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19.3.04
Liberal Democrats in Haringey have expressed anger and disappointment with
Labour Members of the Health and Social Services scrutiny panel after they
blocked a move to refer the issue of the closure of Canning
Crescent and Kate Marsden Day Hospitals to the Secretary of State for
Health.
The committee could have referred the decision - a power given to
Scrutiny Panels under the new arrangements for holding local NHS Trusts
accountable. Two Liberal Democrat members, Cllr Ron Aitken and Cllr Neil
Williams, voted in favour of referral.
The calls for the issue to be referred came after users of the
day hospitals expressed anger at the closures and the lack of progress in
providing crisis and intervention services, despite promises made last
September. The Day Hospitals Campaign published their own minority report on
the issue highlighting serious shortcomings in the consultation process and
in Haringey's mental health services.
Lib Dem social services spokesperson, Ron Aitken is deeply concerned by the
decision not to refer the matter to the Secretary of State, given the
importance of the issue and the controversy surrounding the closures.
Cllr Ron Aitken comments:
"It will be bitterly disappointing for local users
of these services that Labour councillors voted to block the opportunity for
the issue to be reviewed by the Secretary of State for Health."
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