Local Liberal Democrat councillors have fought hard to secure written assurances from Haringey’s Primary Care Trust (PCT) that health services would not be moved out of the Muswell Hill and Fortis Green area without a full public consultation.

The promise came at Wednesday night’s Overview & Scrutiny meeting to discuss public concern over the proposed sale of the Fortis Green clinic. Proposals to move services from the clinic are expected to be approved at the PCT board meeting on January 24th. Pressure from the Liberal Democrats has now ensured that local alternatives have now been found for all the clinic’s services – on Pages Lane and Colney Hatch Lane, both also in Fortis Green ward.

Cllr Martin Newton (Lib Dem, Fortis Green) comments:

“We are pleased that the PCT eventually listened to local campaigners and decided to relocate the clinic services in nearby local premises.

“The long-term plan was to relocate these services to the new Hornsey Hospital when it is up-and-running but we have now got the PCT to agree to carry out a full public consultation before they move these services out of the Muswell Hill and Fortis Green area.”

Cllr Matt Davies (Lib Dem, Fortis Green) comments:

“It is highly regrettable that the PCT did not consult more widely and for a longer time on this issue. But at least local alternatives have been found.

“We now have assurances that local health services will definitely not be moved from Fortis Green and Muswell Hill without a proper consultation and will not automatically transfer to Hornsey.”