‘SAY “No’’ to this sham consultation!’, shouted dozens of angry local residents fighting to save Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield, as they demonstrated outside the Novotel in Euston yesterday morning.
A leaflet handed out by local residents stated: ‘Despite clear public opposition to the closure of A&E, Maternity and Children’s services at Chase Farm, the reconfiguration panel are pressing ahead with a “Citizen’s Jury’’ of 100 people who will be asked to vote on four options, none of which involve Chase Farm retaining all of its services.’
As the selected jurors went in, the protesters said: ‘Over 12,000 people voted to save Chase Farm: please reject the four “options’’ you’re being presented with – none of them involve keeping the A&E, Children’s and Maternity units open.’
Councillor Kate Wilkinson told News Line: ‘I was elected in May this year as an independent councillor for the Save Chase Farm party.
‘Our party got twelve-and-a-half thousand votes, which is another indication that the people in our area have already spoken extremely loudly and extremely clearly with regard to the issues being discussed today.
‘This cannot be allowed to happen or lives will be lost. It’s as simple as that.’
The Novotel is directly opposite the headquarters of UNISON, Britain’s biggest health workers’ union.
Wilkinson said: ‘My message to the unions is now, more than ever, a large collaborative action is needed to resolve this issue that is affecting so many thousands of lives of the most vulnerable members of our community.
‘They are focusing on “reconfiguring’’ services for women, women in labour, very sick children and the A&E departments, so those in need of immediate acute care, who need the most help, who are at their most vulnerable, are being placed at risk.
‘The impartial Enfield Health Scrutiny Panel will be denied a voice at this event. . . These four options have been unanimously rejected by Barnet and Enfield Council. Why is nobody listening??’
The Barnet, Haringey, Enfield and South Herts Clinical Strategy Project Board had picked 100 local ‘jurors’ to hear its four plans for cuts and closures at the hospital at the meeting in the central London hotel 10 miles from Enfield – well away from the community.
The idea was that the elected jury will recommend one of the plans to the trust management.
Keeping the hospital fully functioning is not an option.
John Arend, 74, from Winchmore Hill, told News Line: ‘They, the hospital committee – the bosses – want to transfer our A&E department to Barnet Hospital.
‘It will take an extra seven minutes for ambulances to get there – travelling at top speed. But they are not empty roads, they are main roads, and seven minutes can be critical.’
Local campaigner Richard Reeve said: ‘This meeting is a meeting arranged by the PCT in Enfield.
‘They’ve selected 100 “citizens’’ to take part in a “Citizens Jury’’.
‘Four proposals are before the jury, none of which involve saving the hospital.
‘We’re forbidden from addressing the meeting, so we feel they will only hear a one-sided argument.
‘We think it’s an exercise aimed at giving the impression there is public support for closing services at Chase Farm, whereas it’s clear the level of public support for keeping services open is overwhelming.’
Jean Wortley, from Enfield, said: ‘I’m here demonstrating because as an Enfield resident, the “options’’ for emergency care, maternity care or child care mean that you have to go to either Barnet or North Middlesex Hospitals for treatment.
‘It will mean an impossibly long journey for an emergency, for anyone who hasn’t got a car and generally has to get their children to and from school.’
Ivy and Alan Beard, from Broxbourne in Hertfordshire, said: ‘We’re absolutely disgusted by what’s taking place here. It’s just a sham.’
Ivy said: ‘I’m surprised that the trade unions haven’t got involved.
‘I’m for joint action by the unions and local communities to stop these hospital closures and the unions to my knowledge haven’t got involved.
‘I think it requires national action to defend the NHS and stop the government picking off our hospitals one by one.’
