Grandiose plan is no substitute for much-needed local clinic

RESIDENTS are receiving a very glossy leaflet announcing a full consultation about changing health services. This is from the combined Primary Care Trusts for Barnet, Haringey and Enfield. The page two headline is Better treatment closer to home . It is

RESIDENTS are receiving a very glossy leaflet announcing a full consultation about changing health services. This is from the combined Primary Care Trusts for Barnet, Haringey and Enfield. The page two headline is 'Better treatment closer to home'.

It is ironic that local residents who made representations at the Haringey Civic Centre to stop our local Fortis Green Clinic being sold failed to have even a postponement of this sale! Here was a clinic close to our homes that was up for sale. Where is our choice when services can be re-located without our having a say?

Residents value the Fortis Green Clinic even though services there have dwindled, so we were indignant when Haringey Primary Care Trust told us the sale was due to its under-use.

The trust described the glorious 'state of the art' building with five times the capacity of Fortis Green to be built on the Hornsey Central site on Park Road, incidentally a difficult bus ride from Muswell Hill.

We wondered how services were to be found for such a large building when Fortis Green Clinic could not be filled, but then it became clear that commercial interests and private providers could help pay the rent of this 'flag-ship' health facility.

Do not despair at this 'Alice in Wonderland' situation. Today, helped by MP Lynne Featherstone, three venerable ladies from this borough will present a petition at number 10 Downing Street, demanding that land on the Hornsey Central site is not sold and that health services delivered at the new hospital remain public.

JANET SHAPIRO

Save Hornsey Central Hospital Campaign & Treasurer, Muswell Hill and Highgate Pensioners Action Group