I recently visited my niece at my local Whittington Hospital, bringing back some good – and some best forgotten – memories of giving birth to my daughter there two years ago. Fortunately, my niece is now home and in good shape. I wish I could say the same for the hospital itself.
Some of you may have seen the recent news about the planned sell-off of half its footprint. Not only will wards have to close, resulting in fewer beds, but also maternity services are going to be capped at 4,000 births.
As a Kentish Town mum, aunt, daughter and grand-daughter, I’ve spent my fair share of time in the corridors and wards of the Whittington. I can’t speak highly enough of the care and treatment my family have received. From consultants to nurses, staff have always been more than competent, caring and gone above and beyond their roles.
It was therefore with sadness and frustration that I started to look into the rationale for the sell-off. Yet all my research has only left me more frustrated and prompted me to write this piece in the hope that Kentishtowner readers will get behind the campaign to save the hospital.
The sell-off is fundamentally short-sighted. In the short-term it solves the Whittington Trust’s financial situation. Sell your assets and raise some cash. And it’s largely being driven by the introduction of the government’s bill forcing cuts of £20 billion across the NHS.
As well as a mother, I’m also an economist – one that thinks that cuts to public services are not the solution to our financial woes but rather a recipe for long-run economic and social disaster. For me, government priorities are completely mislaid, ignoring the fact that the need for NHS services is growing, particularly in our area.
The suggested cap of 4,000 births in the maternity ward is worrying. The Whittington recorded 4,249 deliveries in 2010/11. Given that we are currently witnessing the biggest baby boom in 40 years (Telegraph, 12 November 2012), and that other hospitals are implementing similar cuts, it is unclear where expectant families that are turned away from the Whittington are supposed to go.
The plan to sell commercial buildings at a time when prices for such property are back down to the levels last seen in 2002 (IPD data) simply does not make economic sense.
On top of that, axing jobs is also short-sighted. Having trained brilliant nurses, doctors and midwives who are in desperate need by the community we will simply lose them to the private sector. In their place, those that stay will be over-stretched, tired and fed-up.
So, what can we do to stop all this? Well, for starters come to an important meeting tonight at Camden Town Hall, 6.30pm with our local MP, Frank Dobson. And if that’s not an option, join the Defend Whittington Hospital coalition and sign the petition to stop the sell-off.
Or simply show your support below as we’ll forward this article onwards, with all its comments.
Main Image: Thanks to Transition Dartmouth Park
Hannah Bargawi is an Economist at the School of Oriental and African Studies and a Kentish Town mum.
2 thoughts on “Why It Matters: Saving Whittington Hospital”
even though i dont live in the area anymore, it doesnt mean that i dont care. its disgusting that governments throughout europe let things get so bad that their only solution is to sell the useful buildings and leave the useless ones stand empty. so often we see various government departments paying high rents whilst gover. owned properties stand derilict losing money. how can it be financially feasable short or long term to close a hospital, especially one like whittington. shame on them (yet again).
As you said – where are the other expectant mothers supposed to go? A recent tour (well, 2 years ago) and much anecdotal evidence from mum who used the Royal Free’s maternity unit reveals how busy it is there – so they can’t take the natural overflow. Crazy, crazy short-termism.