"None of us want to look back in ten years from now, when we are crying out for a site to provide more NHS Services in Battersea and say, if only they hadn't sold off the Bolingbroke. That concern is at the heart of our campaign" Jane Ellison

Jane Ellison has led Battersea Conservatives' campaign against closure and dispersal believing that the historic Bolingbroke NHS site has an important role to play in the future of Battersea's healthcare. She has been working alongside Conservative Councillors, Tooting colleagues, local residents, staff and, in particular, the tireless and tenacious League of Friends of the Bolingbroke led by Jenny Edwards.

The campaign to date:

April 2009

The Bolingbroke is listed as Grade II for the following principal reasons:

- a rare set of tiles in the Children's Ward depicting nursery rhymes and animals
- the marble clad lobby, war memorial and radiating corridors are unusually lavish
- the work of Young & Hall, a practice renowned for health buildings
- being special both for displaying accretive growth from 1901 to 1936 and for the architectural interest of each phase, from Edwardian Free style, via Neo-Georgian, to 1930s Moderne.

You can read the whole listing citation here.
Spring 2008: Full PCT Consultation on future of Health Services in Battersea and North Wandsworth

You can read a Summary of Battersea and North Wandsworth Consultation document here.

You can read Jane's submission to the PCT here.

Summer/Autumn 2007: Government Minister closes the Bolingbroke Hospital

Jane's letter to the Secretary of State, Alan Johnson MP.

However, in autumn of 2007 the Government endorsed the closure decision of the joint boards of Wandsworth PCT and St George's NHS Trust. The PCT then proceeded to a pre-consultation on their plans for the wider future of health services in the area. Jane Ellison and many others lobbied for the Bolingbroke to be part of those plans.
Spring 2007: Public consultation on closure plans and the 'Give Us Five' campaign

You can read the Consultation document here (it includes a brief history of the hospital).

Many local people and groups participated in the Consultation asking the PCT to reconsider their plans, fearing it would lead to the land being sold for development. Such a sale would bring to an end over a century of providing healthcare to the people of Battersea on the Bolingbroke's much-loved site opposite Wandsworth Common. Jane Ellison launched the 'Give Us Five' campaign to persuade the PCT to consider a fifth option for the Bolingbroke: refurbishment and retention. Hundreds of the hospital's supporters returned the cards, signed petitions and lobbied the PCT.
Despite overwhelming public support for keeping the Bolingbroke open, following their consultation the PCT and St George's NHS Trust (who own and operate the hospital) voted to close it 'temporarily' and disperse the services, mostly to St John's Therapy Centre on St John's Hill. They announced plans to include the future of the Bolingbroke in a wider consultation about the future of health services in Battersea and North Wandsworth, including plans for a new primary care centre.

You can read Jane's submission to the PCT here: Submission to 2007 Bolingbroke Consultation

Autumn 2006: Bolingbroke closure plans announced

The Wandsworth Primary Care Trust (PCT) announced plans to close the Bolingbroke Hospital temporarily and consult the public on moving its services to other locations in the Borough. Various options were presented although none of them included the status quo, keeping services at the Bolingbroke and refurbishing the building. Local petitions start, Jane Ellison amongst those garnering support for the Bolingbroke.

Topical Issues Read Jane's bid to bring 'Boris Bikes' to Battersea

Reporting Back Jane's latest Newsletter