Newsletter – February 2017 – Keep Our NHS Public

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'Plain Bonkers' Hospital Cuts Condemned at Ealing Town Hall meeting

Councillors called for a meeting at Ealing Town Hall on Wednesday 15th February in response to the closure of A&E wards at Central Middlesex and Hammersmith Hospitals, and the closure of the maternity and children’s A&E services at Ealing Hospital.

The meeting was attended by hundreds of people, some were even turned away as the hall's 450 person capacity reached it's limit.

Speakers at the event (named 'Shaping a Healthier Future') included Ealing Council leader, Councillor Julian Bell, Hammersmith and Fulham leader, Councillor Stephen Cowan, London Assembly Member and local GP, Dr Onkar Sahota, Health Watch as well as representatives from the NHS and from the Save Our NHS campaign.

**A packed evening at Ealing Town Hall where councillors discussed A&E closures and the dangerous plans of STPs in North West London**

Leicester march to save Glenfield Heart Hospital 11th February

Local KONP group Campaign Against NHS Privatisation Leicester joined Save Glenfield Children's Heart Unit and other organisations in a very 2000 person strong demonstration on the 11th February.

Leicester KONP march to save Glenfield Heart Hospital — **Leicester KONP March alongside others to save Glenfield Heart Hospital**

North East March and Rally for the NHS 4th February 2017

Hundreds gathered in Newcastle City Centre to protest STP's in a demonstration organised by KONP North East and North East's People's assembly against austerity. The demonstration was also called to raise awareness for the national demonstration taking place in London exactly a month later.

It was a very successful day with the support of many local MPs, see 5 MPs below holding a Keep Our NHS Public banner. From Left to Right Dave Anderson MP (Blaydon), Sharon Hodgson MP (Washington and Sunderland), Mary Glindon MP (North Tyneside), Emma Lewell-Buck MP (South Shields) and Chi Onwurah MP (Newcastle Central).

A report of the days activities could be seen in the local chronicle and an independent video can be found here on Youtube.

Well done to KONP North East for joint-organising such a successful event.

North East March and Rally for the NHS 4th February 2017 — L-R. Dave Anderson MP (Blaydon), Sharon Hodgson MP (Washington and Sunderland), Mary Glindon MP (North Tyneside), Emma Lewell-Buck MP (South Shields) and Chi Onwurah MP (Newcastle Central) hold a KONP North East banner in support of #ourNHS

The I Newspaper

Some readers may have see the I's comprehensive coverage of the NHS crisis in mid February. The articles are still online and can be accessed here.

The Johnson Press Investigation Unit have been looking into the NHS and paying particular attention to STP's, closures and under-funding. The succession of articles come under the heading of the 'Great NHS Gamble'. You can find an overview of the investigation and a video interview with KONP member John Carlisle here.

There are links to specific areas of investigation at the bottom of the article.

Petition calling for The Government to revoke beside charges for patients in the NHS

Please consider signing this petition created by Dr Aislinn Mackin-Doherty, a prominent figure from the junior doctors strike.

"Our NHS is in grave danger, not because of health tourists, but because of a market system, private sector inefficiency and crippling PFI debts. Checking the identity of patients to recoup <0.5% of the budget from health tourists will be expensive and costly with minimal benefit. It will also encourage inequality of provision, poorer clinical outcomes, racial profiling and will undermine the professional duties healthcare professionals must abide by. Doctors and nurses demand this is revoked."

NHS at 'breaking point' having axed 15,000 hospital beds in the last 6 years

The majority of the UK's newspapers picked up a story last week concerning the drastic fall in the number of hospital beds in the last six years. Coverage was in The Telegraph, The Daily Mail and The Sun to name a few.

The shocking statistic is said to amount to a 10% fall in NHS beds and is equivalent to the closure of 24 hospitals.

Press coverage

Since the last newsletter, KONP has been in the press a lot! Local groups are becoming increasingly successful in getting into print, and nationally we have had comments in the iNews, the Morning Star, on the Victoria Derbyshire show and more. Alan Taman receives enquiries from national press every week, and journalists are increasingly turning back to KONP for advice off record as well as comment. Here is a summary of coverage in the past few weeks:

STPs

Please see our newest post on the website about STPs, with an attached document containing a comprehensive outline of what they are and how to fight them.

Renew Your Membership!

We are currently updating our records and you may have received an email asking if you could renew your Individual/group subscription to KONP. If you have any queries or are unsure if you are fully paid up for the year please get in touch with Bri via [email protected].

Donate to help us fight back!

https://keepournhspublic.com/donate/

From the Hackney Office

We now have some revamped Keep Our NHS Public Trifold Leaflets available from our website.

If you have a query or would like to get in touch about anything please don't hesitate to contact us via [email protected] or on 0207 241 4443 ext:210.

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