as older people, and people with mental health issues.  DWHC should continue attending CCG, look in detail at the Whittington Health activities, and attend Scrutiny meetings.

 

There were a number of suggestions for action from the floor, including:

a)  running a campaign with the local paper about what’s going on for local people by gathering evidence about who is being denied treatment

b) producing a leaflet with some key facts about the impact changes in the NHS – the leaflet to be targeted at policy makers to ensure they are adequately informed of the real implications of the changes.

c) make clear, perhaps by letters to the papers or leaflets, what the changes will mean to the individual.

 

Gill was warmly thanked for the excellent and stimulating session.

 

The meeting closed at 9.00

 

 

VL 20 December 2013