Queen Mary House

• SELLING what was once a top-notch NHS rehabilitation centre, the Queen Mary House in Hempstead, looks to be the beginning of flogging precious local and national NHS assets.

To lose such invaluable NHS public properties for all time when the need for health and social care is growing apace is an invidious and deceptive strategy.

It does nothing to compensate for or address the long-term underfunding and the waste of £billions every year on marketing in the NHS. A profound widespread sense of grievance over the loss of a genuinely public NHS is rising.

Promoting the sale of our NHS hospital and community assets without authentic public discussion or public accountability is wrong.

This was never voted for by the electorate, councils or MPs but is being imposed from on high by government reports, back-door manoeuvres and secretive deals. The public have a right to object and can make their voices heard by contacting their elected representatives.

Led by Defend Whittington Hospital Coalition and supported by local papers and MPs many thousands protested at the proposed sell-off of Whittington buildings several years ago and successfully reversed the management decision.

The community of patients, staff and residents does matter a very great deal and every voice can help make a difference. We don’t have to accept this deal being foisted on us against the real needs and interests of the community.

How many people want Rydon / Ryhurst at the heart of major decisions over the future viability of our hospital and local clinics? In whose interest would this property company be acting?

Are we really expected to believe they care more for patients than their pockets? That they are similar in ethos and purpose to some kind of public spirited charity? It’s nonsense through and through.

The Whittington management have claimed that if the deal does not go ahead the government will take over the sale of some hospital buildings and keep the proceeds and / or that the hospital would close. This is a most serious and frightening threat and one wonders what’s really in it and behind it.

For a great community district hospital and connected community health facilities to be forced into a shotgun marriage with Rydon / Ryhurst on this basis is no way to run the NHS. Perhaps the Secretary of State for Health could clarify the position?

SHARON LYTTON
Cromwell Avenue, N6