Whittington Hospital A&E: chiefs axed closure

Published: 27 May 2010
by TOM FOOT

PROPOSALS to shut Whittington Hospital’s accident and emergency department were officially dumped before last week’s intervention by the new health secretary Andrew Lansley.

Board-level documents seen by the New Journal show the North Central London (NCL) sector had recommended that the casualty unit at the Highgate hospital be saved. It had advised that board members remove closure from a strategic review due for full public consultation in the autumn. 

Last week, the health secretary scrapped the review and told health bosses to go back to the drawing board. A NCL spokeswoman said that changes to the health service now had to have the full backing of GPs; must consider patient choice; and be based on sound clinical evidence.