Haringey work - in inst NHS cuts

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A 'work-in' at Haringey (North London) hospital is fighting Tory plans to pay for any NHS wage rise with cuts and closures.

These cuts involve the complete closure of the Family Planning Service, and of at least the Wood Green and Southgate hospital, and a loss of a minimum of 85 jobs. Two wards will be closed at the Prince of Wales hospital. The DHA insist that the closure of the Wood Green and Southgate hospital will only be temporary but no one takes this claim very seriously.

A great deal of anger has been generated by the conduct of the Haringey (Labour) Council appointees on the DHA who ignored Council policy by voting for the cuts. A campaign for a recalled meeting of the DHA to reconsider their decision is being linked to pressure to ensure that these votes are reversed.

The response of the workers at the Wood Green and Southgate has been to extend the pay dispute into a political battle to preserve the health service - they are occupying the hospital.

The hospital is a small general hospital, serving the immediate local community. It has already lost 21 of its 45 beds since 1979 because the DHA has refused to fill vacant nursing posts.

For the hospital to continue running local GPs must continue to refer patients. The GPs support the workers but are seeking legal advice on the implications of ignoring the DHA directives.

Meanwhile, the workers are refusing to meet DHA officials to discuss redeployment.

The workers now need help in maintaining a large 24 hour picket to protect the hospital from any attempt by the DHA to use force to remove patients. NUPE steward, Lesley Fisher, told Socialist Organiser that she feared a raid, like at St. Columba's hospital, where scab private ambulance workers, backed up by police using dogs, carried elderly patients from their beds - the official who organised the St. Columba's raid is now a senior administrator with Haringey DHA.

Local MP Reg Race told a meeting held at the hospital that Haringey Council, who have a clear policy opposing the closure, should provide practical physical help in maintaining a strong 24 hour occupation. Private ambulance firms could be pressured into keeping clear of the hospital three firms had refused to take part in the St. Columba's raid.

Substantial support from the local community, from the Labour Party and from trade unionists is vital to force the DHA to back down.

Offers and messages of support to Lesley Fisher; donations to Mary Halliday, c/o Wood Green & Southgate Hospital, 135, Bounds Green Rd., London N11.

Steve Macarthur. FIGHT THE CUTS SAVE ЖОНТ JOIN THE JOnE ADOD CREEN & SOUTHCATE HOSPITAL JOIN THE FIGHT TO KEEP YOUR HOSPITAL OPEN