J’s story:

I am epileptic.

Once I had a very serious fit in which I was unconscious for half an hour, and an ambulance had to be called. On numerous other occasions I have had fits in which I was injured, needing a hospital trip.
I am hugely grateful that on all these occasions, there was a good A&E just a short distance away.

A trip to the Royal Free or the North Middlesex would have taken at least twice as long; the roads from Crouch End to the Royal Free are messy, while the North Middlesex is further yet.

I can well imagine the worry which this proposal brings to other people in this area, who may have serious or life-threatening conditions. Time matters in such cases.

G’s story:

I would like to add to this.

I am the one,who has to get my partner John to A&E,if anything happens when I am here. To have to go further than the Whittington would be awful.

As for my own last experience-I developed a terrible, painful rash,that spread like wildfire. After calling NHS Direct the second time in the middle of the night, the doctor I spoke to,suggested to go to A&E.

I was very unwell, but made it to the Whittington, any further would have been questionable. On arrival,several doctors did not know what was wrong. I was given several injections. Then I had to wait many hours,to see the Dermatology Consultant,who had to take a biopsy. It turned out to be Urticaria Vasculitis, cause unknown.

In a Polyclinic,I am sure,this could not have been dealt with. Then surely a transfer to hospital would have been necessary.