A council, two MPs and a London Assembly member have drawn up their own plans for a reconfiguration of health services in their part of north London.
It is thought to be the first time a cross-party, united front of local politicians has produced a blueprint for health services in one area, in direct competition with proposals from local trusts.
A conglomerate of NHS trusts in the London boroughs of Barnet, Enfield and Haringey has begun a 'pre-consultation' on re-aligning health services in the three boroughs. It has produced 10 proposals for the future of healthcare in the area covered by three acute hospitals: Barnet, Chase Farm, and North Middlesex.
Politicians in Barnet believe local people would lose out under any of the proposals put forward.
So they submitted their own proposals, which include the dismantling of one acute trust and its replacement with a trust formed by merging Barnet Hospital with the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, an option not considered by local trusts.
Barnet council leader Mike Freer said the unique alliance of politicians was keen to make its voice heard while it could still have some influence.
'Rather than throw stones and say we don't want to change, which doesn't get you very far, we decided to put forward constructive proposals,' he said. 'And because of that we expect to be listened to.'
A spokesman for the board of Barnet, Enfield and Haringey trusts running the reconfiguration pre-consultation said it welcomed the input from local councillors.
'What they are concerned about is good services for Barnet, and so are we,' he said. 'But we are also concerned with high-quality services across Barnet, Enfield and Haringey'
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