Axe threat to Whittington A&E

nlnews@archant.co.uk
19 November 2009

ACCIDENT and emerg-ency services at The Whittington Hospital could be axed under new plans being disc-ussed by health chiefs.

The casualty department, in Magdala Avenue, Archway, sees 80,000 people every year - but an internal letter reveals bosses at the North Central London NHS may close it, along with the new intensive care unit (ITU).

If the A&E shuts, the nearest casualty departments will be either North Middlesex Hospital in Edmonton or the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead.

Patients' representative Helena Kania, acting chairwoman of the local involvement network for Haringey's NHS, added: "I can't imagine that they would close the A&E. It's so busy.

"I would want to be 100 per cent sure that there would be no deterioration in services by closing the A&E - and I can't see how they will provide that reassurance.

"This isn't the first thing that the Whittington would be losing out on. It's already not going to have stroke services. I am very concerned."

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, said: "If 'local' hospital means an end to 24-hour A&E at the Whittington then I will fight this tooth and nail.

"Local people need a local emergency service all of the time. This would be unacceptable."

Only last year, the hospital spent £500,000 on a new children's section at its A&E department.

But in a massive reorganisation of London's NHS, every hospital in Islington, Camden, Haringey, Enfield and Barnet will be categorised as either a "local", "major acute" or "specialist" facility.

The Whittington is earmarked to be downgraded to a "local" hospital in all four options put forward by North Central London NHS.

But an internal letter from Rachel Tyndall, chief executive of NHS Islington and the north central London sector, says: "The Healthcare for London model for 'local' hospitals includes both A&E and ITU facilities.

"The Clinical Advisory Group (experts from the five boroughs) proposed this model. However, it has also been proposed that this model be tested and that perhaps fewer services are provided at 'local' hospitals. No decision has yet been made."

The Whittington's stroke unit

is already set to be dismantled, and it is holding discussions about whether to merge with the Royal Free - although Whittington chief executive Rob Larkman insisted the talks are still in "the early stages".

Councillor Martin Klute, chairman of Islington Council's health and wellbeing review committee, said: "The impression we get is that they are going to make the decision, then tell us. They have been very evasive.