FW: HITCHINS AND KOH HAVE GOT TO GO! Lobby the Whittington Hospital Board Wednesday January 8th!
Lobby the Board: HITCHINS AND KOH HAVE GOT TO GO!
Wednesday 8th January, 1.30pm, outside the Hospital
We are horrified that Steve Hitchins has been appointed as Chair of the Hospital Board. He was Lib Dem leader of Islington Council for several years. He has been working with private sector companies, contracting them for health services: see http://www.localleadership.gov.uk/future/specialadvisers/
There are two main reasons for our concerns at this appointment:
1. Steve Hitchin’s links with private health care… at a time when our NHS is under threat of privatisation and cuts from this Government, through their Health and Social Care Act. He is a member of a party that supports this decimation of the NHS. He is a board member of Newlon Housing Trust and chairs their regeneration charity Newlon Fusion. He also works with a number of private sector companies principally contracting with local government or the health service. Is this the kind of person we want to be responsible for our NHS, our hospital and our health service provision?
2. Steve Hitchin’s reputation as a “bully”… even amongst his own party: see http://susannelamido.blogspot.co.uk/2006/08/islington-knives-are-out-for-steve.html, written by a Lib Dem! We have heard several stories about staff feeling “bullied” by the management, and particularly the CEO, Dr Koh, at the Whittington. We need more person-orientated leadership, leaders who motivate, like and encourage their staff, rather than intimidatory leadership.
http://www.islingtontribune.com/news/2013/dec/choice-whittington-hospital-chief-%E2%80%98political-cronyism-and-%E2%80%98-disgrace%E2%80%99-say-critics
We wonder why Dr Koh is still in post after her comparisons of the elderly with excrement, in reference to bed-blocking, and particularly having led the Board through such a wrecking and disastrous plan to slash the hospital in its bid to become a Foundation Trust.
So do join us outside the main entrance of the Hospital on Wednesday 8th January at 1.30pm. This is OUR hospital. We need it to provide a positive environment and to meet our health needs, under a publicly funded system, not under a system that pours money for health into shareholders’ profits.
See you there! And do pass this on to everyone you know!
Camden Trades Council 