The front entrance of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital is surrounded by scaffolding. It has been there for 18 months, and there is even a ladder perched half-way up the scaffolding.
since ine scarrolding was erectea no-one has set foot on it. No-one seems to know why it is there. A picket outside the EGA said last week:
T have worked here sixteen months. When I first came and saw the scaffolding I thought, what a dump! But this hospital is no dump. Maybe that's why the scaffolding is there, so you are supposed to think that the place is run down.?
UNIQUE The picket who spoke is proud to be taking part in a unique event: the first ever occupation by workers of a hospital. This occupation aims to smash the plans of the Labour Government and the Area Health Authority to close a hospital which since 1889 has provided much needed health care by women for women.
There are many staff, patients and local trade unionists who are determined to ensure that this closure will never materialise - people like Alice Garwood who runs the outpatients canteen:
*There is absolute loyalty to this hospital. From the patients to the consultants. In fact older people have told me they would sooner stav at home and die than go to another hospital. Everybody is disgusted that they should try to close the hospital."
Vera Wagstaff, the dining room superwISOr nas simular VIews:
*All the staff are fighting for the pauenis Decause te panents want the hospital. How long are the waiting lists going to grow if they hospitals down. They'll just have to build more crematoriums!?
It was this type of determination which ensured that the vote to occupy and 'work-in' at the EGA received unanimous support from the stafi. Previously the staff had stuck to the 'proper channels".
. In February 1976 Barbara Castle, then Minister for Health, visited the hospital. The Area Health Authority, who now claim lack of cash, had done their best to impress. Vera Wagstaff explains:
"Before she came we spent a lot of money. The kitchen was repainted, there was a special loo provided for her in the Nurses Home; there was quite a bit of decoration up the stairs to the loo for her to walk up. I don't know how much money was spent on te tea we gave ner but it was all fresh cream cakes.
Then came Castle's announcement that the EGA was doomed. For Vera Wagstaff it was a real blow:
*T read it in the paper, I was off work that day. It was a hell of a shock, and after all that money spent on her.' ANGER But if it was a shock for the staff, the shock soon gave way to anger. As the Manifesto of the EGA Joint Shop Stewards Committee, issued on 15 November (the day of occupation), puts it:
*The staff are extremely frustrated that the case for maintaining the EGA ha never yet been fully examined by Why has the National Abortion Camauthorities, and that all kinds of tricks have been tried to disown and dishonour closing this unique women's hospital.
close -policy of the Labour Government - may EGA have about the Area Health Authority's plans for on this when he came to visit the hospital:
The mystery of why the hospital is to apart trom the obvious cuts be explained by the suspicions staff at the the EGA is becoming the site. A rumour started that the AHA wanted to build a new office block on the site, and Vera Wagstaff tackled the AHA chairperson "There was this horrible hush at first, and then he just waffled and waffled and got nowhere. We'ver asked them if they were with us or against us, and there's been no comment from any of them.' But the comment from the occupiers at clear ane olei They must not stand alone in their determination to continue the occupaHO UHE C HOSD tas ulucs securcd Every possible avenue of support for the EGA occupation should be followed, and a plan of action drawn up for 2501). abuse of women in large teaching hospiproposed all-London solidarity confer ence on 11 September Financial support, attendance at the 24-hour picket, solidarity action through out London is needed. Already both Camden and Islington Trades Councils are committed to establishing a worker cheury ito une nealn servce n ue are: To have any impact this must mean a campaign to discover the secret plans of the AHA, which would reveal the extent of the cuts. A socialist alternative could then be thrashed out.
meantime, remember these words of the EGA manifesto:
We appeal to all women panelis health workers evervwhere to the union and to the community to support th occupation by any means possible.' So, fight the cuts by backing the EGA and sending all possible help to: Join Shop Stewards Committee, EUA Hosp. tal, Euston Road, London NW1 (01-38] MORE CUTS
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THE EG.A. THE E.G.A.