Whipps Cross: Waiting for a Decision

1.29.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 29th Sep 2007

Early in 2007 Cllr John Beanse proposed a motion supporting the retention of Whipps Cross hospital. This was seconded by Lib Dem Cllr Sheila Smith-Pryor and passed unanimously by all members of Waltham Forest Council. At a Council meeting in July John condemned the disgraceful conduct of the Secretary of State for Health for not even having the courtesy to reply to the petition. Following this, Cllr Liz Phillips, the portfolio holder on the Waltham Forest Cabinet wrote for the third time and this at least has elicited an apology. A substantive response is of course, still awaited.

In the interim as a member of the cross borough scrutiny group, John has attended an important meeting with Professor Sir George Alberti, who is heading up the "Fit for the Future" review into health care. John stressed that proposed reductions in the number of clinical departments and wards at Whipps Cross and the possible closure of the A&E department in one of either Whipps Cross, King Georges or Oldchurch hospitals, was a cause of great concern to the residents of both Waltham Forest and Redbridge.