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Tottenham MP, David Lammy, has hit out at government plans which threaten North Middlesex Hospital. The hospital, which was recently rebuilt at a cost of £120 million, serves Edmonton and Tottenham. The redevelopment includes new wards, state-of-the-art theatres, X-ray facilities and an expanded emergency department. The Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Clinical Strategy supported the upgrading of North Middlesex University Hospital, which serves two of the poorest areas of London – Tottenham and Edmonton.
The Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, has suggested that he will now reject the Strategy. The development at North Middlesex was planned and built to take account of changes under the Strategy. If the Strategy is rejected, the gap between forecast income and actual costs would become unmanageable. The North Middlesex would have to sacrifice services to maintain a viable hospital. The North Middlesex would have to radically reduce its clinical staff and would be unable to remain as an independent NHS Trust focusing on local people. The excellent track record of improving quality, reducing infections and meeting waiting times would end. The ability to deliver babies safely with one-to-one care in labour would be severely affected. Lammy said: “The North Middlesex serves some of the poorest people in London with some of the greatest health issues. The recent investment was the first in a generation, helping Londoners who need help the most. The expansion of emergency care and facilities for women and children has really helped the people of Tottenham and Edmonton
“However, the government now look like they want to support hospitals in wealthier parts of London, and to forget about poorer Londoners. I am calling on the government to support Tottenham and Edmonton and to back North Middlesex.
“It’s absolutely outrageous that the government would pull the plug on North Middlesex after all the investment it has received. Where are people in Tottenham and Edmonton going to go in an emergency if the government stops supporting North Middlesex? I’m standing up for our local hospital and the government should do the same.”
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