Thousands march for Whittington Hospital as docs plan a revolt

Published: 4 March 2010
by TOM FOOT and RICHARD OSLEY

THE New Journal can today (Thursday) reveal how Britain’s medical fraternity are planning a revolt against the healthcare cuts threatening to rob the Whittington Hospital of its accident and emergency and maternity departments.

They are pressing home their point on the back of the extraordinary march which saw 5,000 people gather in protest on Saturday.

We have learned how doctors will take up the cudgels of the campaign and make their objections to downgrading the Highgate hospital clear.

Experts at the British Medical Association – the doctors’ union – believe the plans, part of a £500million funding cut to London’s hospitals, “do not hold up to scru­tiny” and threaten to ­“dismember” the Whittington.

The North Central London (NCL) sector NHS Trust in Islington insist the cuts will not compromise patients, who will instead be treated at the Royal Free in Hampstead or in newly built GP health centres.

But Dr Jacky Davis, who is a consultant at the Whittington and an elected member of the BMA, told a meeting in the Great Hall of its headquarters in Bloomsbury: “So far these plans have been like opening Pandora’s Box. All kinds of horrible things have flown out. It is time to talk about action. Doctors are not the best at campaigning, or organising – it’s like herding cats. But it’s no longer good enough to collectively keep our heads down.”

The BMA has now effectively issued a call to arms to its 140,000 members, urging them to protest.
The intervention by medical professionals will undermine any attempt by reformers to say that the thousands who marched have not properly understood the changes.

This protest can no longer be dismissed as being driven by media manipulation and political point-scoring close to general and local elections.

Saturday afternoon’s turnout will not be easy to ignore. It exceeded expectations as what seemed like a neverending trail of people stopped the traffic from Highbury Corner through Holloway and on to Highgate Hill. It included politicians from all mainstream parties, patients, and live musicians including Red Jen Matthias’ band and The Whittington Wildcats jazz band. There were famous faces from the stage as well, as actors Bill Paterson and Juliet Stevenson seized placards.

As part of our Save Our Whittington campaign, the New Journal and Islington Tribune led the march with a battle bus, hired with Unison campaigners. Outside the hospital in Magdala Avenue, the protest’s organisers, the Defend Whittington Coalition, unleashed a series of powerful speakers.

Behind the scenes, doctors are understood to have been implored to stay away from the controversy, but Dr Davis said at Thursday’s meeting: “The BMA will support staff groups that speak out against this. This is not a time to be without a union. We need a pan-London coalition.”

The pledge of support to medical staff means they should now feel more confident in expressing their fears, some of whom have only felt able to speak “off the record”.

The BMA recently commissioned Professor John Lister to investigate plans for hospitals in London. His report, London’s NHS On The Brink, reveals how health chiefs are gearing up for a “wholesale reduction in hospital services” including cutting 37 per cent of the budget for nursing costs and up to 43 per cent in spending on doctors. One third of London’s hospital beds hang in the balance.

Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the BMA’s GP committee, said: “GPs are not geared up for speedy treatments. Will we be as well-equipped? The dye has been cast – but if every single person rose up en mass, who knows?”