Doctors fear for future of Whittington
AS a group of frontline doctors working in both hospitals and the community, we are gravely concerned about the implications of proposed service changes by NHS London for the north central sector of the capital (Camden, Islington, Haringey, Barnet, Enfield).
They include transferring the majority of care, currently delivered in hospital, into the community and the consequent downgrading of many acute hospitals. This will involve loss of key services, including emergency surgery, paediatrics and maternity services with the resultant loss of full A&E services in many hospitals in our local area - including the Whittington, Homerton and University College Hospital.
As clinicians we spend our lives striving to improve patient care so we embrace change when it benefits patients.
We are worried about the pace of change as community services are in no position to take on this massive role and loss of emergency services will affect all of your readers. There has been no meaningful involvement of the public or professionals by NHS London in developing these plans and we believe we all should have a voice in these important proposals. - Wendy Savage, on behalf of Members of the Islington Division of the BMA.
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