‘The consultation process has been an absolute sham’, said Save Chase Farm councillor Kieran McGregor ahead of this morning’s lobby of the NHS Independent Reconfiguration Panel at the Novotel in Euston, central London.
Enfield councillor McGregor added: ‘We want to know on what basis ten options became four without the public having a say.’
Save Chase Farm campaigners warn: ‘Accident & Emergency, Children’s and Maternity services at Chase Farm hospital are in danger of being closed.
‘Many people will die as a result.’
Many protesters are expected at a lobby of today’s fake ‘consultation’ meeting.
This will consider four ‘scenarios’, three of which propose the closure of the A&E. All four propose closing the children’s and maternity services at the north London hospital.
Despite massive public opposition to the closures, the reconfiguration panel have invited a ‘Citizens Jury’ of 100 people who will be asked to vote on the four options.
The case will be presented to the ‘jury’ members by the PCT’s at the luxury hotel.
Groups such as Save Chase Farm and even the Enfield Health Scrutiny Panel are being denied a voice at the event.
Save Chase Farm said yesterday: ‘In effect, the jury will hear the case from the prosecution, but not from the defence.
‘Is this any way to decide the future of your hospitals?’
On Wednesday, the Department of Health released a document charting ‘heat plans’ – a secret ‘hit list’ of 77 NHS trusts – that estimated where plans for NHS cuts were most likely to provoke ‘media attention’ and protests.
It emerged yesterday that NHS chief executive David Nicholson has written to all MPs in England yesterday warning of a wave of closures and fundamental changes.
Nicholson appealed to MPs: ‘I appreciate that changes to much loved local services often provoke strong emotions and opinions . . .
‘I genuinely hope that we can work with you at both a national and local level to develop a mature and open debate.’
Referring to the letter, a British Medical Association (BMA) spokeswoman told News Line: ‘Politicians need to be informed but we do not agree with reconfiguration for anything other than good clinical reasons.’
Meanwhile, the NHS Together coalition of health trade unions and professional organisations met with Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt on Wednesday evening.
The BMA confirmed that it was present.
A UNISON spokeswoman told News Line: ‘We didn’t get that much out of the meeting with Patricia Hewitt.
‘But it would only take a small gesture to give the trusts a bit more time to deal with the deficits rather than rushing into cuts and job losses.’
