Lynne Featherstone

I secured a 90 minute in Parliament today on the Future of London Hospitals - obviously about the Whittington A&E, maternity and paediatrics.

I wanted to use this opportunity to really put the case to the Minister that the sweeping changes being proposed have no clinical evidence base and no business case. I demonstrated (for about half an hour) how there is no evidence of where or how 45,000 A&E patients who could not be handled by an alternative means would be cared for, nor any existing services in the community to deal with the 38,000 shoved from the A&E to Primary Care. Out of hours GPs are already a worse service in Haringey than the rest of London and there is no statistical data on polyclinics or urgent care centres to show that they could cope. There has been no work on access and up until now - no proper extensive quantative consultation.

The Minister in his wind-up was pretty clear that he did not think the case for the Whittington A&E to close had been made. I think the fact that this is Labour policy that is driving this - together with the benefit of the pressure from the coming election - has helped the Minister into this position - at least for now!

As soon as Hansard is published - I will paste up or link to the actual debate - as many Members made very good and robust arguments from all sides of the political divide.

Adrian's story:

I completely support the campaign to keep the A&E service going at the Whittington and have had three experiences:- 1. About 18 months ago I cut my foot badly at home (I live in Crouch End). My wife drove me to the Whittington, where I had a rapid first examination and assessment, before taking my place in the queue while more serious injuries were dealt with. Had the Whittington not been available, (and because of the amount of blood!), I would have had to call for an ambulance.
2. I have a stepbrother with Aspergers syndrome. About 2 1/2 years ago, at a time when he was self medicating, he became very concerned, and disturbed that he had taken too much medicine. He was able to take himself to the Whittington, who discussed the matter with him, to discover that in fact he had failed to take one particular set of medication. (When I went to pick him up, I was informed, tongue in cheek, that A&E was not the place for people who had underdosed!)

3. My 80 year old mother in law had a fall at home about 4 years ago, leaving her very bruised, shaken and distressed. We took her to the Whittington where she had a rapid first assessment, and was then kept for observation for about 4 hours. A more distant hospital would have need the services of an ambulance, and would have been considerably more distressing for her.

Michael's story:
A couple of years ago, actually late in the evening walking home to Avenue Road N6 from the Annual Meeting of the local residents' association CASCH, I tripped over a raised manhole cover in the pavement at the Coolhurst Road end of Avenue Road and fell flat on my face. Not a good thing to do at age (as I was then) nearly 70, and I split my chin open right to the bone and did various other forms of no good to my face. My wife drove me straight to A&E at the Whittington, where fortunately it seemed to be a fairly quiet night, and I was treated and patched up with much efficiency and goodwill within an hour of the mishap. It would have been much less convenient to have to go further afield, and as we get older it is actually a comfort that the A&E is so close.

Incidentally, I have had various treatments at the Whittington over nearly four decades, and I have been thoroughly satisfied with them all.

Naomi's story:

Many, many times have I been grateful for the quick and safe reactions of the staff of the Whittington A&E.

Just one story?

I run a group for mothers and babies nearby. One afternoon, a toddler knocked over a mug of very hot tea. His mother tried to comfort him, but he was obviously in pain. I suggested she hurry to the Whittington A&E, and said I'd come and meet her there after the meeting. When I got there, she was in a separate room with her son. A doctor arrived and dealt with the burn with an excellent cream and bandage. The toddler relaxed immediately she started to treat him. Small though he was, he could tell he was in good hands. The doctor explained exactly how the mother should dress the wound at home. She was efficient but human too. The mother is now applying to do voluntary work at the Whittington, and I have just been asked to give a reference for her.

Gillian's story:

In 2005 I became unwell and developed a high temperature. I wasn't well enough to go to the doctor and was prescribed antibiotics on a home visit from our local doctor on a Friday. Unfortunately I was extremely allergic to the drugs and was told on Saturday by Camidoc (phone call) to stop taking them if they were making me vomit. On Sunday I felt considerably worse and a Camidoc doctor visited and immediately called an ambulance. One of the side effects of my illness was that I remained rational and quite convincing that I was not as sick as I was. The ambulance arrived at A&E and they - without absolute proof but based on symptoms - began treating me for bacterial meningitis and pneumonia. Had they given me a lumbar puncture which is one way to prove the diagnosis, I would probably have died.

The pressure in my spinal column was dangerously high. Their swift action undoubtedly saved my life. I was in hospital for 2 months and all the specialists thought I was a walking miracle when I left. The credit was given by all the medical team to that first Doctor in A&E who saw me within 10 minutes of my arrival.

I would also write to say how critical the A&E has been to my elderly neighbour. Sheila W lived in Priory Gardens for over 50 years. Her husband was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, her son was epileptic and she herself had severe arthritis. During their lifetime, the Whittington were on hand for every emergency - and there were many. In recent years Sheila fell down a flight of stairs and broke her arm in three places. She phoned me for help and on arrival at A&E the staff were outstanding. She was fragile, old and very afraid. Her fear of painkillers was great because her stomach had been made vulnerable from other medications. They set up an intravenous drip of paracetamol for her which was wonderful - the salient point is that they did not need to resort to morphine or other high dependency drugs. The pain clinic work at the Whittington is outstanding and their policies are used in the A&E to enormous benefit.

Mary's story:

In October 2009, I became very ill at home because I was hemorrhaging from ulcers in my stomach and round the base of my windpipe. I did not know I had ulcers because I was in no pain: I simply felt extremely weak. My excellent GP, Dr Friedman came to see me at home and immediately sent me to Whittington A&E. The doctors there saw me at once and, after some preliminary investigations, transferred me to a diagnostic unit .It was found that my blood count was only 6.5 when it should have been 12. I was put in a ward very quickly and given 3 units of blood. Thanks to the excellent and very prompt treatment I received, I have made a full recovery.
Without the skilled treatment I received at Whittington's A&E I could easily have died as the hemorrhaging did not stop until some time after I was admitted to hospital. I am extremely grateful for the skilled treatment I received and think it essential that Whittington A&E remains open.

Alicia's story:

PERSONAL THANKS TO THE WHITTINGTON A AND E DEPARTMENT My elder son developed acute appendicitis and we had to rush him in a minicab to the Whittington. He was in agony and every second counted.
We were terrified that his appendix would burst but the A and E were wonderful and, I think, probaby saved his life. When he was badly beaten up on the Archway Road and his face was "like a football" because of the kicking he had endured, they were enormously supportive and restored him. My family are so grateful to the dedication and professionalism of the Whittington.

Hilary's story:

This is my story about the Whittington and how much they have helped me.  24th December 2006 I was hit by a car when crossing the road in Stroud Green.  I was rushed into Whittington hospital.  My knee was broken in two places and  I had a serious scar on my forehead which is receding more all the time.  No operation was needed but I was in very good hands and was very grateful.  Last year I fell over and broke my arm.  Again I was in the Whittington for a week and was well looked after gratefully.  I had an operation and a plate was inserted.  Thankfully they were there on both occasions.

JH's story:
Two years ago my wife was acting erratically and out of character, hardy getting any sleep and working herself into the ground. She made strange and irrational inferences and became delusional. When I tried to speak to her about it she became defensive and even abusive. The situation worsened until one morning she had a break down. She rang me at the school where I teach, saying that she was unable to get out of bed and feeling suicidal.
That night, having rung NHS direct, I managed to persuade her to go the Whittington to see a doctor on an emergency basis. The doctor we saw was fantastic. He recognised my wife's condition and spoke with her in a very sensitive and understanding way. He prescribed some medication which got us through the initial crisis until we could begin to access some psychiatric care.  Psychiatric services in the NHS are woefully underfunded and it took a long time to finally get get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate medication. Thankfully, wife is now back at work in her demanding media job and is managing her condition superbly well. However, if it wasn't for that initial contact with that doctor at the Whittington in the middle of the night, she might not be alive today.

Alison's Story

I've lost count of how many times I've had to go to the A&E with small children and for myself. Often I've gone by bus as I don't have a car (not possible if A&E gets transferred to Royal Free - takes an hour and 2 buses!) with my thumb hanging off, or an eye that's been poked but at least it's been relatively local to where I live. The kids - broken wrist and front teeth bashed out; an eye nearly lost through a collision with child cyclist in park and blood pouring everywhere etc etc. Always received excellent care despite the waiting. Please don't move A&E where we can't get to it easily!
It does NOT make sense.