[WATCH FILM: You can watch a film about the 5 point plan on the blog]

Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, Lynne Featherstone and Liberal Democrat Councillor Richard Wilson (Spokesperson for Health and Social Services) have launched their Five Point Prescription for Hornsey Central Hospital.

Lynne is backing a bid for £7 million of central NHS money to be invested in a new building on the hospital site.However, the MP and local Liberal Democrat councillors are calling on the local NHS to listen to the concerns of residents about the impact on existing GPs and pharmacists.

This prescription aims to ensure that the opportunity to improve Haringey’s health provision is not lost. The plan sets out five key areas that Liberal Democrats in Haringey believe need to be addressed. These are:

1.More GPs and clinic sessions provided – not just the existing GPs and clinics we already have reshuffled and centralised. It is essential that there remains a good coverage of GPs across the area. The PCT needs to persuade the large hospitals to provide specialist services in the new Hornsey facility, so less have to travel out of the borough for treatment.

2.Real engagement and consultation with patients, residents, voluntary organisations and health workers over the development and relocation of services. There needs to be a real dialogue between the PCT and local GPs if people are to have any confidence in these plans.

3.Improve public transport to Hornsey Hospital, to ensure it is accessible – particularly for older people and parents with young children. The PCT needs to work with Transport for London to get existing bus routes extended to reach the site and the W2 route reinstated.

4.Protect our community pharmacies by working with existing pharmacists and carrying out an impact assessment before opening a new pharmacy at the Hospital.

5.Save NHS land by not selling off property to developers before the new Hospital is built and unless the sale is vital to financing new facilities. Rushing to sell off NHS property puts the future development of local health services at risk – the land can never be brought back to health use once it is sold.

Lynne Featherstone commented:

“Like everyone else I want to see more money being invested in local health services.But it is vital that Haringey Primary Care Trust consults with local people and health professionals to get the project right.The development needs to expand health provision in Haringey – not just recycle the surgeries and clinics we already have in the area.”

Cllr Wilson added:

“The PCT should start building the facility in 2007. It is vital that they listen to the residents’ concerns and that they adopt our 5 point prescription.”

Lynne Featherstone and Haringey Liberal Democrat councillors will jointly write to Richard Sumray, the Chair of Haringey Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Bob Harris, Executive Member for Health and Social Services, to press for their support for the 5 point prescription.