London, has been occupied by its 16 February 1976 - Barbara Castie announces that the EGA is to close. The revised spending estimate together with the deterioration in the structure of the building (in fact the hospital has not been properly maintained for previous ten years) no loneera viaoie uni.
The site, next to Euston Station, is to be sold for 'redevelopment. The EGA is to be transferred elsewhere in North London - the Area Health Autnority looks into tne situation al the Whitington Hospital, only the consultants are guaranteed Jobs tere.
18 February - The main lift at the hospital is suddenly found faulty. The AHA claims that £50,000 would be necessary to fix it. nospital is closed above the first floor, with the result that no operations can take place there failures' closed Acton and Poplar hospitals.
1 April - The first mass meeting is held inside the EGA. Organised by the local National Union of Public Employees branch and the Camden Campaign Against the meeting expresses strong feelings about the Droposed closure draws up demands which will be taken up throughout the campaign:
Closure. No Mend the Lift, Upgrade the Hospital on its present site.
25 May - First public meeting is held at a local school. About 300 THE Elizabeth Garrett Anderson women's hospital in the Euston Road, workers for fighting to prevent its closure. The EGA struggle shows the way forward for all those feeling the effects of the present cuts in social expenditure. For that reason it is worth giving a brief history of the EGA campaign.
people, out without warning. means that it is ttee hold special meeting though ing week.
DE close on its present site.
organised 'Lift Parliament from the hospital.
Cuts, hospital
COHSE and Redundancies, is passed unanimously. 7 October new over two weeks. They are mainly from the locality, come along to express their support.
11 June - cGA Maternity nome is closed by the consultants at the hospital because of lack of medical cover'. Patients and staff are moved Camden and Islington health joint shop stewards commion EGA and agree to support the campaign of the EGA workers. This to begin by organising a picket and demonstration outside the hospital the follow19 July — David Owen, the Minister of Health, confirms in the House of Commons that the hospital will EGA day of action hospital shop stewards toother with the Save the EGA Campaign. Over 1,000 hospital workers at four North London hospitals strike for the day to show their support. Many join the 2,000 strong - marches to 25 September - The representatives of the four unions involved at (NUPE, ASTMS, and NALGO) HOLT OUT a resolution at a mass meeting calling for a work-in if the proposed transfer to the Whittington goes ahead. This NUPE sends a delegation to see Roland Moyle, the Minister of Health. Moyle, a NUPE-sponsored MP, makes it clear that he will not reverse the decision to close the hospital.
18 October - • A letter is received at the hospital from Moyle. states that all out-patient facilities are to be closed 'before the end of year. A mass meeting following day reaffirms the commitment to begin a work-in.
29 October - In a clear attempt to split off the consultants from rest of the workers, the AHA incteasess offer of beds at Whittington from 46 to 60. consultants who (although by no means committed to a fight to save the hospital at its present site) are concerned about the alternative tacL.
ilities this offer. They demand at least 74 beds before they will accept the 15 November - A mass meeting of all workers at the hospital unanimously agrees to start the work-in, the first ever at a British hospital. The workers 24-hour picket, health sector, to support it.
17 November Action Against the Cuts. The joint snop stewards Save the EGA Campaign call for a mass rally outside the hospital to march to the start of the demonstrathey will be offered, refuse attend.
conference agree to organise a committee and call on especially those in the National Day of • committee and the EGA Joint tion at Speakers Corner. Over 2,000 11 December - Projected London COUSCUSS EGA struggle and the health cuts generally. The conference has been called by the stewards at the hospital and is being organised by an elected from ASTMS London Medical Branch.
In the EGA's region alone the proposed overall cuts are between 3( and 40 per cent. In London 120 out of the existing 150 hospitals face clos ure. Details of the conference from:
Shop Stewards Committee, Euston Rd., London N1.