Hospital "race" proves Whittington A&E is the closest option

10.18.00pm GMT Sat 6th Feb 2010

Rhodri Jamieson-Ball and Bridget Fox were set off on the race by Council Leader Terry Stacy. Councillors Barbara Smith, Greg Foxsmith, and Stefan Kasprzyk cheered them on.

Your Liberal Democrat Parliamentary campaigners journeyed to the Accident and Emergency departments of the Whittington and Royal Free hospitals this week, to find out just how long it really takes to get there.

Rhodri Jamieson-Ball, Parliamentary Candidate for Islington North, raced to the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, the hospital many people in the area would have to use should the 24hour A&E at the Whittington be closed.

Bridget Fox, meanwhile, travelled to the Whittington and made the journey in 20 minutes less than Councillor Jamieson Ball did.

Both journeys were carried out on buses and both were timed using identical stopwatches. Councillor Terry Stacy JP, Leader of Islington Council, started the race from the Town Hall on Upper Street.

Councillor Jamieson Ball-said:

"It took me 50 minutes to get to the Royal Free on the bus, which in an emergency just wouldn't do. People in Islington North can walk to the Whittington and many buses go right to the door.

I had to change buses as well, which just isn't feasible for many people. It costs twice as much if you're a fare-paying passenger and it's inaccessible to many people with disabilities or who are elderly or injured."

Bridget Fox added:

"I got to the Whittington in 30 minutes, despite a 5 minute wait for a bus. The 20 minutes extra it would take to get to the Royal Free could mean a huge difference for someone who was injured or sick.

The 43, 271 and 17 buses mean people from many parts of Islington can get to the Whittington quickly and easily. Timing the journeys gives us real evidence that closing the 24 hour A&E at the Whittington will have a detrimental effect on people's lives."

Both Rhodri and Bridget will continue to campaign against the potential closure. Please sign our petition to keep the department open at www.savethewhittington.com