Public Meeting 22-Nov-2010

Note – this was originally scheduled for 8th Nov. It has been postponed by two weeks.

Organised by the Better Local Healthcare Campaign

public meeting 7.30pm on November 22nd

at Middle Lane Methodist Church, Middle Lane, N8 8NT

We expect to have guest speaker Dr. Wendy Savage, supported by Colin Leys and other local campaign members.
The main purpose of the meeting is to step up the campaign opposing the proposals in the NHS White Paper; in particular we must make the public aware of the true nature of the proposals.

What’s happening: the threat to the NHS

The coalition government’s White Paper proposes the most far-reaching changes that threaten the very future of the NHS. Instead of a national public health service, the NHS will end up as a brand.

Breaking up the NHS

NHS hospitals and other trusts will become Foundation Trusts and encouraged to become independent providers.
They will be allowed to borrow privately and make profits with no bail-out if they go bankrupt.
The cap on income from private patients will be lifted to allow unlimited provision of private medicine, and to increase links with the private sector.

GP commissioning

GPs in England will be forced to join up in `consortia’ to commission local services instead of Primary Care Trusts which will be scrapped.
The GP consortia will need substantial expertise and administrative assistance. Private companies will have an increasingly influential role.

Community health services?

We don’t know what will happen to community health services, like midwifery, but all community services will be reorganised and it is not certain who will be provide them. Again it could be private companies.

Threat of Privatisation

The NHS is in danger of becoming a brand name instead of a service. Private companies are expected to play a major role and will be involved in decisions about health spending. There are serious concerns about whether service provision will be based on people’s needs and on fair access to services.


There are also big questions about whether the GP consortia will be truly accountable to local people, able to plan strategically, and operate openly.


The big danger is that the NHS as we know it will be dismantled with billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money going to private companies. The emphasis will be on profit and competition. Services will become more and more fragmented.
It is urgent to make our voices heard. We need everyone to come together to protect our NHS and safeguard its future.

Video Clip

Adeline O’Keefe explains this well in the video clip.

Video clip of Adeline O’Keeffe of Keep Our NHS Public commenting on the NHS White Paper

Get copies of `Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS’ from The Parliamentary Bookshop 12 Bridge Street, Parliament Square, SW1A 2JX Tel: 020 7219 3890 or visit http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/LiberatingtheNHS/index.htm

Consultation ended 5th & 11th October but letters can still be written, to Department of Health, Minister, MPs and GPs.

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