Launch of New Report in Parliament on how to Rebuild NHS

Academics and NHS professionals launch New Report in Parliament on how to Rebuild the NHS
Press release on behalf of The 99% Organisation and Keep Our NHS Public

Samantha Wathen
Press/Media Officer for Keep Our NHS Public
Acting Press Liaison for this report

A groundbreaking new report, The Rational Policy-maker’s Guide to Rebuilding the NHS, was launched on 4 March in the Houses of Parliament. Produced by the 99% Organisation with input from Keep Our NHS Public, the report sets out a clear and urgent case for properly funding the NHS and investing in preventive healthcare to reverse the system’s decline.

Chaired by Richard Burgon MP, the event brought together leading experts, including Mark E. Thomas, report author and Founder of the 99% Organisation; Dr John Puntis, Co-Chair of Keep Our NHS Public; healthcare leaders from across the sector; and Guardian journalist, Polly Toynbee.

You can read the report here

Richard Burgon MP, who sponsored the event, emphasised the urgent need for action:

This report lays bare the truth: underfunding and creeping privatisation have left our NHS in crisis. But there is a way forward. Proper public investment and a commitment to keeping the NHS free at the point of use can rebuild our health service and improve patient outcomes. The government must take note – this is not just about economics; it’s about saving lives.

The report draws lessons from the last Labour government’s NHS turnaround while warning against past mistakes that must not be repeated. Mark E. Thomas, lead author of the report, underscored the critical need for bold action:

There is no dispute that the NHS is struggling badly, but there is certainly dispute about how to fix it. This report demonstrates that calls for further privatisation or an insurance-based system would be catastrophic for both public health and the economy. The only viable solution is proper funding, preventive healthcare investment, and tackling the root causes of ill health, including poverty.

Dr John Puntis, Co-Chair of Keep Our NHS Public, reinforced this message:

Decades of market-driven policies have eroded our NHS. This report makes it clear that the way forward is not more outsourcing or corporate involvement, but a properly funded, publicly run health service that puts patients before profit. The evidence is here, and the government has no excuse not to act.

The event was attended by cross-party MPs and members of the Lords, policy makers, and members of the press, all of whom engaged in a dynamic discussion about the NHS’s future. The report provides a roadmap for rebuilding the NHS in a way that ensures sustainable, high-quality healthcare for all.