Press Summary: 15 March

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: [email protected]

8 March

Bath campaigners street protest for NHS Bill (local)

Bath Chronicle: http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Local-lobby-group-takes-campaign-NHS/story-28876746-detail/story.html

[26 more stories]

Why MPs should back the NHS Bill

OurNHS: https://www.opendemocracy.net/john-furse/our-nhs-cant-afford-privatisation-why-mps-must-back-nhs-bill-this-friday

 

Brighton campaigners stage die-in (local)

The Argus: https://www.opendemocracy.net/john-furse/our-nhs-cant-afford-privatisation-why-mps-must-back-nhs-bill-this-friday

 

9 March

 

UK government moving to US system

Economic critique: Economy Watch: http://www.economywatch.com/features/British-Government-Hell-bent-on-Privatising-the-NHS0308.html

 

Stroud campaigners to join doctor’ strike (local)

Stroud News, announced before the strike, well done Stroud Against the Cuts: http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/14328196.Stroud_campaigners_to_join_protest_march_in_solidarity_with_Junior_Doctors____strike_this_weekend

 

Leeds campaigners to encircle Leeds hospital

Again, announced before the action, well done Leeds KONP: Yorkshire Evening Post http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/protestors-to-encircle-the-leeds-city-centre-hospital-as-they-back-nhs-bill-1-7783341

 

Over 5,000 operations to be cancelled through doctors’ strike

Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/mar/08/more-than-5000-nhs-operations-cancelled-as-doctors-prepare-to-strike

 

10 March

 

Devon and Exeter doctors begin strike (local)

Express & Echo (Devon): http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Junior-doctors-48-hour-walkout-begins-Royal-Devon/story-28889608-detail/story.html

 

Plymouth doctors begin strike (local)

Herald (Plymouth): http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Junior-doctors-begin-48-hour-strike-action/story-28890928-detail/story.html

 

Junior doctor warns colleagues will leave NHS

Sky News: http://news.sky.com/story/1656505/doctors-will-leave-nhs-warns-hunt-medic

Doctors strike also covered in:

Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3482621/More-19-000-operations-CANCELLED-junior-doctor-strikes-including-5-200-medics-prepare-walkout-48-hours-tomorrow.html

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-35766166

 

Caroline Lucas calls for MPs to back NHS Bill

Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/this-week-mps-could-vote-for-a-bill-that-would-stop-the-dismantling-of-our-nhs-if-they-actually-want-a6921411.html

 

Bigger picture behind doctors’ strike

Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/mar/09/bigger-picture-behind-junior-doctors-dispute

 

11 March

 

WHO: UK no longer has an NHS

Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/terrifyingly-according-to-the-world-health-organisation-definition-the-uk-no-longer-has-a-nhs-a6923126.html

 

 

Hospitals dangerously overwhelmed

Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/mar/10/nhs-hospitals-overwhelmed-patients-could-die-top-doctor

 

Health senior managers warn strike is having effect

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-35757347

 

Junior doctors radicalised

Polly Tonybee’s article. Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/10/junior-doctors-strike-nhs-pressure-jeremy-hunt

 

Tory MPs talk out Bill

Mirror: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tory-mps-talk-long-derail-7539627

Also covered by the Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nhs-reinstatement-bill-tory-mps-filibuster-debate-by-talking-about-deporting-foreigners-for-hours-a6925781.html

 

12 March

 

Campaigners object to Stevens’ speech (local)

Getting some mention of privatisation in what would otherwise have been a promotional gig for Stevens. Wigan Today: http://www.wigantoday.net/news/local/nhs-chief-gives-vision-of-future-healthcare-1-7792318

 

Anti-austerity groups demo in support of doctors (local)

Gloucestershire Echo: http://www.gloucestershireecho.co.uk/Anti-austerity-groups-took-streets-Cheltenham/story-28910216-detail/story.html

 

Unite claim government reluctant to exempt NHS from TTIP

Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/mar/13/unite-says-government-is-reluctant-to-exempt-nhs-from-ttip

 

Anger over lack of Labour support for Bill

Socialist Party: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/22399

 

Royal College says not enough doctors for 7 day NHS

Pity it took a Royal College to point out the merits of numeracy to this government…

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-35779006

 

NHS now at crisis point for cash

Mirror: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nhs-hit-crisis-point-patient-7557713

 

STOP PRESS: There’s a Better Way…

You can now get alerts sent about health stories yourself. This is much better than a regular, ‘supplied’ service because you can choose what key words trigger the alerts: “Keep Our NHS Pubic”, “NHS”, “health” – your choice. Then you can adjust the settings to improve the coverage. This has the added advantage that local stories to you can be searched for, as well as national. Alerts can be set up to send you an e-mail as a story breaks, or summarise them under headings you decide once a 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 and look for the “starter set of instructions”.

… and please don’t forget, your smartphone or tablet will have free apps that look for and filter news, too: try configuring those for health stories, or the NHS, as well.