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Whittington Hospital: 'Shock' over site cut plans Whittington Hospital: 'Shock' over site cut plans
(about 7 hours later)
Campaigners have said they were shocked to find out bosses at a north London hospital were planning to close half its site and sell off the buildings.Campaigners have said they were shocked to find out bosses at a north London hospital were planning to close half its site and sell off the buildings.
Whittington Hospital in Archway is selling six blocks used as wards and staff accommodation to raise £17m.Whittington Hospital in Archway is selling six blocks used as wards and staff accommodation to raise £17m.
It says some services being lost will be provided by other health centres.It says some services being lost will be provided by other health centres.
Defend The Whittington Hospital Coalition said this would mean fewer beds and resources were already stretched.Defend The Whittington Hospital Coalition said this would mean fewer beds and resources were already stretched.
The changes, detailed in the Estates Strategy report, include:The changes, detailed in the Estates Strategy report, include:
  • Inpatient wards to be closed and beds for the elderly and new parents axed
  • All NHS staff accommodation to be closed and sold off
  • Births at the hospital to be capped to 4,000 a year
  • Inpatient wards to be closed and beds for the elderly and new parents axed
  • All NHS staff accommodation to be closed and sold off
  • Births at the hospital to be capped to 4,000 a year
A report to the board said: "Workforce numbers had been recast from 850-900 to 550, and might be reduced still further."A report to the board said: "Workforce numbers had been recast from 850-900 to 550, and might be reduced still further."
Shirley Franklin, chair of Defend The Whittington Hospital Coalition, said she heard the changes had been approved second-hand.Shirley Franklin, chair of Defend The Whittington Hospital Coalition, said she heard the changes had been approved second-hand.
"I didn't know about it at all, it was buried in board papers. It feels like it was secretive and a shock to everybody," she said."I didn't know about it at all, it was buried in board papers. It feels like it was secretive and a shock to everybody," she said.
Of the Trust's plans to use other care providers, she said: "Community care is always welcome and that's great but it's the beds we need.Of the Trust's plans to use other care providers, she said: "Community care is always welcome and that's great but it's the beds we need.
"The hospital care is also what people need and that's what they're chopping.""The hospital care is also what people need and that's what they're chopping."
'Dependency will decrease''Dependency will decrease'
Ms Franklin said selling staff accommodation would have a real impact as the area was so expensive to live in.Ms Franklin said selling staff accommodation would have a real impact as the area was so expensive to live in.
"It all sounds very snazzy what they're doing; it all sounds very impressive but actually we still need hospital services and they're not fulfilling our health needs and that's what the worry is. A lot of people are very, very anxious and are looking to build a big campaign against it.""It all sounds very snazzy what they're doing; it all sounds very impressive but actually we still need hospital services and they're not fulfilling our health needs and that's what the worry is. A lot of people are very, very anxious and are looking to build a big campaign against it."
She said protesters would be looking to launch a campaign against the closures which would include an online petition, demonstration and protest at the next board meeting on 14 February. She said protesters would be looking to launch a campaign against the closures which would include an online petition, demonstration and a public meeting on 12 February.
In a statement, the Whittington Health Trust Board said: "The strategy responds to the health trends of our local population.In a statement, the Whittington Health Trust Board said: "The strategy responds to the health trends of our local population.
"More people are receiving healthcare in their homes, health centres and GP surgeries. Technology will increasingly support more care, especially for people with long term conditions."More people are receiving healthcare in their homes, health centres and GP surgeries. Technology will increasingly support more care, especially for people with long term conditions.
"The frail elderly are often best cared for in community settings. Over time, the dependency on hospital wards will decrease, which will see some staff relocate to health centres.""The frail elderly are often best cared for in community settings. Over time, the dependency on hospital wards will decrease, which will see some staff relocate to health centres."
It said the old buildings were expensive to maintain and it planned to modernise infrastructure.It said the old buildings were expensive to maintain and it planned to modernise infrastructure.
It said that in the next five years, it would invest £10m on maternity services, £2.8m on a new assessment centre, £1.9m on a new education centre and £7m would be spent on an electronic patient record system.It said that in the next five years, it would invest £10m on maternity services, £2.8m on a new assessment centre, £1.9m on a new education centre and £7m would be spent on an electronic patient record system.
In 2010, the hospital's plan to close its A&E department was stopped by the then health secretary, Andy Burnham.In 2010, the hospital's plan to close its A&E department was stopped by the then health secretary, Andy Burnham.