Whittington Hospital A&E - new fears

The Defend the Whittington Hospital Coalition has raised fresh

concerns about the future of the hospital's A&E department

following an information request to NHS North London.

  

In April,

campaigners were jubilant when then-Health Secretary Andy Burnham

announced the future of the Whittington's A&E and maternity

departments was secure. Since the May elections, however, the future of

health services in North London has again become uncertain, with new

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley keen to devolve decision-making to

local GPs.

"We wrote to the communications director at NHS

North Central London to obtain a guarantee that our hospitals were

safe. On Friday evening we received a response but unfortunately it

contained no unconditional guarantee that the Whittington (or any other

North London hospital) is safe," says the DWHC.

The campaign group is calling a new protest, to be held tomorrow, Thursday 29 July, at 1pm outside the Department of Health at 79 Whitehall. The group will be calling for assurances on the future of A&E, maternity and mental health services in North London.