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Health Care in London

Let me begin by putting the issues in the context of Islington. We have clearly benefited hugely, with the tripled budget, from the Labour Government's investment in the health service. We have the best cancer unit in Britain in the world's oldest hospital, at Barts. We have new doctor surgeries and more money is spent on health per head in Islington than anywhere else. We also have the fantastic University College London hospital. My family, I am afraid, know the hospital all too well. The last time I went to its A and E department, my 10-year-old shouted rather loudly, "Mummy, this is normally where we sit." The A and E was built for 60,000 people to go to, but now 100,000 people go there. I understand that the A and E at the Whittington hospital has had £32 million invested in it. The reason we have all this money spent in Islington is because we die too early. Although the death rate has declined over the last few years, it is still very marked indeed, as about 46 per cent. of Islington residents die prematurely. We have done well, but we now hear that the NHS in Islington has, after a dance of seven veils, a plan to close the Whittington A and E and the maternity unit, to which we say, "But why?" We are told that it is because we are going to be £560 million short, to which we say, "Well, why? Where did you get that from? What are you talking about?" Frankly, we get very little response that makes any sense. We then say, "Is this because you are anticipating a Tory Government? Because do you know what? There hasn't even been an election yet. Who knows whether or not we are going to have to suffer a Conservative Government? Why are you making plans in anticipation of those sorts of cuts?" There has been, and still is, a great campaign. It was launched in Islington and is led by local MPs. As my right hon. Friend the Member for Tottenham (Mr. Lammy) said at a large meeting after a demonstration, saving the Whittington is one of the few things that unites Tottenham and Arsenal supporters. We have a great campaign, which has involved more than 10,000 people, half of whom were on the demonstration that marched up Holloway road last week. We have had packed public meetings, led by my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, North (Jeremy Corbyn). The Islington Tribune has provided crucial support to the campaign, as has the Islington Gazette. Let me assure the Islington PCT that we mean business; we do not expect the A and E or the maternity unit in the Whittington hospital to close. If decisions are to be made locally, the PCT should listen to local people. If it wants a consultation, all it has to do is ask, and we will tell it to leave the Whittington alone. If it thinks otherwise, it will have a fight on its hands.