Hospital protest marches on
WORKERS, MAR 2007 ISSUE
Photo: Workers The largest protest seen in the north east London borough of Waltham Forest took place on 3 February as upwards of a thousand people hit the streets to call for their local hospital, Whipps Cross, to stay in the face of proposals that could lead to the downgrading of services (see photo, above).
The downgrading proposals are part of the comically named Fit for the Future process being pushed through by the new strategic planning authority for the capital, NHS London (see "A strategy to take our NHS away", page 12).
In a lively and highly organised campaign, local health workers, trade unions and patients have taken the offensive. They are calling for Whipps Cross to stay as a fully funded and fully functional District General Hospital, and have garnered support from all the local MPs – some of whom stand to lose their seats at the next general election, so great is the local groundswell of opinion.
Campaigners are now waiting for a date to be set for formal public consultation on the Fit for the Future proposals. This was due to have begun in January, but now looks like being delayed past April.