Watchdogs go missing

Published: 7 January, 2011

• CAMDEN and Islington NHS Foundation Trust is about to relaunch a consultation on its proposals to cut more than 100 in-patient beds by having a bonfire of its hospitals – adding closure of the Grove Centre at the Royal Free Hospital and either Queen Mary Hospital in Hampstead or St Pancras Hospital to the already-closed St Luke’s Hospital.

Sylvia Tang, the trust’s medical director, says it is clinically safe for the trust to cut a third of its bed base because most people can be treated in the community. This is clearly not the case when more than 80 per cent of the patients are subject to formal detention under ‘section’. It is simply a money-saving exercise.



Where are the public’s representatives in all this? Richard Bunting is chair of Islington Conservatives, vice-chair of the Foundation Trust and a member of Islington’s Fairness Commission.  

He should have a clear picture of the impact of these changes on services but has remained silent so far. Perhaps the mental health of the local citizenry is something the Fairness Commission could look at and then Mr Bunting could be heard on this subject.  

It is important the Foundation Trust is told these changes are not welcomed. The trust is not noted for taking notice of the public, but if we just say “no” loud enough and often enough then it may have to think again.

LYNTON MCANDREW
Hanley Road, N4