Whittington Hospital

• HEALTH really should be joining housing as a priority in next week’s local elections. We need the support of our council and councillors in our campaign to keep Ryhurst out of the Whittington Hospital.

As readers will know, the board of our hospital unanimously voted to employ Ryhurst, a subsidiary of Grenfell contractor Rydon, on a 10-year agreement to manage its much-needed estate strategy.

Shockingly, NHS Improvement has now approved the appointment of Ryhurst, with certain riders, which it doesn’t elucidate. NHS Improvement is not standing by its commitment “to give patients safe, high-quality, compassionate care within local health systems that are financially sustainable”.

Rydon manages the maintenance of the council’s street properties. Steve Hitchins, chair of Whittington Health Trust board that decided to appoint Ryhurst, used to be leader of the council, and was responsible for appointing the firm on a 30-year contract to manage housing maintenance. Perhaps we should change our campaign to “Get Rydon out of Islington”?

We hope readers will sign our online petition at you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/keep-rydon-out-of-our-hospital.

ALICE KILROY
JEM LINDON
SHIRLEY FRANKLIN
VALERIE LIPMAN
Defend Whittington Hospital Coalition