Protests as top NHS reformer speaks at Whittington Hospital
PROTESTERS were out in force as the former chief executive of the private company now running three GP surgeries in Camden appeared as a guest speaker at the Whittington Hospital in Highgate. On Tuesday night, Dr Richard Smith spoke about combining public
PROTESTERS were out in force as the former chief executive of the private company now running three GP surgeries in Camden appeared as a guest speaker at the Whittington Hospital in Highgate.
On Tuesday night, Dr Richard Smith spoke about combining public and private sectors in healthcare.
And he made parallels to the USA and Latin America where the rich have access to the best healthcare treatment and the poor get the worst.
"I'm trying to avoid that," he said. "But I'm sure the people who were protesting at the gate today think I'm trying to promote that."
You may also want to watch:
Protesters outside the hospital said Dr Smith's invitation to the Whittington's annual oration shows how far the agenda to privatise the NHS has moved.
Dr Smith was editor of the British Medical Journal for 25 years before joining the UnitedHealth Group - the American company which took over the Brunswick Medical Centre, the Camden Road Surgery and King's Cross Road Surgery in April.
Most Read
- 1 Camden's Levertons to arrange the funeral of Prince Philip on April 17
- 2 Royal Free ITU nurse who swapped the Caribbean for a Covid ward
- 3 Lockdown easing April 12 live updates: North London shops and pubs reopen
- 4 'It's a godsend': Hampstead pubs and shops back serving the community
- 5 Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe: Wait for second verdict could last 'until Easter'
- 6 Hampstead, Highgate and Primrose Hill beer gardens reopening on April 12
- 7 Primrose Hill to close at night this weekend after antisocial behaviour
- 8 Locals celebrate as the Carlton Tavern finally re-opens
- 9 The questions council 'must answer' after spending £23m on £10m office
- 10 Hampstead to trial unobtrusive electric vehicle charging points
Picture by Polly Hancock