The Whittington Hospital maternity unit has been the birthplace of so many of my constituents.  It’s a much-loved, essential part of our community, but the local NHS is consulting on options to close maternity services in North London and the Whittington Hospital is one of the options.

I believe this would be a terrible decision, disrupting access to essential healthcare services and depriving so many parents in Hornsey & Wood Green of the expert care this unit provides by forcing them to travel further away.

Throughout the period of the formal consultation (which ran from 11 December 23 – 17 March 24) I campaigned hard to save the service, and almost 2,000 of you signed my petition urging bosses to think again.  You can read my formal response to the consultation here and I will keep my website updated with the outcome of the consultation when it is published.  

Together with Labour politicians across Islington and Haringey, I have written to NHS bosses urging them to think again.

Read our letter to NHS bosses:

Back in 2010 I was part of a successful campaign to save services at the Whittington, and we  must come together to do the same again.

I’ve long campaigned for capital investment for the Whittington’s maternity unit, it’s an old building and over many years patients have been promised improved new maternity facilities.  Despite the desperate need, we’re still waiting.

With 55% of maternity units not up to scratch in the UK, at Business Questions in Parliament I urged the Government to address the state of facilities.

Watch my question and the Leader of the House’s response here:

Pete was born at the Whittington over 60 years ago.  He told me why it is so important:

Crouch End Councillor Cressida Johnson trained as a  nurse at the Whittington and had both of her children there.  She knows how important it is and that’s why she’s supporting our campaign.  Watch here: