Newsletter – April 2017

1 May 2017 Hands Up Health Campaigns Together, News, Newsletter 0

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National KONP News

The General Election

Theresa May has called a General Election for 8 June. Her intention is to gain a huge majority by making Brexit the overwhelming election issue, and to avoid the issues so important for Britain, including the attacks on public services. KONP, Health Campaigns Together and our allies, including People’s Assembly will ensure that the NHS is a key feature of the election campaign.

KONP believes that the NHS is in mortal danger under a Conservative Government. Under the current Health Secretary, NHS and Social Care budgets have been cut; there has been a concerted shift to privatise the NHS; bursaries for trainee nurses have been cut; and unfair-unsafe contracts have been imposed on Junior Doctors. 9,000 hospital beds have been closed since 2010; 24,000 nurse vacancies exist and trainee applications have fallen; waiting times for A&E 4-hour treatment target, cancer, outpatient and elective surgery are all rapidly getting worse. And if the current government stay in power the situation will deteriorate further. Now, more than ever, NHS campaigning groups must come together to fight against the threat this Tory Government pose to our NHS. We are supporting the NHS Roadshow and a call to vote to save the NHS.

A vote against the Conservatives is a vote for the NHS – #voteNHS

Important links and resources:

Percentage of patients spending more than 4 hours in A&E from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge; quarterly data
Percentage of patients spending more than 4 hours in A&E from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge; quarterly data Source: A&E attendances and emergency admissions 2016-2017 www.england.nhs.uk

Cuts to mental health funding

Despite NHS England dictating that CCG’s need to spend £1 billion on mental health services by 2021 The Independent have reported that funding for mental health services have been cut by millions in 5 different CCGs. According to data obtained by Pulse magazine Sefton, Scarborough, the Isle of Wight, St Helens and Walsall are set to reduce spending on mental health by £4.5m. This comes after May’s pledge to ‘tackle the stigma’ of mental health earlier this year.

KONP Annual Meeting

Our Annual Meeting (including a short AGM) will be taking place on 10th June at Unite the Union’s offices in Moreland street. There will be a post-General Election analysis and speakers and discussion on comparative health systems – the NHS, the EU and USA.

To register please follow the instructions given here.

A small lunch will be provided and there will be vegan and vegetarian options available. Please feel free to bring additional snacks if you wish.

The Executive Committee Elections

The election to KONP’s executive committee will be formally announced at the Steering Group meeting on 13th May. The call for candidates with full details, will follow shortly after this. Eligible candidates wishing to stand must return forms by 5th June. All 73 local groups with a steering group delegate are able to vote in the elections (provided they are up to date with memberships. Our KONP groups will be voting for the Co-Chairs, Treasurer, Secretary and the other six Executive Committee places.
The count for the election will be taking place on Saturday 15th July.

Picture from the Mirror (31 May 15) showing patients on trolleys waiting for treatment at Stafford Hospital
Picture from the Mirror (31st May 2015) showing patients on trolleys in a hospital corridor waiting for treatment at Stafford Hospital

Local KONP News

New Group!

Congratulations to Sam Wathen and Sarah Newman, who have just set up our latest group in Swindon and have just had their first public meeting, which the local press already picked up beforehand! Sam has asked that people contact the new group via social media – which is something KONP needs to make more use of (it’s how their local paper spotted them), so here are the hashtags:

May Day Festival in Manchester

Greater Manchester KONP will be handing out leaflets Saturday 29th April at 11am, All Saints Park, Oxford Road. They will be attending a May Day Festival event organised by Manchester TUC, the focus is on saving the NHS: https://www.facebook.com/ManchesterMayDayFestival/

14th May March and Rally in Warwickshire

South Warwickshire KONP and Warwick University have organised a rally for 14th May. It will start at Top Park at 14.30 and head to Pump Room Gardens. For more information and updates please see South Warwickshire KONP’s Facebook Page.

Shropshire Defend Our NHS demands accountability

There has been huge levels of concern about potentially avoidable infant deaths in Shropshire with poor accountability. Campaigners have raised the dual issues of severe underfunding, and lack of support for NHS staff and the urgent need for transparency, candour and engagement with affected patients and families.

Daily Mirror, Hospital Hell

Press

KONP gets frequent enquiries nationally and local groups often feature in stories covered by their local press. As the general election campaigns gather pace, the NHS will be a main focus so we can expect KONP to be asked its views. Stories in the past month that have explicitly mentioned KONP include:

Let us know about your local stories and/or press coverage by emailing our KONP communications and press officer Alan via [email protected]

The Hackney Office

Please get in touch with the national administrator in the Hackney Office if you have any queries about orders, merchandise, the Annual Meeting, how to find a local group or anything else.
mailto:[email protected] or 0207 241 4443 ext:210


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