3 January
NHS faces worst January for beds
ITN News:
http://www.itv.com/news/2017-01-02/doctors-face-the-worst-january-in-scramble-for-beds/
Also the Sun:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/living/2521712/nhs-crisis-packed-wards-january-2017/
Call for referendum on the NHS
Guardian:
Don’t go to A&E unless you are dying
Daily Mail
7 Day NHS unrealistic
RCGP Chair’s comments in the Mirror:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/britains-top-family-doctor-says-9553467
4 January
London winter meltdown (local)
Evening Standard:
Devon hospital closures will be ‘huge risk’ (local)
Express & Echo:
Local group quotes form the lead for this story; well done, Devon and Exeter.
2016 was worst year in NHS history
Kailash Chand’s opinion piece in the Guardian:
NHS spends millions on private companies that block GP referrals
On the growing concern over ‘management centres’
Independent:
Guardian:
The Morning Star approached Alan Taman about this for comment at very short notice (under 45 mins to deadline) and ran the quote:
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-b6ee-Private-firms-block-patients-access-to-care#.WHTPUrGca7Y
(saying ‘well done’ would seem self-serving so I’m not going to! AT)
6 January
Vale of York CCG urges people not to ‘misuse’ A&E (local)
The same CCG that recently succeeded in getting CQC approval to withhold elective surgery from people who are obese, smoke, or both. Yet another chapter in the ‘blame the sick’ narrative emerging, which shifts responsibility from government to the ‘undeserving sick’.
The Press (York):
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/15004946.York_NHS_bosses_issue_fresh_plea_not_to_misuse_A_E/
Three die at Worcs hospital in winter crisis
Guardian:
Followed by the Red Cross announcement that the NHS was suffering a humanitarian crisis:
Daily Mail:
I’m a junior doctor and I’m terrified for this winter
Aislinn Macklin-Doherty’s opinion piece in the Guardian (Aislinn is one of the founder members of the Junior Doctors Alliance, a campaign organised via social media. The JDA can be found on Facebook easily.)
Cold or cowardly? Hunt hides as Red Cross warn of crisis
Mirror’s take on Hunt’s tardy response:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/jeremy-hunt-nhs-red-cross-9577283
Also the Independent:
7 January
Readers dismayed over plane to move Women’s Hospital (local)
Quote from Alex Scott-Samuel, Merseyside KONP. Well done Alex
Liverpool Echo:
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/echo-readers-dismayed-over-plans-12417139
8 January
NHS denies Red Cross claims
Telegraph:
May cannot ignore NHS crisis
Guardian (actually she pretty much did!):
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/jan/07/theresa-may-cannot-ignore-nhs-crisis
Corbyn calls for May to explain to Parliament (she didn’t). Independent:
May denies there is an NHS crisis
BBC News:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38547760
BMA and unions accuses May of being in denial over crisis
Independent:
Make a 999 call for the NHS
Mirror’s editorial calling for action to save the NHS. Hurrah:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/make-999-call-ailing-nhs-9587107
‘I go home and weep’ – hell of working in front-line NHS
Mirror:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/i-go-home-weep-hell-9586910
Worst conditions in memory
The Guardian’s compilation piece from medics:
Labour say systematic under-funding to blame for crisis
Independent:
Editorial on NHS crisis
Observer:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jan/07/observer-view-on-nhs-crisis
Tory Minister says tax rise and reorganised health and social care IS… ‘possible’ (local)
Only a local comment, but this does show even Tories can see the light! After they have lost power in this case, granted. Eastern Daily Press: http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/politics/another_nhs_reorganisation_is_needed_says_conservative_minister_and_former_norfolk_hospital_chief_1_4840978
9 January
Corbyn calls on May to heal crisis
Includes comment by David Wrigley from KONP’s press release on the Red Cross statement. Well done us? Morning Star:
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-f746-Corbyn-calls-on-May-to-act-to-heal-NHS-crisis#.WHT057Gca7Y
Comment/analysis: The news pattern since the Red Cross announcement seems to reflect a government agenda of initial avoidance followed by denial then displacement. Hunt’s carefully assembled remarks about ‘having a dialogue about A&E use’ (with its implied narrative of public misuse of the service) delivered alongside May’s exhortations for the public to ‘be more responsible’ are consistent with that: denial followed by distraction leading to blame shifting.
Cartoon on the state of the NHS
Guardian. Tempting to use widely – remember, copyright applies.
10 January
Full extent of winter crisis shown by leaked document
BBC News:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38570960
McDonnell calls for NHS audit now
Guardian:
There were several enquiries relating to the Red Cross statement and KONP’s subsequent press release commenting on it. These included requests from the Morning Star, ITN News, and The Victoria Derbyshire programme (BBC). Other enquiries to KONP nationally have included several freelances on STPs and privatisation; and Voice of Islam Radio have agreed to run a 2-hour programme on the NHS in the near future. Several branches are sending in press releases – thank you. We need more! Local successes are at least matching national ‘presence’, which is to be expected – but it helps to know of any successes, or even unsuccessful attempts. Please send to Alan Taman: [email protected]
This service is provided as a guide to the main stories, but you can get alerts sent about health stories yourself every day. This is done through Google news and Google alerts: free services anyone can set up. To find out how to do this, go to the Steering Group, News & Events section on the KONP website (https://keepournhspublic.com/support-konp/steering-group-page/news-events/ ) and look for the “starter set of instructions”.
Mobile devices also have free apps that provide news, which you can filter with varying degrees of control.
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