Letter

Foundation trusts: opposition continues

Now is not the time to give up the fight against foundation hospitals. By forcing through its legislation the government has added urgency to the need to protect the integrity of the NHS.

Our local district general hospital, the Homerton University Hospital NHS Trust, wants to remain a first wave applicant. The chief executive wasted no time after the Health and Social Care Act received the royal assent in recommending the go-ahead to her board. Her report setting out why the Homerton should go ahead was dated and signed off before formal consultation had even been completed!

Among proposals submitted to ensure genuine local accountability is one to extend ‘membership’ to everyone on the electoral register in Hackney. Why scarce NHS resources are being wasted on creating and maintaining separate ‘membership’ lists is baffling. Significant public money is already spent maintaining an electoral register for a number of different elections.

Over the coming months, the Hackney North constituency Labour Party is committed to continuing the struggle to make sure the integrity of the NHS is protected. We hope other campaigners will join us in rallying round to ‘give everyone a say’.