Minister 'not convinced' by hospital A&E closure plan

nlnews@archant.co.uk
17 March 2010

A GOVERNMENT minister has given a glimmer of hope to protesters battling to save The Whittington Hospital.

Labour health minister Mike O'Brien has promised MPs that "there will be no change" at the hospital unless a "case for change is established".

NHS bosses at the North Central London NHS are proposing to downgrade The Whittington, in Magdala Avenue, Highgate, as part of a mass reorganisation of the hospitals serving Islington, Camden, Haringey, Enfield and Barnet.

This means The Whittington could lose its accident and emergency department, maternity ward, intensive care unit and children's beds.

The plans have angered patients and residents - prompting several thousand to turn out for a protest march on February 27. But on March 9, Mr O'Brien told Parliament: "We need to see strong clinical evidence for any change to the status of The Whittington.

"We have invested £32million in The Whittington, much of it in A&E, and unless the case for change is established, there will be no change.

"At the moment, I am not convinced of the need for The Whittington A&E to close.

"I have serious concerns and I would want to see a serious case made for saying the £32million the Government has decided to invest in The Whittington should be overridden."

Protesters welcomed the minister's words - but have called on him to follow them up with actions.

Zozi Goodman, joint chairwoman of the Defend The Whittington Hospital Coalition, said: "This shows the minister believes what we believe. But it doesn't mean The Whittington is saved. We want the minister to use his powers to call an immediate halt to the plans."

But Liberal Democrats have accused Labour of "weasel words", claiming the response was hedged with so many caveats it offers no reassurance. Rhodri Jamieson-Ball, the Lib-Dem candidate for Islington North, said: "We need an unambiguous statement from the Secretary of State for Health that the Whittington A&E will not close."

The North Central London NHS said the plans are in the early stages - and that no case for change has yet been made. Its programme director Stephen Conroy said: "I can understand why the minister said those comments - he will not have seen the full case for change as it has not been made yet.

"We have not publicly explained our full case for change. In fact we are still discussing the plans with local doctors.

"Any changes to A&E are still under consideration and when we do go out to public consultation, properly, with final options, I am sure everyone will be aware and will want to comment.