Two demonstrations outside Whipps Cross Hospital are planned to protest again potential cuts. 

A group of concerned residents and health union members, who fear Whipps Cross could suffer cuts, part-privatisation and closures in the wake of a damning Care Quality Commission (CQC) report released last week, will be demonstrating outside the hospital next month.

Over 100 people packed a public meeting on Monday night at the William Morris Community Centre in Green Leaf Raod, Walthamstow, to discuss recent events at the Leytonstone hospital.

Nancy Taaffe, 44, of Shernhall Street, Walthamstow, is a local health campaigner who fears the recent CQC report revealing failings in care standards at Whipps Cross will lead to cuts in services and the piecemeal closure of the hospital.

“We want to say clearly that if there are problems then we need to improve services but we shouldn’t be closing or privatising them.

“We want to keep services local.”

On September 16, protesters will gather at the Whipps Cross Road entrance to the hospital at 5pm and another demonstration will be held on September 21 on The Green by Whipps Cross hospital at 12 noon.

Ms Taaffe said: “We expect the community to turn out in force.”

Len Hockey, 52, Waltham Forest's Unison branch secretary, said: "Our union has organised these two demonstrations in opposition to any cuts to jobs, pay, services or working conditions at Whipps Cross hospital and across Barts Trust.“

A spokeswoman from Barts Health said: “There have been no cuts to services at Whipps Cross Hospital.

“Clinicians at Barts Health are looking at how we can best improve services for the local population that we serve.

“These clinical recommendations will form the basis of our Trust-wide strategy.

“Barts Health has no plans to close Whipps Cross Hospital.”