Liberal Democrat councillors and supporters from Junction Ward joined the rally of over 5,000 people who marched all the way from Highbury Corner to the Whittington to show the Government and the NHS that local residents truly care about the services their local hospital.

Gordon Brown’s Labour Government have let us down. Only a couple of years ago they invested millions of pounds on the new frontage for Whittington Hospital, now they’re looking for millions of pounds worth of cuts. Labour’s policy of investment through terrible private finance deals is the reason for the need for this cost cutting.

To show your opposition to this proposed closure sign the Lib Dem petition at www.savethewhittington.com.

Councillor Ursula Woolley on the march at Highbury Corner:

Arthur Graves and Councillor Stefan Kasprzyk marching behind Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone and Islington’s Liberal Democrat council leader Terry Stacy:

Junction Ward councillor Ursula Woolley joined a delegation of Liberal Democrats taking our Save the Whittington petition to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street.

While local Labour politicians wash their hands of any responsibility and cry crocodile tears about the possible closure of the accident and emergency, the facts are:

When Gordon Brown was Chancellor he effectively sold off parts of the NHS to private investors through his PFI schemes to keep debt off the nation’s balance sheet.

Whittington Hospital is facing a bill of £158 million for refurbishment work that cost £32 million to carry out thanks to Gordon Brown’s Private Finance Initiative.

Nationally, the NHS faces £63billion of debt for PFI hospitals worth £11 billion.

North London Central NHS, which is proposing the changes to services at the Whittington, is funded and managed by the Government’s Department for Health.

It is Government ministers who ultimately decide the fate of our local casualty unit.

That’s why the Islington Liberal Democrats took our petition straight to the top. The Government must act now to save the A&E - why won’t Labour Ministers just come out with a guarantee?

Islington’s Liberal Democrat councillors called an emergency debate on the future of Accident and Emergency services at the Whittington Hospital. Stefan and Ursula both spoke out against cuts to our local hospital.

The Cross Country Skiing machine in Whittington Park is to be upgraded in response to damage caused by numerous people using the equipment at the same time.  The gym equipment is the most robust on the market and conforms to all British Standards,  In normal use the equipment rarely takes more than 150kg however all machines have been tested to 300kg, and the skiing machine is being upgraded to 500kg.  This should ensure the equipment remains in good repair for the local community to enjoy.