Newsletter – March 2017

Press Interest

National press interest continues to build, with enquiries coming to Alan Taman usually several times weekly now. Latest quotes were in the Independent and the Morning Star. Locally, more groups are achieving ‘hits’ with their local press. Please ask Alan for advice on how to do this, or sustain it.

4th March Press

Thanks to Ramona McCartney from The People's Assembly Against Austerity, Alan Taman from KONP and HCT and Vicky Penner from the Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign for managing media and social media and press on the day. A list of media reports (compiled by Vicky) about the 4th March Demonstration can be found here.

Looking forward to a week of action in July

After such a successful demonstration, KONP immediately called for a week of action in July. Health Campaigns Together and People’s Assembly added to this, announcing two nationally coordinated days of action. The first will be on Saturday 1st July with street parties, protests and leafleting, all depending on local circumstances. We plan one major event in central London. The second day of action marks the 69th anniversary of the NHS 5thJuly. This will involve all kinds of campaigning and – where appropriate! – celebratory events, showing our support to our NHS staff working in hospitals, mental health, ambulance, community and primary care services up and down the land. We will keep you updated with how you can get involved!

Leicester STP Report by KONP's Dr Sally Ruane

Dr Sally Ruane of Leicester KONP was interviewed by BBC about her report on the STP for Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland. Dr Ruane has written a comprehensive report on STP footprint 15 and outlined the concerns and threats it raises. A video of the BBC news report in which Sally is interviewed can be found on YouTube. Well done on all your efforts.

Two important reports undermine Department of Health and NHS England’s claims that they will save £22b from predicted annual funding needs of the NHS by 2020 by developing better integrated health and social care in the community over the next three years!

There have been two significant reports refuting NHS England's claim in March. One came from the National Audit Office who said:

Integrating the health and social care sectors is a significant challenge in normal times, let alone times when both sectors are under such severe pressure. So far, benefits have fallen far short of plans, despite much effort. It will be important to learn from the over-optimism of such plans when implementing the much larger NHS sustainability and transformation plans. The Departments do not yet have the evidence to show that they can deliver their commitment to integrated services by 2020, at the same time as meeting existing pressures on the health and social care systems. Amyas Morse, head of National Audit Office, 8.2.17

The other is a report by The Nuffield Trust which makes the points that whilst great community care would be wonderful if it existed;

A. it would require significant investment but there is none

B. it would take far longer than the five years (3 years now to 2020/21)

C. IT WILL NOT SAVE MONEY

The report makes many other helpful points that support ideas KONP have had for years and can be found here.