Campaigners fear Whittington Hospital still at risk of losing services (From Haringey Independent)

Campaigners fear Whittington Hospital still at risk of losing services

9:00am Friday 10th September 2010 in Health By Elizabeth Pears

CONFUSION over the future of services at the Whittington Hospital will be discussed and debated at a public meeting next week.

The hospital in Archway, which treats many of Haringey's patients, was at risk of losing services under a dramatic reconfiguration of healthcare in north London.

Following the change of Government, those plans were put on hold to the relief of health campaigners, local MPs and medical professionals, who feared moving the stroke unit to a central London hospital was not in patient's best interests.

But initial relief has been replaced with new fears following a recently published coalition Government White Paper and a 'stocktaking' document published by NHS bosses for the North Central London sector.

Shirley Franklin, chairman of Defend the Whittington Hospital Coalition, said: "We now have genuine concerns about the future of hospital services.

"This public meeting will provide local people with the opportunity to ask questions about the future of their health service."

A public meeting will take place on Thursday, September 16, hosted by Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn.

Stephen Conroy, director of communications at NHS North London Central, has been invited to explain what is happening and to answer questions.

Other speakers include Islington councillor Martin Klute, who chairs the council's health and wellbeing committee, a representative from the British Medical Association and Ms Franklin.

The meeting starts at 7.30pm, at Archway Methodist Hall, in Archway Close.