THE COUNCIL leader wants you to show your love for Whipps Cross Hospital.

Around £8 million was invested on a new high dependency unit, new operating theatres and a new breast screening service at the Leytonstone hospital over the last year.

Despite the significant changes, Councillor Clare Coghill, the leader of Waltham Forest Council, said the buildings and layout still “leave a lot to be desired”.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Whipps Cross staff give councillors a tour

She is now calling on people to support the council’s Love Whipps Cross campaign to “demonstrate how important a redeveloped hospital is for our community”.

Speaking after a visit to the hospital, which was rated 'inadequate' by the CQC in December, Cllr Coghill said: “Whipps Cross has a proud place in the borough’s history and has served the community exceptionally for generations.

“This visit allowed me to see first-hand the skill and dedication of staff at the hospital and the impressive improvements the hospital’s leadership have made in recent months.

“But it’s clear the buildings and layout leave a lot to be desired.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Cllrs Naheed Asghar and Clare Coghill take in Whipps Cross

“That’s why I am encouraging everyone to sign our online pledge to demonstrate how important a redeveloped hospital is for our community.

“We and our partners have an ambition to create a state-of-the-art health and social care campus that will serve the needs of patients during and after their hospital stay.

"It will not only provide the highest standards of clinical care, but will focus on improving the quality of life for all our residents.”

After its launch in June, the Love Whipps Cross campaign received 1367 signed pledges in its first six weeks.

Whipps Cross Managing Director Alan Gurney said: “We’ve worked hard to improve the daily experience of patients who need our care and to invest in the hospital where we can.

“We were encouraged that inspectors recognised this when they rated one-third of our indicators as “good” earlier in the year but we’re not complacent and will leave no stone unturned to make things even better.”

To sign the online pledge, head to: www.walthamforest.gov.uk/lovewx