Axed beds casualty list

Published: 3 February, 2011

• THE 21st-century idea of a “virtual psychiatric hospital” to take over the 100-plus hospital beds that Camden and Islington Mental Health Trust wants to close seems to have so mesmerised people that there is little opposition from those who should oppose on behalf of patients (Virtual doc will see you, January 21).

 No one expects Shirley Scott-Norton and Peter Jones from Islington Borough User Group to challenge any idea put forward by the trust. Peter Nevins, director of Islington Mind, and Gareth Pountain, chief executive of Umbrella, maintain their silence, and perhaps advisedly until the council has decided where it will cut deepest.  

But where is the political opposition to this? Councillor Ursula Woolley, Lib Dem health and social care spokeswoman, has not spoken out. Is this political opportunism or simply cowardice?

It is Shirley Franklin, from Save Whittington Hospital Campaign, who has said most. The loss of 100 beds will have a serious impact on patients and place pressure on their unpaid carers.  

A hundred beds will not be the only loss. Add to these cuts in community provision and services for highly vulnerable people with mental health problems will be very much less than they have been. 

The social cost and human casualties of this will be around us for all to see. Society will end up having to pay a high price for the trust’s savings.

DANNY BLOOM
Tollington Park Road, N4