19.01.1995

Hospitals not charters

OVER 350 people marched from Stevenage’s Lister Hospital to a meeting to discuss the health authority’s plans to close 50% of Hertfordshire’s accident and emergency units. At the meeting the speakers from the health authority found themselves the butt of local residents’ anger that such a move could even be contemplated.

Tellingly the bright spark who had drawn up the proposals was not at the meeting but, as the assembled were told, he was still on his Christmas holidays and unable to get a flight home because of weather conditions. Altogether now: “Ah!”

The health service represented the case for about 30 minutes and were as believable as Richard Nixon or Conservative election promises. One thing for sure is that the attempt to run healthcare at a profit in the area will mean longer travel times for injured and sick people in need of emergency care and the possibility that care may not come soon enough for some.

This week also saw the launch of Virginia Bottomley’s new ‘Patients’ Charter’. Our experience of campaigning indicates that Bottomley is perhaps the most hated character in British politics. Her charter will not cut much ice with those on the receiving end of healthcare cuts.

Gary Salisbury