Anger at Health Board rush to sell off clinic and hospital land

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 27th Nov 2006

Lib Dems have expressed anger at Wednesday's decision by the PCT Board to put Fortis Green Clinic on the market, sell part of the Hornsey Hospital site, and demolish the old Hospital building. Haringey Liberal Democrats have been urging the PCT not to sell any of the Hornsey site until there is more certainty about the Hornsey Hospital redevelopment.

Lib Dem Councillors have also called on the PCT to halt any plans to sell the Clinic until after the Hospital is built. 16 clinic sessions a week are held at Fortis Green and it is not yet clear where these would be relocated to, nor how accessible they would be for local patients. The Lib Dems have urged Haringey Council's Scrutiny Committee to investigate the PCT's plans to close Fortis Green Clinic.

Councillor Richard Wilson, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Health and Social Services comments:

"Residents are right to be angry that the Health Trust is not listening to their concerns. It is very worrying that they are rushing to sell up before the new Community Hospital has been properly financed - let alone built. Why is it that they move so quickly when it comes to closing and selling health facilities but so very slowly when it comes to building them?

"I am urging Haringey Council to put its foot down and haul the PCT before the Scrutiny Committee over its sudden plans to close Fortis Green Clinic. There should be proper consultation with patients and residents, yet the Trust plans to rush through a decision in January - just 2 months after announcing the plans."

Fortis Green ward councillor Martin Newton said;

"Many local mothers with new babies go to sessions held with midwives at this clinic, and people with serious long-term conditions have regular check-ups and tests there. I am worried that these vital services will be relocated and become much less assessable to people from Fortis Green and Muswell Hill.

"There is a real lack of health facilities in the area so I am amazed the Health Trust is pushing to close this facility. The sale of the Clinic should be halted."