The following stories were selected from those sent as daily alerts under the search term ‘NHS’, and ‘Keep Our NHS Public’ from the Google alerts service. Please send any comments to Alan: mailto:healthjournos@gmail.com
31 August
Next days of strike for juniors
Guardian:
[18 more stories]
Biggest change to NHS you’ve never heard of
Youssef El-Gingihy’s description of STPs. Independent:
Norfolk hospital bed closures (local)
Includes quote from Norfolk KONP’s Bill Adnams. Well done, Bill.
Eastern Daily Press: http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/health/norfolk_s_largest_hospital_closes_68_beds_across_three_wards_in_temporary_measure_to_cut_staff_costs_1_4677881
Cuts planned in Oxfordshire (local)
Quote from Joan Stuart, Oxford KONP. Well done Joan. Witney Gazette
1 September
Corbyn’s plans for NHS new progressive politics
Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/youssef-elgingihy/jeremy-corbyn-privatisation-nhs_b_11736600.html
Why NHS needs bold reform
From the Tory Conservative Home. It plainly discloses the true agenda: creation of ACOs as a way of ushering in private health care, using the strike as an excuse:
2 September
Hunt refuses to negotiate over contract.
Independent:
Pressure on doctors undermines NHS
Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/sep/01/pressures-on-doctors-undermine-the-nhs
‘First hospital to close maternity services because of junior shortage’
Telegraph. No call to increase training or funding (the root long-term causes of this) but plenty of ‘human interest’ pregnant mom stories about how they are having to change their plans, interspersed with links to the strike. Subtly hostile.
Theresa May declares war on NHS
Statements on juniors’ dispute show how she views their case. The Canary:
Kent stroke services to close in STPs (local)
Kent online: http://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/stroke-units-could-be-axed-101773/
4 September
Obese and smokers to be declined elective operations
This started as a local story in York but was picked up nationally. NHS England stepped in to reverse the decision. Obese people or smokers would have had their operations delayed until after they had taken recognised steps to lose weight or quit. Another step in blaming those with ill health, ‘the undeserving sick’, cloaked as ‘cost cutting measures’. Evening Standard:
Junior doctors may desert NHS over contract
Obvious consequences, giving the Tories more leverage to privatise. Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/sep/03/junior-doctors-desert-nhs-over-contract-bma-mccourt
NHS is being trampled (local)
Opinion piece from Colin Baker, ex-Dr Who, in Tory area freesheet. Bucks Free Press:
Junior doctors’ dispute is about future of the NHS
Guardian:
Juniors ‘will harm patients if they strike’
Sir John Oldham’s piece in the Telegraph was one of several moves to discredit the strike before it started and sow dissent amongst the juniors. Several colleges backed the strike, however; this was not widely reported. Draw your own conclusions…
Motivated staff needed to stop staffing crisis
Short letter in the Telegraph, pointing out the consequences of trying to de-skill the workforce without admitting it:
5 September
Merger of trusts to go ahead in Birmingham (local)
Long-struggling Heart of England trust to be taken over by the centrally based Queen Elizabeith, creating what could become an ACO-type organisation reflecting the local STP. BBC News
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-37273638
Strike called off
Widely reported. The BMA heeded the requests from NHS employers to delay on safety grounds, responsibly. Express:
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/707409/BMA-Junior-Doctors-NHS-strike-in-September-CALLED-OFF
KONP received several calls from national outlets in the past week, relating to STPs and the junior doctors’ dispute. KONP members were interviewed on national and local media as a result (BBC News, BBC Radio London). Several more enquiries have since been received, as our name becomes ‘known’ as a ‘reliable source’.
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”.
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