• TOM Foot’s alarming report on the planned relocation of A&E facilities raises very serious concerns for the welfare of children in Camden, and also for the wellbeing of medical staff who are there to care for them, (Nurses quit as decision to close children’s A&E units sparks huge backlash, October 1).

He reported the views of local medical and school staff; he brought in the roles of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and a campaign group North Central London NHS Watch.

Towards the end of the report we read of North London Partners whom someone has “tasked with making £1billion of NHS efficiencies over five years”.

Whoever or whatever these partners may be, they refer in turn to clinical advisory groups who seem to approve the relocation of facilities move.

In an accompanying report Tom Foot refers to Whittington Facilities Limited who have had a two-year dispute with the Whittington trust over finances.

It seems that there are several bodies responsible for plans to move A&E facilities for children, and last of all to come into the picture has been the Whittington trust.

In mid-September I (with how many others?) was invited to vote for governors of the Royal Free trust. Some 56 people had put themselves forward to be governors.

The documents sent out with this appeal for votes offered statements from each candidate, which gave me (for one) little idea of what the trust actually is and does, and what the governors might do on, and for, that body.

Is the relocation plan something on which the Royal Free trust has some relevant informed opinion and influence? What, indeed, is the trust’s position?

Who, incidentally, was elected in that recent poll for governors? I have looked through the web for information on the trust and have even asked more than one doctor – so far without getting any clear and informed picture.

What may the Royal Free trust do, concerning the contested move of A&E departments from Royal Free to Whittington hospitals?

MALLORY WOBER
Lancaster Grove, NW3