Steve Webb, LibDem Shadow Health Secretary came to Hornsey & Wood Green yesterday to meet with myself, Lib Dem colleagues and three local residents who are all massively concerned and upset about Hornsey Central Hospital – or more accurately, the lack of anything tangible in its place since it was closed nearly six years ago.

There is a bid being worked up to apply for some government funding from the cottage/community hospital funding the Government is making available to support its rhetoric around wanting more community facilities – though in reality it is doing more about concentrating its funding on acute/secondary care.

I and my colleagues are looking into what the bid will comprise and hope that we will hear more detail at the public meeting being held on the 13th September at 18:00 at the Methodist Church Hall, Middle Lane. (See here for a map).

We are determined to campaign for good facilities. We have been waiting like good children for the promises made in 2000 to be delivered – but no more Mr Nice Guys. We have all worked with the Trust at every stage – but each time it has come to naught. We believe that its Chair, Richard Sumray is committed to providing these much needed health facilities in the west of the Borough. He says he is. We know how difficult the budget process has been and the Government’s push for commissioning private services. But actions speak louder than Labour rhetoric – and we have waited long enough!

We (me plus councillors Richard Wilson and David Winskill) took Steve Webb to Hornsey Hospital and met with some local health campaigners to discuss the best way to take forward the campaign for Hornsey Hospital and the wider issues around the effect of the serious cuts Haringey’s Trust faces. The cuts have already led less sexual health clinics and reductions in rehabilitation beds for older people.

So let’s see what happens on the 13th. Hopefully Richard Sumray will say it’s all going ahead just as local people were promised…

And in the meantime, don’t forget – you can see our film on the issue:

http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=2225932933616005261