Built to Care

More than 70 people gathered at County Hall in Durham on the morning of Saturday 21^st September to discuss collectively what unions, medical professionals, service users and MPs can do to defend the NHS from increasing privatisation and fragmentation.

The morning started with the excellent video commissioned by Unite which can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/unite65

Following the video the Chair of the PSA, Clare Williams opened the meeting by saying that we all must do what we can to challenge the misconception that health spending is ring fenced. Since April this year 80 per cent of contracts have gone to the private sector, taking £2.5bn out of the NHS budget - money which is going into the pockets of Richard Branson and others.

Grahame Morris MP for Easington congratulated the Public Services Alliance for drawing together such a broad ranging coalition adding that you do not have to work in the health service or belong to a trade union to understand our collective values. The Coalition had no mandate to push through changes which they call 'reforms' and he is in no doubt that private companies such as Virgin Health and Serco were in some way complicit in the formulation of the Health and Social Care Bill. Under Labour new hospitals were created, opening hours were extended, walk-in centres were introduced and there were more doctors and nurses than ever before. Privatisation brings fragmentation and does nothing for the poor or the vulnerable and if you live in the North East it means a loss of £600 per head in healthcare provision in comparison to a gain of £350 per head if you live in Surrey. The Labour Party pledge: dedicated to a publicly owned, funded and run NHS; guaranteed minimum staffing; an end to outsourcing; a commitment to reversing cuts; to restore the Secretary of State's duty to provide a comprehensive health service.

The Chair then welcomed Joanna Adams of 999 Call for the NHS. Joanna spoke passionately about her own experience of the NHS when her sister was diagnosed with lung cancer. The NHS supported her sister's wish to stay in her own home surrounded by her friends and family when she sadly lost her fight and passed away earlier this year. The NHS provided everything it possibly could to ensure her sister's dignity and quality of life were paramount whereas the government stopped her carers allowance and specialist support for her autistic son at a time when it was most needed. We all have to start actively fighting back. Tell everyone who will listen. The NHS is more than the sum of its parts, it's a shining beacon of humanity for the good of the many not the profit of a few.

Our next speaker was Jill Barker of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists. The NHS is rated as one of the most successful health systems in the world. The CSP along with other health unions warned that the cuts will, and are, deeply affecting patient care. There is no solid evidence to support the reform of the NHS which is seen as innovative and highly cost effective. Cutting services to make savings is resulting in longer hours and high rates of unemployment. The NHS belongs to everyone, let's keep it that way.

Our last two speakers were Martin Wright of Unite and George Rae of the BMA. Martin said the only way to achieve change was through coalitions like the Public Services Alliance and people like Joanna. As services are reorganised, staff conditions are being eroded, A and E waiting times are rocketing, treatment for patients is being rationed and essential services are being put out to tender, there is a real concern about the way the media is reporting the imposed changes. In his contribution, George Rae added that the NHS is the social glue that holds people together. The Coalition's motive is to deliberately undermine the NHS and if you say something often enough people will believe it. This is marketisation of health delivery - people have to come before profit. Let's stop talking about back door privatisation - private companies are marching through the front door!. If it becomes about choice, the people at the lowest strata will lose out. The BMA will come up with its own vision before the General Election and the NHS will be the preferred provider.

Speakers were warmly thanked for their contributions and attendees split into groups to discuss ways to move the campaign forward. Suggestions included:

Attending CCG meetings and ask the Group to sign up to letter of support for the NHS

Target health professionals in coalition MPs constituencies with a letter which raises awareness of what the MP voted for

Voice concerns through any means possible - write to MPs, local councillors, send letters to the local press

Get involved in local PSA coalitions - contact Melanie Lowden for details mlowden@tuc.org.uk