Your independent community newspaper Free WALTHAM April 2019, No. 49 Email [email protected] Facebook /WalthamForestEcho Tweet @WFEcho FOREST ECHO Visit walthamforestecho.co.uk News Features Business Comment Arts & Culture Concerns as survey Schoolchildren say The Leyton street Friend of knife victim Discover the library shows police officers why they're striking where women are writes about the problems where you can hear poorly perceived over climate change leading the way facing young people strangers' life stories P . 3 P . 5 P . 7 P . 9 P . 13 Future of Whipps Cross 'still undecided' Boss of Leytonstone hospital's redevelopment gives reassurances over land sales and beds Alistair said: “There are dozens of patients in acute beds at Whipps Cross that would be better cared "We will not for in a non-acute bed, perhaps in a nursing home. It's pressure be forced to across the wider system that prevents them being moved – part reduce beds of the strategy is about creating ca- pacity elsewhere.” to raise more The new Whipps Cross Hospital building is expected to cost around money" £500million. Since Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs) were scrapped, the Interest payments on a previous money needs to be found through PFI deal struck by Barts Health a combination of a Treasury loan Trust, for Royal London Hospital and local sources – likely to include in Whitechapel, have contributed to selling land for housing. it becoming the most indebted trust “We have been open about this,” in the NHS – and being placed in Alistair told the Echo. “One of the financial 'special measures'. key ways of funding the hospital Alistair said: “It's up to us to show will be selling surplus land for res- Whipps Cross can make a positive idential development. We made a financial contribution. The hospital commitment that we won't sell is expensive to keep open because any land at Whipps Cross ahead of the inherent inefficiencies of an Health secretary Matt Hancock, right, of our business case being agreed. old building. We must make sure meeting doctors at Whipps Cross last month There had previously been a plan the efficiencies of the new build- to sell three of four hectares but ing outweigh what we need to pay still at an early stage, but that bed beds required at Whipps Cross. It that was aborted. back to the Treasury. by James Cracknell numbers would be determined by recognised there would be popula- “We will come up with a plan “Quite rightly there are concerns, need. “I have not yet met a single tion growth but also assumed there that consolidates the hospital on but we all want a new hospital he man in charge of person who thinks the redevelop- would be greater emphasis on care a smaller footprint, because at the that is the best it can be. We want rebuilding Whipps ment of Whipps Cross is a bad in the community, outside hospital. moment it is inefficiently planned. something that benefits everyone.” Cross University Hos- idea,” he said. “We are now starting again on Whipps Cross has 18 hectares and If Whipps Cross redevelopment pital says although he “I am not able to guarantee that the modelling for Whipps Cross. a significant portion of land could plans are approved, construction Tcannot give guarantees over beds [there will be more beds] because Unfortunately I cannot commit to be used for non-healthcare activities. could begin in 2023 and then take the new facility “will be the best of where we are in the process. how many beds there will be at the This is not about building a smaller up to ten years. On a visit last it can be”. I do acknowledge people's con- end of that process.” hospital – it will be a smaller foot- month to hear the case for build- Concerns have grown that plans cerns – the hospital is under signif- Whipps Cross currently has 600 print with a more efficient design. ing a new hospital, health secretary for a new hospital may include re- icant pressures. We are currently at beds and treats 209,000 patients “The size is determined not just Matt Hancock said it was “evident ducing the number of beds, with 100% bed capacity, or just below, annually, but its oldest buildings by beds but by outpatient facilities, to anybody walking around it”. health bosses recently being quizzed whereas national guidance says it pre-date the NHS itself. Pressures treatment rooms and operating the- at a public meeting. should be 92%. include a growing elderly popula- atres. We need a hospital fit for 21st Find out more about the Whipps Speaking to the Echo, Whipps “Our original business case – tion and the potential closure of King Century medicine. But we will not Cross redevelopment plans: Cross redevelopment director which was never approved – said George Hospital's accident and emer- Visit bartshealth.nhs.uk/ be forced to reduce the number of future-whipps Alistair Finney said plans were there would be a similar number of gency department, in Redbridge. beds in order to raise more money.” Become a member of Waltham Forest Echo and get the paper delivered each month – find out more on Page 16 2 No. 49 APRIL 2019 WALTHAM FOREST ECHO COMMENT We must fight for hospital's future Mary Burnett from Waltham Forest Save Our NHS on the latest discussions around the redevelopment of Whipps Cross FELLOWSHIP IS LIFE tion in the borough. A paramedic APRIL 2019 – No. 49 also told of the increased emer- Waltham Forest Echo is an gency calls over the last ten years, independent community with huge cuts in social care and newspaper. We publish monthly community mental health – and an and distribute 12,500 free copies A&E that is full to breaking point. of each issue to libraries, cafés, A member of the audience asked pubs, and other places around whether healthcare in the commu- Waltham Forest. nity could safely replace the need for more hospital beds. Terry Day, Publisher who chaired the meeting, conclud- David Floyd ed: “On the basis of the answer Editor there is perhaps no evidence, but James Cracknell I'm happy to be contradicted if someone can show us it.” Designer Jonathan Duncan With the government squeeze on funding NHS buildings, trusts Manager expected to sell off their land, and Penny Dampier pressure to build new housing, Contributors there was concern there will be a Mary Burnett, George Clarke, rapid land sale at Whipps Cross – Violaine Bailleul, Lulu James, to the detriment of the new hos- Jessica Townsend, Alice pital. One speaker warned that Richardson, Judith Burnett, Parts of the existing Whipps Cross University Hospital campus pre-date the founding of the NHS we must have enough land to Alice Strutt, Tanner Reid- expand services needed in future Brady, Helen Bigham, Michelle early 100 people a panel including Alastair Finney, east London will be equivalent to and that “we need accommoda- Edwards, Bisi Oyekanmi, Jess recently packed a the redevelopment programme a whole new borough. tion for NHS workers – including Howe, Anna Merryfield, Rosie meeting in Leyton- director, and Dr Anwar Khan, chair The rationale given for fewer beds rented accommodation”. Cappuccino, Jim Nichols, stone to hear about of Waltham Forest Clinical Com- is that we'll have better healthcare Alwen Williams stressed that the Ffion Plant Nthe proposal to rebuild Whipps missioning Group (CCG). in the community. For example, position of Barts Health is that The member organisations Cross Hospital. Everyone present at the meeting it is planned to offset extra beds there will be no land sold until of WFWellComm CIC are: The meeting was organised by agreed a new hospital is needed – needed by having more home plans for the new hospital have been Community Transport Waltham Waltham Forest Save our NHS and and is a huge opportunity. But we births. One speaker said more finalised and agreed. We, the public, Forest, Social Spider CIC, HEET. the turnout shows just how much also have crucial concerns about home births would be “great if need to campaign for a new hospi- WFWellComm CIC Board: local people care about our hospital. how it will be funded and whether there are the midwives and the tal that really will provide what we David Floyd (Social Spider CIC) Speakers included Alwen Wil- there will be enough beds for our money needed” but that the recent need well into the future. Tom Ruxton (HEET) liams, chief executive of Barts growing population. collapse of Waltham Forest CCG's Helen Tredoux Health NHS Trust; two campaign- Initial plans showed there could neighbourhood midwives scheme (Community Transport WF) ers; and local MP John Cryer, be 83 fewer beds at Whipps Cross showed there is a lack of money. For more information about who got to the meeting following than we have now. This is despite John Cryer made the point that Waltham Forest Save Our NHS: a late vote on Brexit in Westmin- it being recognised that in 15 years we need more beds now, especial- Email [email protected] ster. Questions were answered by the population growth in north- ly with a growing elderly popula- Waltham Forest Echo The Mill, 7 - 11 Coppermill Lane, E17 7HA E [email protected] T 020 8521 7956 Children take centre stage Advertising Enquiries An introduction from Waltham Forest Echo editor James Cracknell Contact Ben Cawthra: E [email protected] ello and welcome to world. Given our own intransigence, to the agenda. On the same page how youth violence can be solved. T 020 3892 0061 Issue 49 of Waltham the least we can do is listen to them.