End health centre saga

Published: 2 July, 2010

• THE Tribune’s positive spin on the minister’s words about Finsbury Health Centre made for a charming read, but also made it seem that the centre campaign is all but won (Keep health centre alive, says minister, June 25).

It is not.

Paul Burstow deferred to the negotiations between Islington Council and the primary care trust (PCT), and said that referral to the Department of Health will mean another investigation before the minister comes to a decision.

Nevertheless, it was great news that the issue finally had an airing in Parliament.

Much of what the minister said was encouraging even if he didn’t go anywhere near a commitment to keeping the centre open.

We hope that the PCT board will see the sense of the council’s recommendations and bring this saga to a close at its meeting on July 22, although we are prepared to continue our fight to keep health services at the centre if it doesn’t.

If you would like to support our campaign go to www.savefhc.org.uk where there is a link to our petition, or call 020 7833 1395 if you don’t have internet access.

BARB JACOBSON
Campaign to Save Finsbury Health Centre