Issue - meetings

To receive a verbal update on the future of Whittington Hospital by the Chief Executive of Whittington Hospital Trust.

The Committee noted the deputation by Janet Shapiro on behalf of Defend Haringey Health Services Coalition (DHHS), including:

• The proposals for the Whittington Hospital which threatened the future of Accident & Emergency (A&E) and related services were highly opposed by DHHS.
• The McKinsey A&E report should be made public.
• Further consultation on proposals for the Whittington was required.

Councillor Kieran McGregor, L.B. Enfield Councillor - Save Chase Farm Group, informed the Committee that many decisions relating to the future of Enfield’s Chase Farm Hospital A&E and related services had been taken behind closed doors and none of the recommendations made by an independent panel had been implemented.

Rob Larkman (Chief Executive – Whittington Hospital Trust) and David Sloman (Chief Executive – Royal Free Hospital Trust) advised that despite population growth there would be a large reduction in funding across London and the quality of services was at risk.  The Committee noted that no formal proposals about the future of Whittington Hospital had been made but policy required all NHS providers to obtain Foundation Trust status. The Whittington and Royal Free Trusts had been considering working together as neither organisation felt it could achieve Foundation Trust Status alone and working together would provide more robust services for the future.  Any proposals were likely to be consulted on during the autumn of 2010. 

The key aspects for NHS providers to consider were: centralising stroke and trauma services but also localising other services where possible in health centres and local hospitals and polyclinics. 

The Whittington Hospital Trust had identified four possible strategic options:

• To continue to stand alone (which was not feasible)
• To work with the Royal Free Hospital Trust
• To work with local community health services
• To work with University College London Hospital (UCLH) to retain services in financially challenging times

The Committee noted comments made by:

• Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, including that proposals should include an option to retain full A&E services at the Whittington Hospital.
• Karen Jennings, Labour Party Candidate, suggesting that a decision had been taken to establish a local urgent care centre. 

In response the Chief Executive, Whittington Hospital Trust, explained that commissioners in Islington were looking at the possibility of providing an urgent care centre alongside A&E and emphasised that there was a need for improved working with primary care to ensure patients use of the correct services.  He guaranteed that services would not change until the outcome of the North Central London (NCL) Sector Review. 

Potential options for the Whittington Hospital included:

• Retaining a full 24 hour A&E service with surgical and medical services
• Retaining medical emergencies only
• Urgent Care only

The Chief Executive – Whittington Hospital Trust stated that at least one of the options that will be proposed further to the review will include retaining the A&E service at the Whittington Hospital.

The Committee requested that all relevant documents relating to the reconfiguration of services at the Whittington Hospital be placed on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7