AddThis SmartLayers

Weekly celebrates victory in hospital fight

A weekly newspaper in London is celebrating victory in its campaign to save a local hospital.

The Camden New Journal Camden New Journal and Islington Tribune launched a bid earlier this year to save closure-threatened Whittington Hospital, in Highgate.

Last week, health secretary Andy Burnham personally contacted the paper to say he had ordered a “complete halt” to the plans.

Mr Burnham exclusively told New Journal reporter Tom Foot: “It is inconceivable that Labour would support the closing or downgrading of the Whittington A&E or its maternity service.”

The minister’s intervention follows a campaign organised by the New Journal which saw thousands of local residents, volunteers, patients and doctors march through the streets in support.

The other two main parties in the election campaign have also ruled out the hospital’s closure.

Deputy editor Richard Osley said: “We are delighted with this result. It’s a win for everybody in north London.

“This has been an extraordinary campaign which has united communities in Camden, Islington and Haringey. To get 5,000 people marching through the streets regardless of their political persuasion was a scene our newsdesk will never forget.

“People still talk about the double decker bus we hired to lead the procession through the streets of Islington that day in February. We feel we played our part in making sure the people power won through and these senseless plans will now be abandoned whichever party forms the next government.

“People may say Andy Burnham and his shadow counterparts are only making commitments because of the election but that’s what democracy is about. We have forced the agenda and made sure public services are right at the top.

Added Richard: “It was a team effort for the paper, eight of our journalists across our titles joined in but special mention should go to our reporter Tom Foot who first wrote about the prospect of the in A& E closing down in July 2008.

“He followed the story through all the way through to today. It was fitting that he delivered the exclusive that told London the hospital is no longer under threat.”