A letter to the minister – local resident lays it on the line

28 May A local resident has written a devastating letter to health minister Patricia Hewitt about the possible changes to Whipps Cross.

Simone Howlett is an unpaid carer, and also has 15 years’ experience as a counsellor and psychotherapist. In her letter, she details the effect that closure would have on the health and psychological well-being of patients, plus the effect on staff and the consequences of the possible end of dedicated teams.

The letter, which relies on detailed research not just in the academic literature but also in her local community, goes on to talk about how carers will be affected. It points out, as well, that there is no evidence base for some of the ideas being touted. It ends with a plea for a fully funded, fully functioning Whipps Cross University Hospital – and then ads a number of annexes with detailed facts and figures that should make it clear, even to a minister, how important it is to keep Whipps.

You can download the full letter as a PDF here.