Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
News from Stop Haringey Health Cuts Coalition
This from Stop Haringey Health Cuts Coalition:
Monday 2nd June
6.30pm to 7pm: SHHCC general planning meeting
The Tollgate Pub (at the back), Turnpike Lane, N8
7pm: Deputation to the Council's Overview & Scrutiny Cttee
Civic Centre, High Rd, N22
Please note that we have just found out that the Council's Overview & Scrutiny Cttee is holding a very important session next Monday with reps from the Primary Care Trust answering questions about their controversial proposals for health care services. We have booked a deputation/presentation to argue that the Cttee should now at last exercise their power and therefore their duty to object to the latest proposals and refer them to the Secretary of State as unnacceptable. All who care about our health services are welcome to attend to demand a halt to the cuts, the plans to close down most of Haringey's GP practices, and the threat of further privatisation.
However, we had also already publicised a planning meeting of the SHHC Coalition the same evening. In the light of the importance of attending the Overview & Scrutiny Cttee we have decided to bring the SHHCC meeting forward to 6.30pm, but to be finished by 7pm. The main item for discussion will be our plans to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the NHS - on Sat July 5th (when we will be holding a public meeting and film show at the British Legion, 399 High Rd, N17 from 2-6pm).
Dave Morris [SHHCC Secretary] and Keith Flett [SHHCC Chair]
Monday 2nd June
6.30pm to 7pm: SHHCC general planning meeting
The Tollgate Pub (at the back), Turnpike Lane, N8
7pm: Deputation to the Council's Overview & Scrutiny Cttee
Civic Centre, High Rd, N22
Please note that we have just found out that the Council's Overview & Scrutiny Cttee is holding a very important session next Monday with reps from the Primary Care Trust answering questions about their controversial proposals for health care services. We have booked a deputation/presentation to argue that the Cttee should now at last exercise their power and therefore their duty to object to the latest proposals and refer them to the Secretary of State as unnacceptable. All who care about our health services are welcome to attend to demand a halt to the cuts, the plans to close down most of Haringey's GP practices, and the threat of further privatisation.
However, we had also already publicised a planning meeting of the SHHC Coalition the same evening. In the light of the importance of attending the Overview & Scrutiny Cttee we have decided to bring the SHHCC meeting forward to 6.30pm, but to be finished by 7pm. The main item for discussion will be our plans to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the NHS - on Sat July 5th (when we will be holding a public meeting and film show at the British Legion, 399 High Rd, N17 from 2-6pm).
Dave Morris [SHHCC Secretary] and Keith Flett [SHHCC Chair]
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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SHCC have asked for the following statement to be posted:
Stop Haringey Health Cuts Coalition Statement 22.5.08.
ANGRY RESIDENTS PROTEST AGAINST HEALTH BOSSES PLANS TO CLOSE 45 OF HARINGEY'S 60 GP SURGERIES
- Haringey Primary Care Trust Board defy public opinion and vote through a 10yr strategy involving the highly controversial creation of 5 polyclinics in place of neighbourhood-based services (especially local GP practices).
On Wed 21st May at 3pm about 50 people took part in a protest lobby and deputation to the Haringey Primary Trust Board meeting in St Ann's Hospital. The 'Save Our Surgeries' protest was called by the Stop Haringey Health Cuts Coalition at 3 days notice as the PCT had only released the details of their 'polyclinics' plans on Friday evening, 16th May. The PCT's new proposals were for 5 polyclinics 'hubs' with 15 GP practices 'spokes' (45 local practices being closed down).The PCT had not publicised their plans - which they know are unpopular and highly controversial - in any way and it had been left up to the Coalition to alert their members as best they could.
Before the meeting started many of the campaigners protested outside, some holding their organisation's banners - including the Stop Haringey Health Cuts Coalition, Better Local Healthcare Campaign, Haringey Federation of Residents Associations and the Haringey Trades Union Council. [photo available on request]. There were also reps from other groups including the Haringey Forum for Older People, Young At Heart, and the Mobility Forum.
South Tottenham resident Mario Petrou criticised the Board for misleading the public and the Council's Scrutiny Committee (which has a duty to monitor and protect Haringey's health services) about the public consultation, or lack of it. Dave Morris, Secretary of the Stop Haringey Health Cuts Coalition, made a presentation to the Board calling for the strategy to be rejected as 'irresponsible', 'unpopular' and 'unacceptable' [see full presentation, below]. Alternatively he proposed the decision be postponed to allow for public consultation, the general public being entirely unaware of the details of the proposals. During the meeting members of the public present tried to address the Board with their concerns, many shouting out: 'let the public decide!'
Unfortunately, the Board agreed to adopt the strategy and said they would develop and refine it over the coming year, with its implementation starting in 2009. Residents stormed out of the meeting and vowed to continue to campaign to save Haringey's neighbourhood-based health services, especially local GP surgeries.
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This was the presentation to the Board made by Dave Morris, Secretary of the Stop Haringey Health Cuts Coalition:
10 REASONS WHY THE PROPOSED ‘10 YEAR STRATEGY’ FOR OUR PRIMARY CARE SERVICES SHOULD BE REJECTED
1. It is irresponsible and unacceptable to propose closure of 45 out of Haringey’s 60 local GP surgeries. They are the cornerstone of, and gateway into, our health services. This may be the biggest, most radical, controversial and risky proposal ever suggested for our health services since the formation of the NHS 60 years ago.
2. It is irresponsible and unacceptable to threaten closure of many neighbourhood-based local chemists.
3. It is irresponsible and unacceptable that the details of such an important, radical and controversial strategy were only released over the weekend, with no public announcement let alone any consultation. The information was even concealed from 2 major PCT public events last Wednesday. If the Strategy is not rejected outright today then the decision must clearly be postponed for three months for effective consultation and empowerment of local health care users.
4. It is irresponsible and unacceptable that there has been no adequate public consultation at all on the key, highly-controversial proposal the abolition of almost all Haringey’s local GP surg
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