Stop playing Monopoly with a national treasure - proposed closure of Whittington A&E

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THE news that the A&E department of the Whittington Hospital may be closed is indeed shocking.
As my local hospital I have had very good treatment there over the years as an out-patient.
It serves mainly the borough of Islington which is the size of a small city.
Islington and Camden cannot do without it.
It was tragic enough for the Royal Northern Hospital on Holloway Road to be closed and torn down.
This was also a wonderfully built hospital with its large circular building from which you could see the whole city from any angle.
There was also a very good canteen – more like a first-class restaurant – on the top floor also with great views.
The Royal Northern soon began to meet its end – first they closed the A&E, then the operating theatres were continually disrupted until they were finally put under the aegis of the Whittington.
The next step was to transfer the maintenance department staff to the Whittington Works Department.
Finally nothing moved at the Royal Northern until the bulldozers came.
Take a look at the entrance to the Royal Free Hospital A&E department. How can it possibly take any more ambulances should the Whittington A&E be closed?
It is in Pond Street which is very narrow and is also a busy bus route. Whereas at the Whittington there is plenty of room with wide surrounding fast roads for ambulances.
Of course the Royal Free was squeezed onto land on which there was once what can only be described as a cottage hospital.
It did have wonderful expansive gardens around it.
That demolition was understandable. Now we have the also very fine Royal Free but a very busy one.
To off-load part of the Whittington on to it can only choke-up its usually very good services. Even farther away from the Whittington is the University College Hospital, and farther for visitors to see people should they be taken there.
Despite some criticism the NHS is the national treasure of the UK. Just stop playing Monopoly with it.
Wilson John Haire
Lulot Gardens, N19