Local MPs Meet London Health Chiefs and Minister about Whipps Cross

Together with Harry Cohen, labour MP for Leyton and Wanstead I recently had two meetings about the future of Whipps Cross Hospital. First we met the Chief Executive and Chair of NHS London, the Strategic Health Authority for the whole of London. We expressed out concerns about the 'Fit For the Future' review which is currently examining NHS services in North and East London.

We pointed out the promises which had been made that Whipps Cross would be rebuilt and modernised, all of which seemed to have been forgotten. The review seems to take into account capital investment at surrounding hospitals but to have a presumption that nothing like this will happen at Whipps. There is a national policy to move services from acute hospitals into the community, but this is a deprived area, and the improvements which have been made in primary care are nowhere near enough to justify reducing the main hospital provision.  If, for example, surgery was moved to other hospitals this would mean long and awkward journeys for many people in Waltham Forest.

We also expressed our concerns at the huge financial debt which the hospital has accumulated. Earlier this year there was no indication at all that the financial problems were of this magnitude. Already there have been ward and theatre closures and job losses. Recent reports suggest there is still poor financial performance, and we are not convinced that the 'turnaround plan' in the hospital will solve this.  The system seems to be loaded against Whipps Cross.

The most important point is that local people are able to access local services, and this cannot possible be achieved if there are serious cuts at Whipps.

A few days later we had a similar meeting with Secretary of State for Health Patricia Hewitt. We pressed for capital investment to modernise the Hospital, not the running down of services. We also pointed out the recently published Healthcare Commissions’ findings that Whipps Cross’ treatment of patients is “good”, placing it amongst the top 50 per cent of hospitals in the country, although its financial performance was labelled “poor”. If this is the problem then it should be sorted put, rather than taking steps such as cutting services, which penalise patients.

The proposals from the 'Fit For The Future' review, currently under way in North East London are expected to be published in a few weeks time. In the meantime I am urging everyone to sign up to the petition being organised by the local Guardian newspaper to protect local services at Whipps Cross. Download a copy of the petition as a PDF file by right clicking the petition link and choosing 'Save Target As' or write to me at the House of Commons, London SW1A OAA to get a copy through the post.

Download the petition here.

Oct 2006

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