2019 News

12th December 2019 – constituency voting results

Click below for the useful Chronicle article giving constituency voting results for every NE parliamentary seat, with interactive maps

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/north-east-general-election-results-17406192

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10th December 2019 – final pre-election leafleting in Blyth

Final leafleting session this morning, again in Blyth. Its now up to us all to #VoteNHS on Thursday. Many thanks to KONPNE supporters who have distributed leaflets over the past few days – much appreciated.

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7th December 2019 – Northumberland screenings

Great NHS campaigning from Northumberland residents, who contacted the producer of the “Under the Knife” NHS documentary, and independently arranged for four separate screenings of the recently released NHS film in Felton, Berwick upon Tweed, Newbiggin and Thropton. The film reveals the extent of the creeping privatisation of the NHS. The screenings were organised by Mr Richard Spedding (6th from left), who is keen to continue and further develop NHS campaigning in the Northumberland area. Please contact us at konpnortheast@gmail.com if you wish to work alongside Richard – we will be very happy to forward your email to him.

KONPNE were proud to support and be present at the Newbiggin screening this afternoon. Following the film, Jude Letham (KONPNE Co-ordinator) outlines the current situation

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5th December 2019 – #VoteNHS Roadshow arrives at Wallsend

Tonight saw a one-off relocation of our regular KONPNE meeting from Newcastle city centre to the spectacular Wallsend Memorial Hall for the special edition “Keep Our NHS Public North East” Open Meeting #VoteNHS ROADSHOW

The first part of the evening comprised an excerpt from the recently released (October 2019) and highly acclaimed film ‘Under The Knife’; narrated by actor Alison Steadman and endorsed by film maker Ken Loach, the film highlights the covert dismantling of the NHS that is going on right now. Essential viewing. 

Thereafter, our guest speakers Andrew MacArdle (Green Party), Julia Charlton (Retired Nursing Academic) and Dr Jonny Coates (local GP) provided very thoughtful insights, plus a lively q & a and discussions with members of the audience.

Amongst the topics of the evening, we considered

– how the relationship between GPs and patients (when properly funded) makes a much more efficient health service, than a system which involves visiting specialists who don’t know the patient’s health history and background.
– some of the reasons for the huge number of nurse vacancies were highlighted: the withdrawal of the Education Maintenance Allowance, raising of tuition fees to £9,000 a year in H.E. and loss of bursaries for student nurses.
– the concerning issue of shortages of drugs was raised with speculation on some of the causes.
– the impact of austerity on health was explored and the need to consider the promotion of well-being and prevention of illness.
It was clear to all that attended that we need a change of government.

Many thanks to our speakers… it’s now up to Wallsend to #VoteNHS next Thursday and to make sure that our NHS is firmly off the table….

Check here for the date of our next KONPNE at our usual venue in Newcastle city centre…

      Andrew MacArdle – Green Party

     Julia Charlton – Nursing Academic (Retired)

     Dr Jonny Coates – local GP

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4th December 2019 – Local Parliamentary candidates pledge support to NHS

Labour parliamentary candidate for Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland, Lauren Dingsdale (r) pledges

“I’ll protect our NHS from trade deals by ending privatisation”

Check out https://weownit.org.uk/

#HandsOffOurNHS #NotForSale

The NHS pledge is open to all candidates of all parties to sign, and well done to Lauren and to all of the North East signatories who have pledged support. Please see https://weownit.org.uk/nhs-trade-pledge

As of today, the list includes the following parliamentary candidates:

GREEN PARTY – Hugh Alberti (Middlesbrough), Sophie Brown (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland), Rachel Cabrel (Gateshead), Jonathan Elmer (City of Durham), Nick Morphet (Hexham), Taymar Pitman (Newcastle upon Tyne), David Sewell (NW Durham), Matthew Snedker (Darlington), Thomas Stewart (Berwick upon Tweed)

LABOUR PARTY – Jenny Chapman (Darlington), Mary Foy (City of Durham), Mary Glindon (North Tyneside), Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland), Penny Grennan (Hexham), Kevan Jones (North Durham), Ian Lavery (Wansbeck), Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields), Andy MacDonald (Midlesbrough), Ian Mearns (Gateshead), Chi Onwurrah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central), Laura Pidcock (North West Durham)

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS – Ali Avaei (Newcastle upon Tyne Central)

INFO FROM “WE OWN IT”:

Across the country, over 500 candidates have signed so far.

• Labour candidates are currently in the lead, closely followed by Greens.

• The SNP and Plaid are backing the pledge, and a fair few of their candidates have signed.

• The Lib Dem leadership has not endorse our pledge but, despite this, a few Lib Dem candidates have signed up.

• Conservatives have been instructed not to sign at all – but two have broken ranks

Are you voting for someone who has signed the pledge?

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4th December 2019 – two weeks of campaigning, discussions, leafleting for #VoteNHS

Great to be out and about, and to meet so many people in support of our NHS. Newcastle city centre on a rainy Saturday 23rd, Blyth on Saturday 30th, and Wallsend on Monday 2nd and Thursday 4th. 

We need to be sure to #VoteNHS next week…

Rainy / christmassy Saturday by Eldon Square

…and the Blyth team…but sadly noting the following casualty in Blyth town centre >>>>

and in Wallsend for two days….

Come and join us…..all assistance is appreciated until it’s firmly off the table…

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26th November 2019 – Additional December film screenings booked for Northumberland

Great news for anyone in Northumberland who missed the recent screenings of Under The Knife – there are four new opportunities to see it.  The film which reveals the extent of the creeping privatisation of the NHS, is being shown at the following venues:

Thurs 5th Dec Felton Village Hall NE65 9NH  7.30pm
Fri 6th Dec      Berwick William Elder Building, Castlegate  TD15 1JT    7:30pm
Sat 7th Dec     Newbiggin Maritime Centre, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea NE64 6DB 3:30pm
Sun 8th Dec    Thropton War Memorial Hall NE65 7LT   4:00pm

Below is the Eventbrite page for the Newbiggin showing, otherwise please turn up early to secure your seat.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/under-the-knife-screening-by-keep-our-nhs-public-konp-tickets-83314976337?ref=eios

While entrance is free, donations are very welcome.
Film details and trailer https://undertheknifefilm.co.uk/

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22nd November 2019 – Date for the diary #VoteNHS ROADSHOW comes to Wallsend on Thursday 5th December

More info here

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21st November 2019 – General election protocols put question on hold

Due to General Election protocols, North Tyneside Council have confirmed that our Formal Question to the Council will not be agenda’d for the Full Council Meeting next week 28.11.19. KONPNE thus advises our supporters that our presence at that meeting is now not needed, and we have applied for our Formal Question to North Tyneside Council to be rescheduled for early 2020 – we will keep you updated

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13th November 2019 – Question now emailed to North Tyneside Council

Dr Helen Groom (Retired GP and KONPNE steering group member) will be formally putting a question to North Tyneside Councillors at the Full Council meeting on ((Thursday 28th November 2019 – UPDATE: now cancelled, see post above)) – the question refers to the Councils involvement in the local Integrated Care System, despite a previous Council motion opposing this type of healthcare delivery. 

We are currently awaiting confirmation as to whether our question will be on the Council agenda on that specific night, and we will confirm this with you as soon as we know – so in the interim, please pencil ((Thursday 28th November – UPDATE: now cancelled, see post above)) into your diary, and watch this space for an update. More information is here. If agenda’d for the 28th, please come and join us in the viewing gallery – your support would be very much appreciated.

The question to North Tyneside Council:

Question from Dr. Helen Groom, Retired GP, resident of Whitley Bay

On 22nd March 2018 North Tyneside Councillors unanimously passed the motion;-
‘This council agrees that there is a growing body of evidence questioning the wisdom of a key project from the NHS 5 Year Forward View: Accountable Care Organisations/Integrated Care Systems (ACO/ICS) In theory an ACO/ICS provider accepts a contract based on a fixed capitation-based fee to cover all of the designated health care issues for a local population and deliver an agreed range of outcomes. The ACO/ICS notion of a fixed capitated payment is complicated by the fact that in almost every instance in the NHS, commissioners have seen the new structures as a way to make substantial savings.
However, if there is insufficient money in the contract to deliver adequate care, yet providers remain accountable for delivery of specified outcomes, then providers will be unable to continue.
This is what happened with a contract tendered out by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough CCG when a 5-year contract collapsed within just 8 months. After a prolonged hiatus, a contract to organise cancer services for much of Staffordshire has also been abandoned before the contract was even signed, when the company named as preferred provider ‘couldn’t convince us they could deliver with the resources available. They couldn’t meet the required evaluation criteria.
This council agrees to oppose any proposal to implement the delivery of healthcare in North Tyneside via an ACO/ICO, a project which in the North Tyneside CCG’s own report was stated to be high risk’.

As a member of Keep Our NHS Public North East, I and many other North Tyneside residents remain extremely concerned that NHS England are forcing local CCGs and local authorities to develop a healthcare system which will ultimately lead to increased privatisation and the demise of the NHS. This system, originally known as “Accountable Care Organisations” and recently rebranded as “Integrated Care Systems”, is imported from the United States where healthcare is multi-tiered, privatised, underpinned by health insurance, and is definitely NOT equitable, accountable or available to all in need.

We have noted the subsequent Actions of North Tyneside Council’s Health and Well-being board;-
On 22nd August 2018, the H and W Board received a presentation from Mark Adams, and the minutes of the meeting state
‘…..The Board welcomed the shift in emphasis reflected in the ICS proposals. Since 2012 the NHS had been based on a set of organisations designed to deliver different things in different ways. This new direction of travel provided an opportunity to think and act in a different way, to provide space for better collaboration and to create a shared responsibility for those issues which were too big for individual organisations to tackle on their own’.
On 14th March 2019, the H and W Board received a presentation from Alan Foster
‘…..The Chair of the Board thanked Alan Foster for his informative presentation and for answering the Board’s questions. She made reference to the inverted hierarchy of service delivery included in the presentation which placed an emphasis on neighbourhood and place based commissioning. She believed North Tyneside was well placed to deliver this model’.

On 24th October 2019 Keep Our NHS Public North East, which has many members who are resident in North Tyneside, emailed all councillors with our concerns and briefing papers.

Question;-
What evidence does North Tyneside Council have that members have opposed or even raised objections to the ICS? In becoming part of the ICS what safeguards have you obtained on behalf of North Tyneside residents to ensure services will not be privatised?

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1st November 2019 – election campaigning  now planned

KONPNE will be out and about at a number of locations and times – please check here for the latest locations / times / joining details (this site will be updated regularly) and come along to help us in distributing leaflets – all help is welcomed…even half an hour will make a difference….

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31st October 2019 – KONPNE Meeting

We were pleased to welcome new attenders to our meeting for a spontaneous discussion about the upcoming election, as well as our planned agenda.

You can find the agenda here:  -10.-19-konpne-agenda  and the notes here:  31-10.-19-konpne-notes

The next meeting is a SPECIAL EDITION KONPNE meeting, with a one-off change of venue and format – Wallsend Memorial Hall, on Thursday 5th December, 6pm – 8.30pm – info here

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25th October 2019 – 400 emails…

To update: Further to yesterdays post (below), this email and attachments has today also been forwarded to the 129 Councillors sitting on South Tyneside and Sunderland Councils…making a total of 400 North East Councillors contacted…we will let you know how this develops….

As suggested below, please take ten minutes to email your local Councillors and your local Healthwatch with your views about what is happening to our NHS regarding the so-called Integrated Care System and privatisation – email addresses can be copied and pasted from here

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24th October 2019 – KONPNE contacts Councillors in the North East…they are our REPRESENTATIVES

Our Councillors need to know our wishes regarding the NHS…and they also need information about what is REALLY happening behind the CCG rhetoric, smoke and mirrors….hence our email and attachments this morning to all 270 Councillors sitting on Northumberland, North Tyneside, Newcastle and Gateshead Councils. We have also taken the opportunity to copy in all NE Healthwatch managers and chairs, given their responsibility in representing the views of local people and their role as a member of Health and Wellbeing Boards. 

We have also emailed our friends leading health campaign in South Tyneside, Durham and Sunderland to ascertain their wishes regarding our contact with Councillors in their own areas.

So…we await feedback from Councillors and Healthwatch people, and will also be following this up by questions at Full Council meetings over the next three months….we will keep you informed.

Our email is copied below, plus the two attachments*****It would be hugely appreciated if you would send your own email to your local Councillors / Healthwatch also. All email addresses are here

Dear Councillor,

We are writing on behalf of Keep Our NHS Public North East, a local health campaign group comprising members of the general public, together with doctors, nurses and other health professionals who believe in our NHS. Our group has been in existence for nine years. We are writing to all Councillors in the North East.

Integrated Care Systems = covert privatisation       Keep Our NHS Public North East remains extremely concerned that NHS England are forcing local CCGs to develop a healthcare system which will ultimately lead to increased privatisation and the demise of the NHS. This system, known as “Accountable Care Organisations” and recently rebranded as “Integrated Care Systems”, is imported from the United States where healthcare is multi-tiered, privatised, underpinned by health insurance, and is definitely NOT equitable, accountable or available to all in need.

We believe that the current underfunding and subsequent planned dismantling of our NHS is a political decision which must be rejected at all levels. Closures to our health services are taking place under the cloak of “integration”, with this being executed in a gradual and covert manner, with the minimisation of changes, and with changes being masked by much smoke and mirrors and obscure CCG language. This potentially leaves local Councils to carry the can.

The NHS Long Term Plan (2019)       Alongside these covert changes, it is crucial not to be side-tracked by the news that NHS England wishes to repeal some of the competition elements of the 2012 Health and Social Care Act. A close analysis of the NHS Long Term Plan reveals that the overall impact of the proposed plan will be to replace one kind of privatisation with another – the Plan would enable the private sector to gain control of individual “Accountable Care Organisations” (recently rebranded as “Integrated Care Systems”) through long-term contracts to manage the entire health system within one region, thus bringing about what we term a “macro” or large-scale privatisation. It is clear that the proposed plan will continue with the Stevens strategy of breaking up our single national service into so-called “Integrated Care Systems” with rigidly fixed budgets and rationed services, and will ultimately enable the delivery of these to Stevens’ transnational friends. The legal changes inherent in the proposed NHS Long Term Plan will not halt the privatisation of the NHS – it will accomplish it. More information about our views regarding the content of the Long Term Plan is found at: https://keepournhspublic.com/nhs-long-term-plan-unfunded-undemocratic-unfair-unsafe

Councillors and health care in the North East      We are grateful to the many North East Councillors who support and continue to stand up for a fully-funded, publicly owned and publicly provided National Health Service. We call upon all Councillors to be on your guard against a covert introduction of cuts and privatisation, and not to collude with the political decision to dismantle our NHS. The people of the North East are placing our trust in our elected Councillors to continue to stand up for a fully funded, publicly owned and publicly provided National Health Service, which is available to all on the basis of need. Many Councils have voted against STPs and the provisions rebranded as “Integrated Care Systems”. 

Please find attached two briefing papers, which we feel will be of interest – ACO’s and ICSs and We need to be worried about the NHS Long Term Plan, ICSs and Primary Care Networks.   There is also much information on our website and social media (all addresses are listed below), and please do not hesitate to make contact on konpnortheast@gmail.com, if you require any further details.

We thank you for your attention and for your ongoing support.

 John Whalley and Dr Helen Groom, Steering Group members, Keep Our NHS Public North East  

Attachment 1: ACO’s and ICS’s      2019 KONPNE briefing – ACO and ICS

Attachment 2 : We need to be worried about the NHS Long Term Plan, Integrated Care Systems and Primary Care Networks        2019 KONPNE briefing – We Need To Be Worried

We need to protect our NHS from transatlantic deals between Trump and Johnson – click here to find out what you can do now….and how your MP can help….

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18th October 2019 – Hugely successful screenings across the North East

Final screening (in the current tour) tonight, and many many thanks to all who worked together to make our screenings of UNDER THE KNIFE such a success. Whilst enjoying the film is probably the wrong word – the film chronicles the creeping privatisation of our NHS – the resounding feedback has been around its usefulness in providing clear information to us all….and it was also great to meet up with so many people out in support of our NHS. MANY THANKS from KONPNE, Sunderland KONP and Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign to all hosts and venues, and to all who leafleted, passed on information to friends and colleagues, and to all who shared and tweeted…

UNDER THE KNIFE ON TOUR: Curtis Auditorium, Newcastle University | Gala Theatre and Cinema, Durham | Side Gallery, Newcastle | Age UK Bradbury Centre, Sunderland | Crescent Club, Cullercoats |  Customs House, South Shields | New Life Christian Centre, Morpeth | Star and Shadow Cinema, Newcastle 

Our eight screenings throughout the NE attracted 730 people, 200 of whom signed up to our mailing list. Thank you to all who attended, and also many thanks for your generous donations. If you didn’t have cash with you on the night, you might like to use the following link to make a donation to help to fund future screenings: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/undertheknife

If you are a member of a group that would like to host a screening, then please email konpnortheast@gmail.com and we will forward your details to the production company.

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12th October 2019 – New NHS film release in the NE next week – FREE screenings throughout the NE

Busy week, next week….Now at capacity and no tickets left at The Side Cinema and the Star and Shadow cinema (both in Newcastle), but some tickets still remain for Newcastle Uni, Cullercoats, Durham, Sunderland, Morpeth and South Shields screenings….more info on posts below….and log onto www.undertheknifefilm.co.uk for your free tickets now…..

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3rd October 2019 – Debate and ACTION

Another lively KONPNE meeting, with opportunities for all to talk, discuss and plan.

Discussion centred around the forthcoming NINE (yes, NINE) North East screenings of the NHS documentary film Under the Knife (please see recent posts below), plus our plans to present formal questions to North East councils (starting with North Tyneside Council in November 2019), plus plans (still in development) to co-host a training workshop around challenging NHS charges to migrants. Also, much discussion around the recent NHS Bill presented by the Government – we need to find out much more about this, and to strongly challenge as necessary….

The agenda and notes from the meeting are here:  03-10.-19-konpne-agenda    03-10.-19-konpne-notes

…..and details about our next KONPNE meeting on 31st October are here – please come along, as always the meeting is open to everyone, and you will be made to feel very welcome.

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29th September 2019 – KONPNE over the Pennines

Many thanks to Peoples Assembly for organising todays hugely successful demonstration in Manchester. The Mancunian weather did not deter the many campaigners who provided the Tory party conference goers with a more accurate picture of current events. Members of KONPNE were there and are now drying out….

A report from the Manchester Evening News is here

Peoples Assembly write: “While Brexit will continue to dominate the headlines in the weeks and months to come it’s our responsibility to make sure this new government is not let off the hook when it comes to the deliberate underfunding of our NHS, the growing housing crisis, the dismantling of our welfare state, and the devastating austerity policies that have left so many suffering for nearly a decade. Boris has a mandate of exactly 0.139625757576% of the UK’s population and we should make sure he knows it from day 1″

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23rd September 2019  ….and three weeks to go

before the release of the new cutting edge NHS documentary UNDER THE KNIFE. FREE SCREENINGS throughout the North East at EIGHT venues, supported by KONPNE, Sunderland KONP and Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign…..please print off the leaflet UTK North East screening details and distribute far and wide….and see you there….

*******Please note that the Durham screening starts at 6pm and the screening previously scheduled for Wallsend is now cancelled*******

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22nd September 2019 – tickets now released for new NHS Film

The new documentary film UNDER THE KNIFE exposes the covert dismantling of the NHS and the increasing involvement of private companies in our healthcare….and tickets are now released for EIGHT screenings across the North East, all free of charge, and open to all who value our National Health Service.

Monday 14th October – 6pm Curtis auditorium, Herschel Building, Newcastle upon Tyne University  

Tuesday 15th October – 6pm Gala Theatre, 1 Millenium Place, Durham CH1 1WA >> and 6.30pm open and 7pm start New Life Christian Centre, Dacre Street, Morpeth NE61 1HQ

Wednesday 16th October – 7pm Star and Shadow Cinema, Warwick Street, Newcastle NE2 1BB >> and 5.30pm open and 6pm start Age UK Bradbury Centre, Stockton Road, Sunderland  SR2 7AQ

Thursday 17th October – 6.30pm open and 7pm start Cullercoats Crescent Club, Victoria Crescent, North Shields NE30 4PN 

Friday 18th October – 6pm Side Gallery, 5-9 Side, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3JE >> and 7pm The Customs House, Mill Dam, South Shields NE33 1ES

These screenings are open to all, and are completely free of charge. Pam K Productions have partnered with Keep Our NHS Public and The Daily Mirror to host fifty nationwide screenings between the 14th – 18th October….and EIGHT of these are here in the NE.

Free tickets and venue details at https://undertheknifefilm.co.uk/ (please copy and paste address) – we look forward to seeing you at one of these screenings.

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21st September 2019 – North East Against Austerity Community Festival

A superb afternoon at the Star and Shadow, and many thanks to Psychologists Against Austerity and ReCoCo for organising this very lively community event…KONPNE and many other community organisations and resources were there as part of the talking library (great idea) …plus live music, art exhibition, creative activities, help and advice, film and food…..excellent coffee….what is there not to like?

Very clear that we are not alone, and we are stronger together….

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20th September 2019 – Positive step forward for the Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign

From Roger Nettleship:

Great news – we have been granted permission to appeal. The Judge “accepts that the appeal is properly arguable and has a real prospect of success.”  The court has also granted our request for expedition – (speedy hearing date). The hearing date (time estimate 1 day) is on either November 5 or 6,  2019. The case will be heard by 2 or 3 Lord Justices in the Court of Appeal in London.

I know that the delay of 8 months by the previous judge that ruled against us is desperately disappointing for you all because most Phase 1 services have now moved but believe us any victory on this could still have positive consequences for both this phase 1 and phase 2 in our favour  if we win as well as inspiration for all fighting to save their vital health services in other areas.

SSTHC website:  http://www.savesouthtynesidehospital.org/

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19th September 2019 – The Spirit is very much alive and kicking

KONPNE was pleased to attend this evenings screening of the film Spirit of 45 (Ken Loach, 2013) and to say a few words about the KONPNE campaign. Many thanks to North Tyneside Labour Womens Forum for the invite to this screening in Benton.

( KONPNE remains very clear that we do not align with any one political party – our members are from all parties or none. We support organisations who believe in a publicly funded and publicly provided NHS, and we are aim to provide a speaker or leaflets on request wherever possible. Please contact us at konpnortheast@gmail.com )

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14th September 2019 – Ground-breaking NHS film release next month, followed by free screenings across the North East

KONPNE are pleased to confirm free screenings of the NHS documentary film UNDER THE KNIFE – exposing the covert dismantling of the NHS and the increasing involvement of private companies in our healthcare. Screenings will take place in Newcastle, South Shields, Cullercoats, Wallsend, Sunderland, Durham and Morpeth, all in w/c 14th October.

Click here for details and info re free tickets – and bring your friends…it is crucial that we all understand what is going on

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5th September 2019 – Winter 2019 Campaign Plans

Another very busy KONPNE meeting this evening, thoughtful and creative discussions, and much planned for the coming months including….Under the Knife film screenings across the North East…. participation with the Star and Shadow Community Festival…. work on eradicating local NHS charges for migrants…. and a sequence of formal questions to Councils across the North East….PLUS MORE….

Agenda and notes here:

05.09.19-konpne-notes

Care for the future of our NHS?? >>> Come and join with us at our next KONPNE meeting >>>>details here

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4th September 2019 – Excellent news from the Save Rothbury Hospital Campaign

Dear friends / supporters

At last! Yesterday the NCC Overview and Scrutiny Committee approved the proposal by the NHS Trust and the CCG about the future of the Rothbury Hospital. So this means we are on track for a reopening on April 1st. We should be getting massively improved clinics and services, the GP service continues of course, and – crucially – inpatient beds, when they are needed, for step-up, step-down and palliative care. This is very good news indeed.

Thank you again for all of the kind words and encouragement throughout this long campaign.

With all good wishes

Katie Katie Scott Co-ordinator, Save Rothbury Community Hospital Campaign

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26th August 2019 – For all KONPNE supporters, family and friends…..get the word out by wearing a KEEP OUR NHS PUBLIC teeshirt

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23rd August 2019 – Victory for the Bradford Strikers!

The threat of indefinite strike action has made Bradford General Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospitals rethink their attempt to remove their support and ancillary staff from the NHS on 1st October 2019.

Read the full update from Health Campaigns Together here:  HCT update on the Bradford Strike

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4th August 2019 – Professor Allyson Pollock reports on the proposed cuts to NHS provision in South Tyneside

A war of attrition against hospital services in South Tyneside and across the country – Allyson Pollock

Click here to read this excellent article written for this weeks Open Democracy:

https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/ournhs/war-attrition-against-hospital-services-south-tyneside-and-across-country/

For more information and to assist with the Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign, please contact Roger Nettleship at roger.nettleship@blueyonder.co.uk

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25th July 2019 – KONPNE meeting

Some excellent discussions at tonights meeting, plus much follow-up action now in the planning stages….items included

**supporting members attendance council meetings

**investigative work on local healthcare charges for migrants – we already have FoIs regarding local Trusts policies…now to take this further…we believe that everyone should have access to healthcare, free of charge at the point of need

**KONPNE is providing assistance in promoting local screenings of the new NHS film “Under the Knife” – national release is planned for October 2019…. but much needs to be done in the interim regarding arrangements in the NE

**liaison with local councillors….we have devised an information leaflet about NHS privatisation to go to all councillors in the seven local councils in the autumn, and for this to be followed up with a formal question at full Council meetings (Northumberland, Newcastle, North Tyneside and Gateshead Councils)…now fine-tuning the details….

**NHS wordspeak….Are they random words and names used by the CCG and NHS England to promote a sense of intelligence and credibility, OR are they intended to gloss and smoke screen and confuse, OR do they actually mean something?  All will be explained at a KONPNE educational meeting being planned for later this year….watch this space…

Come and join the discussions, planning and action at our next meeting on Thursday 5th September 2019 – details are here   KONPNE meetings are open to ALL who care for a fully funded and public NHS.

Agenda and notes from the July meeting are here:

Agenda 25th July 2019              Notes 25th July KONPNE

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13th July 2019 – the 135th Durham Miners Gala!!

Great to be in Durham again earlier today, with KONPNE and “Health Campaigns Together” members distributing thousands of leaflets and HCT newspapers – very well received, and many conversations with people present – and also great to meet up with our friends in the Durham KONP, Sunderland KONP and Save South Tyneside Hospital campaign groups. Durham was flooded with sound and colour, and our NHS message was received loud and clear….

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29th June 2019 – In Yorkshire for the Health Campaigns Together Northern Conference

A very informative and lively day in Leeds, with health campaign groups present from all over the north of England – Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Chester, Huddersfield, Lancashire, Wirral, York and others….and….YES….North East people are not alone in challenging and campaigning against the current massive cuts and closures in our NHS. Health service cuts are happening in the North East and all over the country, and must be stopped. It was excellent to meet up with campaigners from across the region. Six people were able to attend from the North East (KONPNE and Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaigns) – see pix below…..

Many thanks to Leeds KONP and Health Campaigns Together for planning this superb event – full feedback at our next KONPNE meeting on 25th July.

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6th June 2019  – KONPNE June Meeting

Privatisation of local screening services, Rutherford Cancer Care and treatment of migrants.

Agenda 060619

Notes 060619

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4th April 2019 – KONPNE April Meeting

Updates on campaigns and trying to establish where we are with Integrated Care Providers and the NHS Long-Term Plan.

04.04.19-konpne-agenda

Notes of KONPNE Meeting 4th April

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5th, 6th, 7th March – Mark Thomas at Live Theatre

Many thanks to Mark Thomas and Live Theatre for allowing KONPNE to run a stall over the three nights of Mark’s show, The NHS @ 70.

As well as providing an entertaining and thought-provoking show, packed with useful facts and statistics, Mark was very generous with his time after the show.

Thank you to everyone who signed  up to our contact list, or signed the South Tyneside Hospital Campaign petition or the petition to have St Clare’s Hospice re-opened.  It was lovely to meet so many people who are passionate about reinstating the NHS to a universal, publicly provided service, free at the point of use.

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7th February 2019 – KONPNE February Meeting

The first meeting of 2019 saw discussion on the sharing out of tasks and special emphasis on liaising with local councillors.

7-2-19 KONPNE agenda

7-02-19 KONPNE Notes of Meeting

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1st February 2019 – KONPNE writes to all Councillors in the North East

KONPNE HAS WRITTEN TO ALL COUNCILLORS IN THE NORTH EAST…..see the text here:

Dear Councillor,

I am writing on behalf of Keep Our NHS Public North East, a local health campaign group comprising mostly members of the general public, together with doctors, nurses and other health professionals who believe in our NHS. Our group has been in existence for nine years. We are writing to all Councillors in the North East who sit on a local Council Health and Wellbeing Board, Health Scrutiny Committee, the Joint Health Scrutiny Committee, together with all Council Leaders and Councillors holding a health portfolio.

Integrated Care Systems = covert privatisation

Further to our presentation to the Joint STP Health Scrutiny Committee in November 2018, we remain extremely concerned that NHS England are forcing local CCGs to develop a healthcare system which will ultimately lead to increased privatisation and the demise of the NHS. This system, known as “Accountable Care Organisations” and recently rebranded as “Integrated Care Systems”, is imported from the United States where healthcare is multi-tiered, privatised, underpinned by health insurance, and is definitely NOT equitable, accountable or available to all in need.

We believe that the current underfunding and subsequent planned dismantling of our NHS is a political decision which must be rejected at all levels. Closures to our health services are taking place under the cloak of “integration”, with this being executed in a gradual and covert manner, with the minimisation of changes, and with changes being masked by much smoke and mirrors and obscure CCG language. This potentially leaves local Councils to carry the can.

The NHS Long term Plan (January 2019)

Alongside these covert changes, it is crucial not to be side-tracked by the recent news that NHS England wishes to repeal some of the competition elements of the 2012 Health and Social Care Act. A close analysis of the NHS Long term Plan reveals that the overall impact of the proposed plan will be to replace one kind of privatisation with another – the Plan would enable the private sector to gain control of individual “Accountable Care Organisations” (recently rebranded as “Integrated Care Systems”) through long-term contracts to manage the entire health system within one region, thus bringing about what we term a “macro” or large-scale privatisation. It is clear that the proposed plan will continue with the Stevens strategy of breaking up our single national service into 40+ ACOs / ICSs with rigidly fixed budgets and rationed services, and will ultimately enable the delivery of these to Stevens’ transnational friends. The legal changes inherent in the proposed NHS Long Term Plan will not halt the privatisation of the NHS – it will accomplish it. More information about our views regarding the content of the Long Term Plan is found at: https://keepournhspublic.com/…/nhs-long-term-plan-unfunded…/

Councillors and health care in the North East

We are grateful to the many North East Councillors who support and continue to stand up for a fully-funded, publicly owned and publicly provided National Health Service. We call upon all Councillors to be on your guard against a covert introduction of cuts and privatisation, and not to collude with the political decision to dismantle our NHS. Many Councils have voted against STPs and the provisions rebranded as “Integrated Care Systems” – the five boroughs in North Central London all opposed their STPs, this is being replicated across the country, and we seek that this takes place here within the seven North East councils also. You will be aware that, locally, on 22nd March 2018, North Tyneside Council voted unanimously that “this council agrees that there is a growing body of evidence questioning the wisdom of …Accountable Care Organisations / Integrated Care Systems…This Council agrees to oppose any proposal to implement the delivery of healthcare in North Tyneside via an Accountable Care Organisation / Integrated Care System, a project which in North Tyneside CCGs own report was stated to be high risk”. This is a very positive and proactive step forward by Councillors in North Tyneside; the Council agenda, motion and minutes are here: https://my.northtyneside.gov.uk/meeting/19596

Information

The people of the North East are placing our trust in our elected Councillors to continue to stand up for a fully funded, publicly owned and publicly provided National Health Service, which is available to all on the basis of need.

Please find three attachments, which we feel will be of interest – about Integrated Care Systems, about the Long Term Plan, and Questions to ask in Council.

There is also much information on our website and social media (all addresses are listed below), and please do not hesitate to make contact on konpnortheast@gmail.com, if you require any further details.

We thank you for your attention and for your ongoing support.

John Whalley
Co-ordinator
Keep Our NHS Public North East
No cuts or cash-driven closures | Fair pay for all NHS staff | A fully-funded, universal, publicly owned and publicly provided National Health Service 
konpnortheast@gmail.com
http://www.facebook,com/NHSPublicNorthEast
twitter @KONPNorthEast
www.konpnortheast.com

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KONPNE sent the above email to all Councillors sitting on “Health and Wellbeing Boards” and “Health Scrutiny Committees” in Northumberland, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Durham. 
Sunderland KONP has sent the same to Sunderland Councillors.

Links to the three attachments are below.

What you can do:
Please follow up our email by writing to your own Councillors – email addresses are at www.konpnortheast.com/links

YOUR HELP IN CONSOLIDATING THIS IS ESSENTIAL AND IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED
Thank you

Attachment 1    konpbriefingonacoandics-konpne2019

Attachment 2    konpquestionsreics-konpne2019

Attachment 3    konplongtermplan

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18th January 2019 – What a year….

Click the youtube link here for a resume of the last twelve months…..

https://youtu.be/sVHjR_84UC0

…..and if you’re not on the film, hope to see you on the next instalment!!

Thanks for all of your ongoing support

xxxKONPNE

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17th January 2019 – Warm welcome, icy night

Many thanks to all at Jesmond Library this evening for the very warm welcome on a cold and icy night!

As part of the library “Thursday Evening Talks” series, Dr Gerard Reissmann (GP) outlined the main legal changes that have lead to the increasing privatisation of the NHS, followed by a discussion on private healthcare, the misuse of the NHS logo, the NHS Reinstatement Bill and recent local campaigns including Rothbury and South Tyneside. 

The NHS70 card will be in the library for the next week or so, and all are invited to sign and leave your message for the NHS (over 500 messages already!!), plus everyone is welcome at the next KONPNE meeting on Thursday 7th February, 7pm at Brunswick Methodist Church and also to check out our latest events on the KONPNE website here – www.konpnortheast.com/events. Much happening!!!

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12th January 2019 – KONPNE Crowdfunder launched

WE HAVE A BUSY YEAR AHEAD
Please support Keep Our NHS Public North East, and ensure that the Campaign continues in our North East region
*No cuts or cash-driven closures
*Fair pay for all NHS staff
*A fully-funded, universal, publicly-owned and publicly-provided National Health Service

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1st January 2019 – THANKYOU and WELCOME !!

RARING TO GO IN 2019 – BUT FIRST….a huge thank you for all support and involvement in campaign activity over the past year – much has been achieved, we have made our voices heard….but there is a long way to go.

Please see this short video, which summarises some of our campaign activity throughout 2018 – if you are not on it, then hope to see you on the 2019 version at the end of this year!

Please click here

A New Year!! We are now able to confirm the dates of our Campaign planning meetings for 2019; all on the following three Thursdays, 6.30pm for tea and coffee, 7pm start and finishing at 8.45pm, and all at the Meeting Rooms at Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle city centre. We welcome all who care about the future of our NHS !!

7th February

4th April

6th June

There is a choice of lift or stairs to the meeting room on the first floor – but please still contact us beforehand  at konpnortheast@gmail.com if you are a wheelchair user. The Methodist Church is situated in Newcastle city centre and is located under one minute from Greys Monument / Monument Metro, at the end of the small access road which runs between Waterstones and Jamie’s Italian. 

We look forward to meeting up with KONPNE supporters – and if you have not yet joined us, then make it your New Year resolution! We guarantee a warm welcome!! 

Details about our next meeting are here

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