How to save Emily? Ditch A&E closure

Published: 16 April, 2010

• LAST week you reported on “Operation Save Emily”. This means plenty of Labour big-wigs coming to Islington in the hope that extra publicity will help to get Emily Thornberry re-elected in Islington South.
I would have thought that Labour’s best election gambit would be to support the calls made by Emily and Jeremy Corbyn to stop the closures at the Whittington.
It refuses to do so. One can only assume that the Labour hierarchy is perfectly happy to see our hospital lose its A&E and maternity along with closing Finsbury Health Centre.
Last Thursday, Newsnight featured NHS closures and did a piece on the Whittington.  Immediately afterwards, Jeremy Paxman interviewed the health spokesmen for the three main parties. Health Secretary Andy Burnham didn’t use the opportunity to stop the closures at the Whittington.
The leaders of the Greens and the Lib Dems have pledged to stop the closure and the Tories have announced a moratorium. Only the Labour government is fully in favour of the closure.
As things stand, a vote for Labour is a vote to close Whittington’s A&E and maternity. It’s your vote.
RICHARD ROSSER
Highbury New Park, N5

• IT’S clear from the thousands who have signed our petition and who went on the march that local people want to keep Whittington accident and emergency unit open.
The Lib Dems have been campaigning from day one to save the Whittington from government cuts. But the Labour health minister has failed to give a 100 per cent, cast-iron guarantee that the Whittington is safe and that services won’t be cut. The government has the power to stop the closure, so why doesn’t it stop giving vague assurances and say it will save the Whittington? This week, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has given our campaign to save the Whittington his backing. He has stated he would not let Whittington A&E close.
CLLR RHODRI JAMIESON-BALL
Lib Dem, Mildmay ward

• GENERAL election? When do we get to elect Rachel Tyndall and her NHS Islington Primary Care Trust? The Trust we don’t trust.
FRED STURGE
Smokehouse Yard, EC1