Andrew Dismore

Local Labour London Assembly Members met with the Board of Whittington Hospital last week about plans to downsize and reconfigure services. Jennette Arnold OBE AM, Andrew Dismore AM and Joanne McCartney AM questioned plans to sell off parts of the hospital buildings and land and the number of jobs that would be lost as a result.

The Board of Whittington Hospital plans include:

• Selling off £17m worth of public buildings and land owned by the hospital
• Closing three wards on the main site
• Halving the number of patient beds
• Axing 570 jobs, including around 200 nurses

Jennette Arnold OBE AM said:

“In the current economic climate axing over 570 jobs will have a damaging impact on the local community. We need to be creating jobs in North London, not getting rid of them.”

Andrew Dismore AM said:

“We welcome the decision to invest money into improving maternity services at the Whittington, but it is short-sighted to be capping the number of births at 4,000. There are a number of new housing estates being built in the local area which will be aimed at families.”

Joanne McCartney AM said:

“The proposal to put a cap on maternity services is very concerning. Across London, maternity services are being closed or capped and it is essential that there is more integration about whether the services left open will be enough for London’s growing population.”