Cllr Wayne Hoban, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Social Services spokesperson, has written to the Chair of Haringey’s Teaching Primary Healthcare Trust (PCT) to express concern that the PCT may have failed to adequately involve and consult patients and the public in relation to planning proposals and decisions affecting the provision of health services on the Hornsey Central Hospital site.

Cllr Hoban has identified that under section 11 (1) of the Health and Social Care Act 2001, the PCT is obliged to involve and consult patients and the public over the Hornsey Central development plans.

Following the unfolding NHS funding crisis, the Trust has withdrawn the original development plans, and approved a substantially different scheme. Patients and local residents, as well as Haringey Council’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, had been consulted over the original plans. However, the new designs have not enjoyed this consultation process.

Cllr Hoban states, “I am seriously concerned that the decision to amend the previous scheme in the absence of further consultation may go against legislation under the 2001 Act. The Hornsey Central Hospital site is one of our local treasures, and it should be used to provide much-needed healthcare to local people.

“The Liberal Democrats and I are concerned that the latest plans are more to do with balancing budget books than with addressing health needs, and the lack of consultation with patients and residents is concerning.”