Mark Pack

The closure of Hornsey Central Hospital and then the long-delayed and much debated redevelopment of the site has been a long running local controversy (e.g. see the blog posts on local MP Lynne Featherstone’s website).

With debates over the sort of health services to be brought in to the site once the hospital had been demolised, the lack of good public transport links, frequent failures to really engage with local residents and the possible impact on other health services in the area, I’ve been a little sceptical as to how events will play out.

Much of the debate over the provision of health services on the site has been about whether or not moving services from other locations will result in the them being better and more convenient (e.g. more services on one site so you don’t get sent away for referral at a later date to visit somewhere else) or will result in them being centralised, less personal and harder to get to.

The post has brought a pleasant surprise for me, with a letter confirming that my GP is relocating to the Hornsey Hospital site. Although this means I have slightly further to travel, the GP practice will be open much longer during the week – allowing me to get appointments before or after work – and also for half days on both Saturday and Sunday. That’s a big improvement in the GP service, so here’s hoping that concentrating services in one place really will make them better.