If A&E goes, what happens if there is a disaster at stadium?

Published: 12 March 2010

• WHEN NHS chiefs drew up their plans to close Whittington’s A&E department, did they consider what would happen if there was a serious incident at the Emirates Stadium?
The stadium can hold more than 60,000 people and the best risk assessment and emergency planning in the world cannot prevent disasters. The thought of thousands of people having to cross north London to receive emergency care does not bear thinking about.
CHRISTY LAWRENCE
Tufnell Park Road, N7
 

• THE front page of the Tribune (People power, March 5) was a great reminder of our 5,000-strong demonstration and rally and of the fantastic turnout of a wide range of people – residents, health workers, trade unionists, campaigners, babies! – furious with proposals to close our accident and emergency, maternity services, paediatrics and trauma units at the Whittington Hospital.
This is the beginning of our campaign to make Rachel Tyndall and the NHS executive listen to local people. Do not touch our hospital!
Our next steps include a public meeting on March 22 at Whittington Community Centre in Yerbury Road, and possibly a hustings and day of action before the election in May. We need all those people who spoke so strongly against the closure to ensure that any future government stops the cuts in the NHS.
Thanks so much for your fantastic support. We felt so proud marching along Holloway Road, behind your bus, bedecked in banners, playing fab New Orleans jazzy music and proclaiming with us all: Save the Whittington Hospital!
SHIRLEY FRANKLIN
Joint chair, Defend the Whittington Coalition
www.dwhc.org.uk

• TWO weeks ago, I had an accident and had to go to the A&E at Whittington Hospital. Yes, I had to wait for some time, but I was well looked after. The staff were all busy, but it was a calm atmosphere. Also, the ambulance people looked after me as well.
Yes, I am sure there are things that could be done better, but closing a good hospital department makes no sense.
One thing that should be changed is the triage system; it should be first-come, first-served, except in extreme circumstances.
We cannot let this A&E close.
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

• ISLINGTON is the eighth most deprived borough in England and fourth in London. Life expectancy is lower than the national average. Death rates from cancer, smoking diseases and mental health are higher in Islington than in the rest of the country, deprivation standing out as the greatest risk factor With this evidence already in Islington Primary Care Trust’s hands, what possible explanation can it put forward for closing any of our clinics, hospitals or other NHS facilities?
But perhaps the board of Islington PCT decided to cut and run before they become part of the cutbacks in “quangos closed or merged” indicated in a review of Whitehall headed by Liam Byrne, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, at the end of 2009.
As all London residents are affected by these proposals we have to join together to ensure we stop these quangos from trying to push through (behind closed doors) their agendas, before their own extinction is in place.
HELEN CAGNONI
WC1

• ANGELA Sinclair-Loutit asked if anyone knew about the Washington Consensus (A&E closure a step towards bigger role for private firms, March 5). The phrase Washington Consensus was coined in 1989 to describe a set of policy prescriptions for a “standard” economic reform package. Its mantra was that economies should “Stabilise, Privatise, and Liberalise”.  New Labour has enthusiastically endorsed this privatising agenda and it has been the backbone of its policy of “reforms” in the NHS, housing, education and so on.
What takes the breath away is that so many New Labour ministers, including David Lammy, who joined the Whittington demo, should see no contradiction between this privatising agenda and succeeding rounds of cuts in the NHS. Other ministers have joined their local demonstrations against NHS cuts. None resigned over the cuts and I don’t expect Mr Lammy will either. Clearly, the issue for them was “Save my Seat”.
In my letter (February 19) I argued that the very fact of contracting out services would lead to private health companies having an undue influence on policy. Following a Freedom of Information request, Pulse, the magazine for GPs, has revealed that secret and “unminuted” meetings between health companies and London NHS had been held on a six-weekly basis. Once contracts have been agreed, we will have even less idea of what’s going on since information will be “commercially sensitive”. Our money will have become theirs.
Oh yes, the NHS is safe with New Labour: for companies that want to get their fangs into the NHS budget of £100 billion a year.
RICHARD ROSSER
Highbury New Park, N5

• A NEW report by the Primary Care Foundation (PCF) has revealed a fundamental flaw in the plans drawn up by former health minister Lord Darzi to treat large numbers of patients in privately-run polyclinics and urgent care centres (UCCs) – staffed by GPs and nurses – instead of in hospital A&E departments.
The government’s plans were drawn up on the assumption that 60 per cent of patients coming into A&E could be diverted to primary care – GPs and nurses.  But the PCF report, commissioned by the Department of Health, tells a different story. It found that only between 10 per cent and 30 per cent of patients could in fact be treated by GPs and nurses. The remaining 70-90 per cent would still need hospital A&E. In any event, everyone would still need A&E from 8pm to 8am, when polyclinics and UCCs would be closed.
EMMA DIXON
Green Party parliamentary candidate, Islington North

• YOUR campaigning paper is instrumental in fighting the proposed closures at the Whittington, but sadly found space to publish a letter (from the former chair of Camden Labour Youth) suggesting its fate lies with the council, which you know is absurd.
The council does not have control over the NHS or its funding, both are functions of the government.
Lib Dems have pledged to fight tooth and nail for the Whittington, and against the proposed cuts. We have taken to the streets collecting signatures on a petition, the first batch of which we have already taken to No10.
I don’t doubt Jeremy Corbyn’s commitment to the hospital, and that may be shared by other local members, but it’s not good enough for them to try and hide behind the fig leaf that these cuts are all down to “unaccountable bureacrats”.
Whether they like it or not, it’s a Labour government that is ultimately responsible and their hand-wringing and buck-passing will not fool us into thinking differently.
To be blunt, it’s not time to be petty political, it is time to be party political. Labour claims to be “on your side” but the facts speak for themselves, and only the threat of loss of votes and power may get it to act.
CLLR GREG SMITH
Lib Dem executive member for environment