Following last Monday’s meeting there has been a fair bit of press coverage, including this article in The Guardian: Hands Off Our A&E.
There have also been a few items in the local press, many naming the DWHC. See the ‘In The Press’ section at the top of this page for more links. Read more…
These are two items from local papers about the meeting last Monday at Archway Methodist Church Hall and publicising the forthcoming march on 27th February.
The first is from the Islington Gazette (original article here.)
Hospital campaigners on march to save A&E
nlnews@archant.co.uk
27 January 2010
THOUSANDS of people are set to take part in a massive protest rally next month to save The Whittington Hospital’s accident and emergency department from being axed.
Islington residents, patients, community campaigners and politicians from all parties are to unite to march along Holloway Road to Whittington Park, Upper Holloway, on Saturday, February 27.
They will demand that north London health chiefs abandon moves to potentially close the Archway hospital’s 24-hour emergency department as part of plans to downgrade it to “local” hospital status.
The protest, which will gather at 12noon in Highbury Fields, has been organised by newly-founded campaign umbrella group Defend The Whittington Hospital Coalition.
Joint chairwoman Shirley Franklin, speaking at a 350-strong public meeting on Monday, said: “People are horrified and terrified – the bottom line is keep the A&E open as it is. We need you not just to bring yourselves but bring your whole street. We really need to make this as big as possible.” Read more…
In lieu of a proper report here are a couple of photos from tonight’s meeting.
Campaign meeting minutes, 7th January 2010: minutes_20100107(.pdf)
Dates for your diary:
20th January, Wednesday, there is a meeting of the Haringey Council Scrutiny committee meeting at which Rob Larkman, Chief Executive of the Whittington Hospital will speak. It’s at 6pm – at the Haringey Civic Centre, High Road, N22. Campaigners from the Defend Haringey Health Services are going and would welcome our mutual support.
21st January, Thursday, meeting of the Defend the Whittington Hospital Coalition, Whittington Community Centre, Yerbury Road N19. All are welcome to help plan the campaign.
25th January, Monday, public meeting at Archway Methodist Church Hall at 7.00pm at which Rachel Tyndall of North London Central NHS will reply to questions put to her at the last public meeting.
Go to whatever you can, no-one is expecting everyone to attend all three.
Probably the most important is the one on the 25th as a good presence is necessary to show how strongly people object to the closure proposals directly to the NHS officials. Read more…
WHAT WE STAND FOR:
* We are opposed to the rundown, closure or privatisation of all hospitals and hospital departments and any other key health services.
* We want to stop the sell-off of our NHS, or bits of it, to private corporations.
* We call for the repeal of the Health and Social Care Act - the government measure which opened the way for big private companies to take over our hospitals and health services and shut them down if they don't make enough profit.
* We call for full funding of our NHS to meet our health needs, free at the point of delivery.
* We want to see a fully funded mental health service that meets the varying mental health needs of our community, in residential or community-based settings.
* We are proud of our caring staff at the Hospital, and welcome the diversity of the staff.