Click on the headings below to read our FAQ
Q: What kind of organisation is Keep Our NHS Public (KONP)?
A: Keep Our NHS Public is a grassroots campaign independent of any political party which focuses on the NHS and related issues.
Q: Other than NHS privatisation, what other issues do you campaign on?
A: To restore and rebuild our NHS we recognise that ending privatisation is central. However, there are also other related issues which directly impact the NHS. Therefore we also campaign on NHS funding, social care, health charges for migrants, opposing racism and racist ideas about the cause of the NHS crisis, women's health and social determinants of health and much more.
Q: Can I become a member of KONP?
A: Yes. KONP is a membership organisation with very low fees so that joining is accessible as possible. New members will be joining a large network of experienced and friendly campaigners and your membership fee is the perfect way to show your support for our case. You can join here.
Q: Is cost a barrier to joining Keep Our NHS Public?
A: No, though we’d like people to make a contribution where possible. There are two affordable membership rates for unwaged/low pension and waged. You can find out more here.
Q: Does KONP have local groups that I can support and campaign on local NHS issues?
A: Yes. Local groups are the heart of KONP. We campaign on national issues such as government funding and NHS policy, but we also campaign on local issues such as cuts to local services, outsourcing of health services to private firms, or local disputes over NHS staff pay and conditions. You can find out more here.
Q: How is KONP structured and organised?
A: KONP Is a membership organisation with members up and down the country many of whom are active in local NHS campaign groups. These local groups elect a Steering Group (SG) which decides policy. An Executive Committee (EC) is also elected to implement activity supported by a small team of staff which is responsible to the EC. There are regular elections and an annual AGM to carry out these processes.
Q: Is KONP a registered charity?
A: No. KONP is not a registered charity. This enables us to be ‘political’ and campaign in ways that are incompatible with registered charity status.
Q: Is KONP a non-profit organisation?
A: Yes. We are formally registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee with non-profit status.
Q: How is KONP funded?
A: KONP relies heavily on individual contributions. It is funded from individual membership and group affiliation fees, single and monthly donations, and affiliation fees from supporting organisations and trade unions.
Q: Does KONP receive very large donations from any individuals who exert control or influence over KONP?
A: No. We have never received very large donations from wealthy individuals. The majority of our funds comes from individuals who pay annual membership fees or make donations. We do not accept conditions attached to donations.
Q: Is KONP expected to solely campaign on issues that are endorsed by the trade unions?
A: No. We are proud to work alongside trade unions and their members in our campaigns. However, we do not accept conditions attached to contributions and we are free to pursue our own political demands and goals. KONP also includes a campaigning body called Health Campaigns Together (HCT) which focuses on campaigning alongside and lobbying trade unions.
Q: What is Health Campaigns Together (HCT), and are you a different organisation?
A: No, we're one and the same. KONP set up HCT in 2016. KONP and HCT have always worked alongside each other and have many activists who were members of both organisations. HCT was originally formed with the intention of building alliances with non NHS campaigns and trade unions and over time this evolved into a primarily trade union facing body. HCT formally merged with KONP in 2022 and retains the trade union focus. HCT has an organising committee and welcomes affiliations which are predominantly national and local trade unions.
Q: What is the difference between KONP groups and HCT affiliates?
A: Local KONP groups are our full affiliates – they vote in KONP elections, take part in our Steering Group, decide KONP’s campaigning priorities, and help run the organisation on a day-to-day basis. They are dedicated to health campaigning. HCT is the trade union-facing body of Keep Our NHS Public and welcomes affiliations from trade unions, trade union branches, and trades councils. Affiliation is also open to local branches of political parties, and campaign organisations that do not focus solely on health but wish to affiliate to our work.
Q: What is the SOS NHS coalition. Is this a different organisation?
A: Yes - but we are part of it. KONP takes a leadership role in SOS NHS but it is a coalition supported by over 50 organisations and jointly run by a core organising group which is made up of KONP and several other campaigns including We Own It, Just Treatment, Doctors Association UK, Every Doctor, 99% Organisation, Socialist Health Association and others. You can find out more here.
Q: Is KONP affiliated to any political party?
A: No. KONP is not affiliated to any political party.
Q: Does KONP encourage people to vote for a particular political party?
A: No. We encourage our members and supporters to vote with their own conscience in a way that - given the particular circumstances of any given moment - offers the best chance of safeguarding our NHS. How our members and supporters vote is their own private business. We have campaigned around ‘Vote NHS’ in previous election campaigns.
Q: Does KONP endorse individual political candidates?
A: No. KONP does not believe that endorsing individual candidates in elections is the right way of winning broad support for our ideas. However, we do proactively seek to build and maintain relationships with candidates and members of Parliament who share our goals and values (see below). We do work alongside MPs from different political parties and give them opportunities to speak on our platforms.
Q: Why does KONP focus on England? What about Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
A: The focus of our campaigning tends to be in England where the threat of privatisation is greatest as opposed to the other nations where privatisation hasn't taken such a systematic hold and clinical services are still substantially in public hands. However, we recognise that the threat of cuts and closures is very serious across the UK and we would welcome more activity in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. If you would be interested in setting up a local group there, please do let us know.
Q: What are KONP’s demands?
A: We want a publicly provided, funded through general taxation, accountable health service, free to all at the point of delivery. We demand a fully funded NHS able to provide excellent and safe comprehensive healthcare for all; an end to privatisation in our NHS and outsourcing to for-profit companies; and a fair deal for all those who work within the NHS and the wider health and social care sector; investment in public health, tackling the social determinants of health; and a rebuilding and expansion of the NHS. We also call for a national care, support and independent living service (see ESCaD). To find out more read our ‘about us’ page and the information about our ‘Restore the People’s NHS’ campaign.
Q: What kind of NHS does KONP want?
A:We want to see an NHS that is publicly funded, provided and accountable, freely available to anyone and everyone at the point of need. This means an end to all private involvement in the health service, for instance an end to the outsourcing of staff to for-profit companies. It also necessitates an end to migrant charges and a commitment to ending health inequalities. We believe that the NHS can and must be restored to the world-class health service it has been in the past.
Q:What is meant by NHS privatisation?
A: The World Health Organisation (WHO) states, ‘privatisation can be defined as a process in which non-government actors become increasingly involved in the financing and/or provision of healthcare services.’ This can mean the takeover of NHS clinical or non-clinical support services by private companies, the outsourcing of services or staff, partnerships between the NHS and for-profit bodies, or using NHS funding to pay for private services. Examples of privatisation include the outsourcing of ancillary staff to private companies, the use of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) funding to fund the building or maintenance of NHS buildings, or the provision of services by private companies, paid for by the NHS or directly by government.
Q: Why is KONP opposed to privatisation?
A: Research has found that the introduction of profit to healthcare leads to worse patient outcomes. Short term profits rely on cutting corners, cherry-picking lucrative work and enforcing worse working pay and conditions for staff. In the long run, privatisation is always more expensive and wasteful and often less safe. The provision of care by for-profit bodies is damaging to the NHS in that it undermines a key founding principle that health care is paid for from public taxation and government funds. Publicly provided NHS services have a duty to their patients to provide best and safest care for all. In contrast, private companies have a duty to their shareholders to maximise profit. There is an unacceptable conflict of interest in having private companies delivering health care to NHS patients.
Q: Does KONP believe the NHS needs more funding?
A: Yes. The country cannot succeed without a strong health service. A well-funded publicly provided NHS is the most cost-effective national model of healthcare. While we recognise that without a commitment from government to end privatisation we can’t fully protect our NHS, we also recognise that a root cause of the current crisis in the NHS is underfunding. Despite nominal spending having increased, it has fallen way behind what is needed. The truth is spending per unit of healthcare need has fallen dramatically over the last 14 years. Underfunding the NHS has undermined the accessibility of good healthcare for patients and is a preparatory step on the road to privatisation. It must be challenged and reversed.
Q: Where does KONP think the money for the NHS will come from?
A: Public funding should be drawn from progressive taxation, from each according to their ability to pay, with a taxation system that ensures people pay their fair share and taxes the rich appropriately. Funding of the NHS and other essential public services should be seen as an essential investment in the health and wellbeing of the population and the economy, and not as a cost. We cannot afford not to have an effective NHS - if the NHS fails, the economy will fail.
Q: Is KONP an inclusive campaign?
A: Yes. We welcome all who want to campaign alongside us regardless of age, sex, disability, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation or gender identity.
Q: What is KONP’s position on migrants and refugees?
A: We welcome migrants and refugees. We campaign against migrant charging and believe the NHS should be for everyone living in this country. KONP is committed to a universal NHS and we are therefore an explicitly anti-racist organisation.
Q: Does KONP bar anyone from joining or getting involved because of their membership of any political party?
A: No (with the below exceptions)
Q: Are there any values or views that KONP believes are unacceptable and would prevent someone joining, supporting or getting involved with KONP?
A: Yes. KONP stands against discrimination based on age, sex, disability, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation or gender identity. If you hold discriminatory views, or are a member of an organisation that encourages discriminatory views, it would not be appropriate for you to be a member of KONP nor would you be welcome to associate with KONP.
Q: Does KONP believe in ‘no platforming’?
A: No. However, we make an exception regarding the kind of discriminatory views outlined above. Therefore, we would ‘no platform’ someone with extremist views associated with an extremist party. Outside this exception we do not have a ‘no platform’ policy and welcome all those who want a universal, public, fully funded NHS onto our platforms and alongside us in our campaigns.
Q: Does your campaign actually make a difference?
A: Yes. KONP has saved 10 hospitals and many other services from cuts and closure and has held the Government to account through various means of lobbying, campaigning and protest. We believe that most legislative reforms which have benefited the majority of people have been won through activism and protest movements. You can find out more on our NHS Campaign Wins webpage.
Q: Does KONP try to get its messages about the NHS in the press?
A: Yes. KONP has a dedicated press officer and we are regularly approached for comment in online and print media as well as regular appearances on a range of platforms from TV, radio and more. To find out more about our press work click here.
Q: Does KONP use social media
A: Yes. We use Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Bluesky. We also regularly upload videos to our YouTube page. Please follow us and share our posts as much as possible.
Q: Does KONP lobby politicians for change?
A: Yes. KONP does try to build relationships with politicians that support our ideas and provide briefing papers for MPs so they have the facts accessible about the NHS crisis and what should be done, and can advocate for positive change in and out of Parliament.
Does KONP work with the trade unions?
A: Yes. KONP works alongside the trade unions both at a rank and file and leadership level. This work is spearheaded by the KONP body, Health Campaigns Together.
Does KONP mount legal challenges about NHS cuts, closures and other NHS policies?
A: Yes. KONP and some of our local groups have mounted several Judicial Reviews. We also launched the first inquiry into the covid pandemic by a panel chaired by Michael Mansfield KC.
Q: I am new to activism - does this mean I can’t get involved with KONP?
A: Everyone is welcome in KONP, whether you are a seasoned campaigner or are brand new to activism. If you would like to speak to someone from the national office on how you can get involved, you are always welcome to get in touch by emailing our campaigns officer [email protected] or our national administrator [email protected] . A good place to start if you are new to KONP is one of our monthly Members and Supporters meetings, which we advertise in our newsletter.
Q: Why should I join KONP?
A: The more people get involved, the more we can achieve. Being a member means you'll be joining a community of health activists with unrivalled experience and passion, and we can connect you to a local KONP group where possible. You will have the support of a core team of experienced organisers at national level.
Q: What are KONP’s ‘Working Groups’ and how do I get involved?
A: KONP is committed to having all the facts to back up our arguments and therefore has a number of ‘Working Groups’ devoted to investigating and researching key issues for NHS campaigners. You can find out more about our working groups here.
Q: Can my trade union branch affiliate to KONP?
A: Yes. Trade union branches can affiliate to Keep Our NHS Public by becoming part of our trade union facing body ‘Health Campaigns Together’. You can find out more here.
Q: Can my local group affiliate to KONP?
A: Yes. If your local group sees itself as an NHS-related campaign (and share our values) you are welcome to affiliate your group. Otherwise, you can explore HCT as above - find out more here. Affiliated local groups participate in KONP’s democratic structures and can help shape our goals and priorities.
Q: Where are the details about how our democratic structures of our organisation work?
A: Yes. Our constitution is the ‘articles and rules of association’ of KONP and you can find these here.
Q: How do I change information about my local group on the KONP website?
A: Please email [email protected] with the information you would like updated.
Q: Are materials on the KONP shop free?
A: Most of the materials in our shop are available for free to members and KONP groups, however, we strongly encourage you where possible to make a donation to cover our basic costs, to be made when ordering. There is a suggested amount for donations for each item, which you will find in our online shop here.
Q: Can I write something for the KONP website?
A: We are always keen to update our website with articles or reports on local campaigning from our members. If you would like to write something, or would like to but need more support with writing, please contact [email protected].
Q: Does KONP accept volunteers?
A: Yes! If you would like to volunteer with us, please get in touch by emailing [email protected]. Our volunteers help us with everything from distributing materials to stewarding demonstrations, and are a vital part of our work as an organisation.
Q: I am a member of a local KONP group, does that mean I am a member of national KONP?
A: No, you are not automatically a member of national KONP if you are a member of a local KONP group. National KONP has its own joining process. To check if you are a member of national KONP please email us.
Q: I thought I had a membership payment or regular donation to KONP via Direct Debit. However, I cannot see it on my bank statement. What can I do?
A: In the first instance, please email us and we can check if you have an active payment. Direct Debits may appear on your bank statement as ‘GoCardless’, the name of the third party payment processor, rather than ‘KONP’.