THE councillor in charge of health in Barnet has said scrapped proposals to change NHS provision in the borough were “deeply harmful”.

Today Health Secretary Andrew Lansley announced NHS London's planned restructuring, which would have affected A&E and maternity services in Barnet, would not go ahead.

Councillor Helena Hart, the cabinet member for public health, said: “I am quite delighted that Andrew Lansley has been true to his word and called a halt to NHS London’s ill-conceived and deeply flawed Strategic Health Review.

“The proposals in it, particularly on Accident & Emergency and patient maternity services, would have been deeply harmful to local residents and their families. “They bore no relation whatsoever to the needs of our ever growing population.”

Earlier new Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer also welcomed the news of the stoppage.