Tuesday 24th December 2024
Season’s Greetings
& Best Wishes for 2025
HUGE THANKS to all NHS staff who are doing their best to keep the health service going – despite working in very challenging conditions, having to stand up for a fair wage and having to cope with far fewer staff than is needed on shift. We see what you do, day in and day out, and we couldn’t be more grateful
and
THANKS ALSO to all of our KONPNE supporters and activists in the North East for all of your hard work and commitment throughout the year – its been a busy one. NHS funding cuts and privatisation continues apace and we anticipate another very active time throughout 2025. Although difficult to measure or quantify, our voices are being heard and, collectively, our actions make a difference. The Campaign will also continue apace. Next year will be our fifteenth year of Campaigning for a return to a comprehensive, publicly funded and publicly provided NHS – and we stay strong.
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Monday 23rd December 2024 – KONPNE Fundraising Appeal
As the end of a busy year of campaigning approaches, your help is now needed – please donate to KONP North East
PLEASE DONATE
Please help us to develop our Campaign activity further throughout 2025.
All of our Campaigners give freely of their time and expertise; no-one is paid. Expenses such as transport costs and parking charges are also paid willingly by the Campaigner concerned. All this will continue, and we give our grateful thanks to all Campaigners and supporters.
We do, however, have a range of financial outgoings for a number of Campaign items such as leaflets, posters, printing costs, banners, badges, room hire, Zoom, display materials, copies of the Health Campaigns Together newspaper, annual membership of national KONP, and domain / website hire. Financially, we have (just about) managed to keep our head above water over the past 12 years, and we are currently planning Campaign activity for 2025 which will involve financial outlay.
Click here to see our activity over the past 3 years!
And we could do more!!
If you are in a position to help financially with either a one-off donation or a monthly standing order, then this would be a HUGE help. All contributions are very gratefully received, however small.
CLICK HERE
for our Donate page
All help is greatly appreciated, and every penny is used wisely in our campaign to Keep Our NHS Public.
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Thursday 19th December 2024 – Stop the Government from backing private companies – SIGN THIS PETITION!!!!
According to the Telegraph, the private healthcare sector is prepared to spend £1 billion on expanding their facilities. In exchange, the government would guarantee them access to NHS contracts and budgets for the long term.
THIS MUST BE STOPPED.
CLICK HERE
for more information from We Own It, plus sign the petition, plus forward it on…..
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Thursday 12th December 2024 – Campaign on Labour’s Data Bill
The Labour government has introduced draft legislation – the Data (Use and Access) Bill – that is expected to move quickly through Parliament. One of its main intentions is to ‘harness the power of data’ to encourage innovation and economic growth. The Bill includes a number of worrying provisions that aim, for example, to:
> reduce data protections and increase access to our personal health data for the private sector and public authorities;
> redefine ‘scientific research’ to include commercial activities;
> change the meaning of ‘consent’ so that agreeing to the use of your data for one research project means also consenting to future but yet unknown projects;
> expand the lawful basis for the use of solely automated decision making without consent;
> weaken our right to question organisations about the data they may hold about us;
> give significant new powers to a Secretary of State allowing them to introduce or change legislation with little to no Parliamentary scrutiny.
In effect, the Bill is a gift to the private sector at the expense of our rights and privacy.
CLICK HERE
for more information, an MP briefing and a template covering letter for you to send to your MP
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Thursday 5th December 2024 – A KONPNE Christmas
Click here for the notes from tonights monthly Campaign meeting via Zoom – these notes are in the public domain, and are available for all to read…..and please join us at our next meeting on Thursday 9th January 2025….All welcome!!
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Monday 2nd December 2024 – with “Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign”
Great happy evening with our friends Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign at their end of year Festive Social, with foot stomping music from the Shamrock Street Ceili Band, all at the Red Hackle in Jarrow. We greatly value SSTHC campaign work….great to spend time together.
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Monday 2nd December 2024 – KONPNE response to Government survey
Although it seems likely that the Government consultation on the future of the NHS is a PR exercise rather than a serious attempt to obtain views from the public that will then inform policy, we have nonetheless gone along with it and have submitted a response from KONPNE. The survey closes at 5pm today….for an issue so huge and important, the window was open for a very short time…..
CLICK HERE
to view the KONPNE response (2nd December 2024)
Our submission was a combo between our own ideas and a guidance document from national KONP – MANY THANKS to our friends at national KONP for this help.
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Monday 25th November 2024 – KONPNE Fundraising Appeal
As the end of a busy year of campaigning approaches, your help is now needed – please donate to KONP North East
PLEASE DONATE
Please help us to develop our Campaign activity further throughout 2025.
All of our Campaigners give freely of their time and expertise; no-one is paid. Expenses such as transport costs and parking charges are also paid willingly by the Campaigner concerned. All this will continue, and we give our grateful thanks to all Campaigners and supporters.
We do, however, have a range of financial outgoings for a number of Campaign items such as leaflets, posters, printing costs, banners, badges, room hire, Zoom, display materials, copies of the Health Campaigns Together newspaper, annual membership of national KONP, and domain / website hire. Financially, we have (just about) managed to keep our head above water over the past 12 years, and we are currently planning Campaign activity for 2025 which will involve financial outlay.
Click here to see our activity over the past 3 years!
And we could do more!!
If you are in a position to help financially with either a one-off donation or a monthly standing order, then this would be a HUGE help. All contributions are very gratefully received, however small.
CLICK HERE
for our Donate page
All help is greatly appreciated, and every penny is used wisely in our campaign to Keep Our NHS Public.
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Saturday 16th November 2024 – Newcastle COP 29: Climate Emergency = Health Emergency
Good to support this important event, to represent KONPNE and to co-host a stall, together with friends at Peoples Assembly North East, Medact and Stop the War.
The science is clear. The world is in a state of climate emergency, and we URGENTLY need to shift into emergency gear. Humanity’s burning of fossil fuels has emitted enough greenhouse gases to significantly alter the composition of the atmosphere and average world temperature has risen between 1.1 and 1.2°C. This is a CLIMATE EMERGENCY and, by extension, a HEALTH EMERGENCY.
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Saturday 9th November 2024 – Two forthcoming dates for the diary…..
More information about both events is on our Action webpage – click here
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Thursday 7th November 2024 – KONPNE Campaign Zoom
Our monthly meeting tonight – and, as always, a full agenda….many thanks, Jude for keeping us to time….
The monthly meeting is always the first Thursday of the month at 7pm and finishing at 8.30pm via Zoom – please join us next month…all are welcome!
The notes from this months meeting are here, and information about the December meeting is here.
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Thursday 31st October 2024 – Where are we up to and what will we do next?
Every now and then, it is good to stand back and reflect on past activity, strengths and areas to develop further….and also good to meet up in person and not on Zoom….and even holding the Away Half Day on Halloween didn’t make things too scarey.
The meeting was very different from the monthly Zoom – more reflective, broad but still focussed (if that makes sense), more about ways of working together and campaigning rather than the details of a specific campaign. Please find below the notes (two documents) taken at this half-day meeting – as always, in the spirit and ethos of the group, these notes are open for all members of the public to read – please have a look and let us know what you think. Please click on the Action Now page here for details of our next Zoom meeting…YOU are invited….there is a role for YOU
CLICK HERE
to read the document “Overview of Campaign Activity for three years 2022, 2023, 2024”
and
CLICK HERE
to read the notes of todays review meeting
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Thursday 3rd October 2024 – KONPNE meeting
The notes from tonights meeting are here – please feel free to read and share. We are open about what we are doing and what we stand for.
Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 7th November, 7pm via Zoom. Joining links are here and all are welcome.
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Thursday 5th September 2024 – KONPNE into Autumn
Please click the link here for notes from tonights meeting….these are open for all to read.
Our next Campaign meeting is on Thursday 3rd October at 7pm via Zoom – please come along and join us – all are welcome. Log on information is on our action page here.
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Saturday 10th August 2024 – The fight for the NHS includes the fight against racism
Statement from Keep Our NHS Public national office
Keep Our NHS Public condemns the far-right rioting that has taken place in Southport last week and around the UK over the weekend of 6/7 August and beyond. This Islamophobic and racist violence is shocking and upsetting. We extend our solidarity to Muslims, migrants and people from ethnic minorities at this time of increased threat.
Typically, those on the right choose to scapegoat migrants for crumbling public services. The crisis in the NHS is often blamed on migrants coming to the UK to use NHS services ‘fraudulently’. This is false.
The crisis in the NHS can only be blamed on the governments since 2010 who are responsible for 14 years of underfunding, cuts to services and outsourcing to private companies. This has led to a situation where the NHS has been severely undermined.
Without migrant health and care workers, the NHS would cease to function, be they consultants or auxiliary staff: one in five NHS workers are non-UK nationals, including 35% of doctors.
Migrants are not a threat to the NHS, they hold it together. And they are double charged via the health surcharges levied in advance, and the taxes they pay.
The idea that migrants and undocumented people use the NHS fraudulently is a right-wing myth: the last government’s ‘Hostile Environment’ ended universal access to healthcare, free at the point of need, for over a million people in the UK, including 215,000 children, who do not have access to free health care.
The use of GPs and emergency care in A&E is free of charge, but ongoing treatment is heavily charged. People who, under the hostile legislation, can’t prove their right to free care, pay 150% of NHS prices for most other hospital or mental health care, even in life-threatening emergencies. Additionally, 60% of migrant charges are aimed at women: mothers are charged £7500 for having a baby, and up to £15,000 for more complex delivery if things go wrong.
Keep Our NHS Public condemns migrants charges for NHS care as another example of racism and scapegoating being fuelled from the very top.
We condemn the role of the previous government, and right-wing politicians and media, encouraging the scenes we are seeing today: violent mobs at mosques, outside immigration lawyers, and attacks on hotels housing asylum seekers and random racist violence to individuals and families.
We encourage our members and supporters to oppose racist and Islamophobic threats and to join local counter-protests and anti-fascist initiatives where possible. As Keep Our NHS Public campaigns to restore an NHS that is publicly funded and provided, and free for everyone and anyone who needs it, we urge everyone to remember that the fight for the NHS includes the fight against racism.
….and in Newcastle city centre: Hope not Hate
Hundreds of counter protesters turned out in Newcastle city centre today with a clear message in the wake of days of violent disorder across the country.
Geordies made their presence felt on Newgate Street with speeches and chant: “Refugees are welcome here” . Many held up signs spreading messages of peace and unity, with one reading: “Immigrants welcome – racists not!” and another declaring: “Hope not hate”.
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Thursday 1st August 2024 – August Campaign Meeting
The notes of this meeting are here – open for all to read! Please take a look and find out what is happening in the Campaign! Lots.
The next KONPNE meeting is on Thursday 5th September (always the first Thursday at 7pm) YOU ARE INVITED!! Log on info is here.
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Thursday 18th July 2024 – meeting with Integrated Care Board
Further to the joint letter to the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (25th November 2023 – click here and scroll down the page to read the letter and the ICB response), representatives from KONPNE have, this morning, met with Claire Riley (Executive Director of Corporate Governance, Communications and Involvement at NENC ICB) to discuss our huge concerns about public access to Board and ICP level minutes, documents, meetings, questions etc.
It was felt to be a productive meeting, a good discussion, and with a number of action points taken by the ICB for further consideration – we will, of course, be following these up….
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Saturday 13th July 2024 – Durham Miners Gala
The second Saturday in July = Durham Miners Gala, and great to have a stall in the Campaigns marquee once again. A very busy day – much interest and support from all present!
CLICK HERE
for the Guardian article: Durham Miners’ Gala, the world’s biggest celebration of working class culture
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Saturday 6th July 2024 – Restoring the Peoples NHS on Tyneside
A few hours in the Toon and wonderful for us to be together today ***to celebrate the 76th Anniversary of the founding of the NHS ***to thank all NHS staff for all their continuing hard work and commitment (we witnessed what NHS staff are made of during the Covid pandemic – and we understand the very difficult working conditions that they face when they go to work now – staff shortages, lack of resources, crumbling environments, reduced pay…..) ***to alert people to the ongoing devastating effects of underfunding and cuts imposed by the Tory Government and ***to provide information about THE PEOPLE’S NHS – a post-election way forward.
Restore the People’s NHS: OUR FIVE DEMANDS
– We need an NHS which is publicly provided – we need to end private involvement, contracting out, shareholders in private companies creaming off money which should be spent on HEALTH CARE
– The NHS needs to be properly funded – at the moment it is defunded
– Our health workers – doctors, nurses, all clinicians, indeed all staff who, together, make the health service work – these dedicated and committed staff need respect and decent pay and conditions
– Public health needs increased funding – these are the services provided by the Council. We need to tackle health inequalities
– And, finally, we need to restore and also EXPAND our NHS to meet the demands of NOW and the FUTURE
IT’S OUR NHS – and it needs to be publicly funded, publicly provided and publicly accountable, available to all on the basis of need. The NHS can be restored if our new Government and all politicians commit to the above 5 core demands….
Certainly, very well-received in Newcastle today….. starting off on the Quayside….
and onto the Millenium Bridge….
…and then heading into the town….
And a very special HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!! to both the NHS and to Sylvia – both born in the same year and in the same month!! Wonderful. Great to have Sylvia as a supporter, and many thanks to everyone else who took part today – it was good to spend time together.
…..and the Campaign continues….
This event today provides a strong and crystal clear message to all newly elected Councillors and MPs in the North East – we are now counting on them, our representatives, to work to Restore the Peoples NHS. Written information and briefing notes on The Peoples NHS campaign will now be provided to all North East Councillors with a health remit and to all newly elected North East MPs.
We stand for a national NHS that is universally accessible, and publicly funded, delivered and accountable. We stand FOR the NHS and WITH NHS staff.
For details about the next KONPNE meeting and for further information about the “Restore the Peoples NHS” campaign
CLICK HERE
to go to our ACTION page
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Friday 5th July 2024 – Post Election Statement
CLICK HERE
for the statement from Keep Our NHS Public
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Thursday 4th July 2024 – KONPNE Campaign Meeting
The monthly KONPNE Campaign meeting – also coinciding with election day…..
Click here for the notes from the meeting, and click here for information about the August meeting….always the first Thursday at 7pm…. and now for a long night…..
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Wednesday 3rd July 2024 – Creative Campaigning
Some of the banners – all good to go
Art Session Number Two!! And banners now just about complete (apart from a few finishing touches), all good to go for the “Restore the Peoples NHS” banner event in Newcastle city centre on Saturday.
Scroll down two posts or click here for info – and see you there!! Help is needed to hold this artwork….
We stand for a national NHS that is universally accessible, and publicly funded, delivered and accountable. We stand FOR the NHS and WITH NHS staff – how about you?
“Restore the Peoples NHS” – Newcastle city centre
Saturday 6th July 2024 – 11am at Millennium Bridge and 12 noon at (or nearby) Grey’s Monument
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Saturday 29th June 2024 – all roads lead to Consett, Co Durham
Our final pre-election leafletting session in Consett town centre – and many and varied conversations later we have amassed a significant body of feedback about local health provision from constituents to provide to the incoming MP of Consett (and also, from previous leafletting sessions, for the incoming MPs of Blyth and Cramlington). We intend to study this, group it into themes, and present it to the respective MPs in person – watch this space….
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Friday 28th June 2024 – Art Class!!
Welcome to the strange and varied world of health campaigning. Members of KONPNE spent an “interesting” afternoon brandishing paint brushes and prit stick – and five new posters all good to go for the “Restore the Peoples NHS” banner event in Newcastle upon Tyne city centre next weekend – half way there, more artistic efforts next week…
Can you assist on Saturday 6th July?
Join us for a post-election, high-viz, high-impact event in Newcastle city centre to affirm and bring public attention to the highly regarded “Restore the Peoples NHS” campaign. We meet on Saturday 6th July **to celebrate the anniversary of the NHS, **to thank all NHS staff, **to alert people to the ongoing devastating effects of underfunding and cuts imposed by the Tory Government and **to provide information about a post-election way forward which will safeguard the underlying principles of our NHS.
This is not a march or a rally….. instead, think visual effect of key Peoples NHS facts on a range of full length colour banners, interspersed with spoken messages over our PA system, at two prominent North East locations.
ALL HELP IS MUCH APPRECIATED – PLEASE CONTACT US NOW at konpnortheast@gmail.com We need firm commitments of help on the day (around 24 people to hold the 12 banners – 2 per banner) !!
We stand for a national NHS that is universally accessible, and publicly funded, delivered and accountable. We stand FOR the NHS and WITH NHS staff – how about you?
“Restore the Peoples NHS” – Newcastle city centre
Saturday 6th July 2024 – 11am at Millennium Bridge and 12 noon at (or nearby) Grey’s Monument
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Thursday 28th June 2024 – In Solidarity with NHS Staff
BMA: In a letter to Rishi Sunak, BMA junior doctors committee co-chairs Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi point out that waiting lists have been rising in recent months while no strikes have taken place, even as the PM attempts to blame strikes for his failure to reduce them.
“We are not asking for the world,” continues the letter. “A doctor currently starts on £15.53 per hour and we are asking for that to be restored to what a doctor was worth in 2008, which would be £21.58 per hour.” They remind the PM the process could process could happen over time rather than in one go. The co-chairs offer to call off strikes, currently planned for 5 days from the 27 June, if they get a commitment “in writing to a detailed pathway that will restore our pay in the form of a comprehensive deal that will be implemented if you are able to form the next Government.”
The PM is challenged to take this opportunity to deliver for patients and doctors, investing in the NHS and addressing the current staff retention crisis.
KONPNE: While workload and waiting lists are at record highs, junior doctors’ pay has been cut by more than a quarter since 2008. The crippling cost-of-living crisis, burnout and well below inflation pay rises has led to doctors leaving the NHS and, when doctors are forced out of the NHS because of poor pay and conditions, the health services we all need and rely on suffer….
The message is straightforward. KONPNE stands with NHS Staff.
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Wednesday 27th June 2024 – a very clear NO to NHS privatisation in Blyth and Cramlington
Further “Restore the Peoples NHS” stalls at both Blyth (am) and Cramlington (pm) today, a hot day, but clear as ice messages from residents. Many leaflets distributed, and postcards completed which are now awaiting the two incoming MPs (whoever they are…)
One final pre-election stall in Consett on Saturday 29th June – info is here – help is needed – please join with us
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Tuesday 26th June 2024 – Nye at the Tyneside Cinema
Another screening of Nye in the North East, and yet another warm welcome from staff at the Tyneside Cinema – many thanks for again agreeing that members of KONPNE distribute Campaign information flyers from inside the auditorium….much appreciated.
It is great that KONPNE have been able to attend and distribute information at a number of screenings in cinemas over recent weeks….and there are still more screenings scheduled…. if you haven’t seen a screening of this play from National Theatre, it is DEFINITELY worth watching….an account of the life and politics of Nye Bevan and a representation of the founding of the NHS. Go to our action webpage here, to find out the times and locations of the remaining screenings and (as you are going….) info about how to collect our leaflets.
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Saturday 15th June 2024 – Blyth and Cramlington, Northumberland
Health campaigning today alongside Blyth market and outside Manor Walks in Cramlington – plus inaugural session for the new Stop Privatisation banner! Excellent artwork, developed by our friends at Leeds KONP – thank you – no room for misinterpretation – we think prospective North East MPs will get the message!! Many thanks to Blyth and Cramlington residents – more feedback received for incoming MPs regarding local health services….
KONPNE are hosting two more NHS campaign information stalls over the next fortnight – again in Blyth and Cramlington, and in Consett. Join us for the final push before the Election!! All help is much appreciated – dates and information is on our action page here. PLEASE MEET US at the location on the day or CONTACT US NOW at konpnortheast@gmail.com for more info
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Wednesday 12th June 2024 – KONPNE in Consett, County Durham
Really pleased to be back in Consett today – MUCH interest on the high street – many conversations, leaving absolutely no doubt that a publicly-provided NHS is required….and NO to NHS privatisation.
Much information about the “Restore the People’s NHS” campaign was shared, and local residents were asked to fill in postcards for the incoming MP, outlining their concerns about local health provision.
We are hosting THREE MORE information stalls over the next fortnight – in Blyth, Cramlington and again in Consett. Join us for the final push before the Election!! All help is much appreciated – dates and information is on our action page here. PLEASE MEET US at the location on the day or CONTACT US NOW at konpnortheast@gmail.com for more info
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Sunday 12th May 2024 – More leafletting outside NYE
A further very active “Peoples NHS” leaflet session at todays screening of Nye, at the Tyneside Cinema – led by our friends at Sunderland KONP. Great work.
All supporters – please check out our action page here for details of further screenings and leafletting – your assistance is needed.
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Saturday 11th May 2024 – “Restore the Peoples NHS” Campaign in Consett, County Durham
Following the success of recent actions in Blyth and Cramlington, Northumberland (see 9th March post, below), today members of KONPNE and the Peoples NHS Campaign were pleased to be in Consett, Co Durham – much interest, many people wanting to talk, and some people thanking the Campaign for raising the profile of exactly what is happening in the NHS, and where we need to go….
A very large number of campaign leaflets were distributed throughout the town centre plus 61 postcards were completed by local residents for their MP, Richard Holden, Chair of the Tory Party. Outlining HUGE concerns about local health provision, two members of the team called in to see Richard to personally hand deliver this important feedback – but, sadly, he was nowhere to be found. A parcel is on its way.
We will be holding more sessions in the town centre in the future – watch this space.
And, in the interim, more info about the Peoples NHS is here
AND
find out about what is happening in the NE by clicking our action page here
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Wednesday 8th May 2024 – Nye: A new play from the National Theatre
Various dates and cinema locations in the North East over the next month
Great to be leafletting at the Tyneside Cinema tonight – and a very warm welcome received from Cinema staff. Thank you.
Michael Sheen is Nye Bevan in this surreal and spectacular journey through the life and legacy of the man who transformed the welfare state. From campaigning at the coalfield to leading the battle to create the NHS, Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan is often referred to as the politician who’s had the greatest influence on the UK without ever being Prime Minister.
This new play, now screened at cinemas, provides an ideal opportunity to provide information about KONP campaigns. Please consider distributing leaflets at a cinema screening near you in May and June 2024. Some cinemas (especially independent cinemas) will allow you inside before or after the screening, whilst distribution outside the cinema door is the option for others….
Please check the National Theatre Live link https://nye.ntlive.com/ for cinema dates and locations(*), and then contact Jude at konpnortheast@gmail.com to collect leaflets – and let us know how you go on. Many thanks to supporters who have been active already….
Thank you!!!
(*) Type in “Newcastle upon Tyne” in the search box, and then click the individual dates to see where the play is shown in the north. There are numerous screenings at a range of locations in the North East.
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Tuesday 7th May 2024 – assistance needed
Peoples NHS Campaign – Consett, Co Durham on Saturday 11th May 2024 , 11am
Following the success of the recent action in Northumberland, our next information and leafletting session is in Consett on Saturday 11th May.
Please join us at 11am in Consett at the junction of Middle Street and Wesley Street. We will be distributing KONP leaflets about the People’s NHS campaign and asking local residents to fill in postcards for their MP, Richard Holden, Chair of the Conservative Party, outlining their concerns about local health provision.
Join us – we need as much assistance as possible
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Saturday 4th May 2024 – For Peace and Solidarity
Great to take part in the Tyne and Wear May Day 2024 March and to be invited to address the Rally at Grey’s Monument. Jude Letham (KONPNE Co-ordinator) spoke of the current Peoples NHS campaign, specifically highlighting issues relating to staff and actions needed:
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restore safe patient care, job safety and satisfaction for all health and care staff by providing safe staffing levels, decent pay and career progression
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fund a long-term NHS workforce plan based on assessment of needs, match training numbers to safe staffing levels
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End de-professionalisation and deregulation of the health workforce
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Ensure necessary recruitment and retention, practice ethical recruitment principles
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End the two-tier working conditions of NHS staff outsourced to private companies
Click here for info about the Peoples NHS Campaign
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Thursday 2nd May 2024 – KONPNE speaks
That month passed quickly….
CLICK HERE
for notes relating to the May Campaign meeting. Numbers lower due to tonights Council elections – but, nonetheless, much discussed….
Always the first Thursday at 7pm – next meeting on Thursday 6th June – all welcome, and info is here
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Thursday 4th April 2024 – Monthly campaign meeting
What is discussed at the KONPNE campaign meetings? Well, we work hard to be open and transparent in all of our campaign work. All are welcome to join in the meetings and discussions, and notes of meetings are always freely available for all to read – scroll down this news page to the first Thursday of every month.
CLICK HERE
for the notes from tonights meeting
Lots discussed plus many dates in the diary for the next few months – ALL ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THE CAMPAIGNING. Our next campaign meeting will take place on Thursday 2nd May (election day….) – click here for more info
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Thursday 4th April 2024 – Answer the door, and put these 3 questions to your prospective Councillors….
Knock knock….
At this time of the year, we can guess who’s there….
Here’s three key questions to put to prospective Councillors – or, indeed, all Councillors even if they are not facing an election this year
….and if there is no knock on the door, please go to your Council website for email addresses
WE NEED COUNCILLORS WHO ARE ACTIVE IN PROTECTING OUR NHS!!
a) What will you do to encourage the local health commissioning body (“North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System”) to keep healthcare within the NHS?
Privatisation puts profits before patients – a recent national research study from Oxford University links the deaths of 557 people with the outsourcing of NHS services – see The Lancet, July 2022.
Click here
b) How will you work to increase democracy in local health structures?
Since July 2022, key decision-making and the direction of travel regarding healthcare has been set by the Integrated Care Board – responsible for health commissioning for over 3 million people over a huge geographical area covering the North East and North Cumbria. It is a top-down system brought about by The Health and Care Act 2022 which significantly reduces opportunities for councillors and local people to be involved in key strategic discussions
Click here
c) What are you doing to fight for fair pay for all NHS staff?
NHS staff are underpaid and overworked, and it is not surprising that the NHS has over 130,000 vacancies. Many NHS hospitals now have foodbanks for staff. We need to stand alongside all NHS staff and demand that the Government finds the will to do what is right for NHS staff and for the NHS as a whole.
Click here
Please let us know all responses from Councillors – write to us at konpnortheast@gmail.com Thank you.
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Thursday 21st March 2024 – Amanda Pritchard, NHS Chief Exec, on Tyneside
Great that Newcastle University Public Lecture series has secured Amanda Pritchard to speak at tonights event.
The University writes: In this lecture our speaker will discuss how the evolving needs of the public, as well as advances in science and technology, will shape both the demand on, and capabilities of, the NHS over the coming decade and beyond. Amanda Pritchard leads one of the 10 largest employers in the world, responsible for £150bn of annual funding. She has worked in the NHS since 1987, including in the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit, and speaks about the service at a time of unparalleled pressures and demands, as it wrestles with demographic change and political challenges.
Speaking to a packed auditorium at the Herschel Building, Newcastle University, Amanda Pritchard structured her presentation through an emphasis on the importance of viewing the NHS as a diverse team, charged with the three-fold need to recover (from the pandemic), to strengthen (the workforce, through recruitment, training and retention, and by being open and fair to all staff) and to transform (into a joined up, person-centred service through innovation and integration).
So far, so good. But what of the cuts, closures, underfunding and privatisation? Of course, this evening demanded strong attendance from KONPNE, and we were successful in having two questions attended to in the short post-lecture question slot:
“In order to reduce waiting lists the NHS is frequently paying for treatments from private companies. How do you justify the increasing use of public money to fund profit making companies and their shareholders, resulting in less of that money being available to pay for healthcare? “
and
“I am a member of Keep Our NHS Public North East, and I am interested in what you just said about privatisation. There is, this week, a piece in a national newspaper which reports that 10% of elective care is now provided by the private sector. Additionally, here, in the North East, an increasing number of private companies are gaining huge contracts to provide health care. One private healthcare group has the contract to run the Urgent Care Walk In Centres, which are located within our NHS hospitals throughout the North East. These take overs are not widely known, and this secrecy is compounded by the private companies concerned being allowed to use the NHS logo in their publicity….it may be argued that private companies are hiding behind the trusted NHS logo and that the public are being hoodwinked. What is your view on this?”
It has to be said that the responses to both questions were underwhelming. It was astonishing that Amanda Pritchard insisted that “private healthcare provision is small”. Really??!! Fact check called for. And even more astonishing that she expected the audience to believe her claim. We believe otherwise. She went on to speak of her personal agreement with the ideals of Bevan who, in 1948, described the NHS as a milestone in history, a civilised step, free at the point of delivery, available to all, funded through taxation…fastforward to 2024 and Amanda Pritchard made no mention as to who would provide it, what would be provided and where.
And so – all in all, a very mixed bag. Time was called in the windy cloisters of Newcastle University, but not without final opportunistic conversations in the foyer…always the last to leave, KONPNE had a final word with Amanda Pritchard about the Peoples NHS campaign hosted by the national office of KONP, and provided her with her own personal copy of the newly published and detailed “Restore the Peoples NHS” brochure, which she agreed to read. Much food for thought.
CLICK HERE
for info about the Peoples NHS campaign
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Wednesday 20th March 2024 – BMA junior doctors have extended their mandate to strike
While workload and waiting lists are at record highs, junior doctors’ pay has been cut by more than a quarter since 2008.
The crippling cost-of-living crisis, burnout and well below inflation pay rises has led to doctors leaving the NHS and, when junior doctors are forced out of the NHS because of poor pay and conditions, the services we all rely on suffer.
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BMA staff turnout for ballot: 61.86%
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Question: Are you prepared to take part in strike action?
Number of YES votes: 33,869 (97.97%), number of NO votes: 702 (2.03%)
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Question: Are you prepared to take part in action short of a strike?
Number of YES votes: 33,411 (97.08%), number of NO votes: 1,004 (2.92%)
A very clear mandate. KONPNE stands in full solidarity with all Junior Doctors who are fighting not only for fair pay, but for the safety of us all and the future of our NHS. The Government needs to face up to the issue and stand up for what is right.
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Monday 18th March 2024 – KONPNE contacts Ian Levy MP (Blyth and Cramlington)
Further to the KONP National Day of Action last week (see post below), we have now collated the responses from Blyth and Cramlington residents into one document and have forwarded this document, together with the original written responses, to Tory MP Ian Levy. These written responses from Blyth and Cramlington constituents reflect years of underfunding from central Government, with the subsequent cuts and closures of services. Constituents identified issues around primary care, dentistry, hospital waiting lists, staffing levels, underfunding and privatisation. We will see what Ian Levy makes of this valuable feedback from constituents about their concerns regarding health provision under this Government….and these constituents deserve a comprehensive response.
CLICK HERE
to read the document which collates the responses from constituents
Levy, a newcomer to Parliament at the last General Election, does not have an auspicious record in his dealings regarding the NHS. He first voted in favour of passing the Trade Bill which was subsequently enacted in January 2021 – this Bill exposes the NHS to many dangers including the risk of large-scale take-overs by US private companies, reduced access to medication (US politicians made it clear that they want to ”pressure” the UK through trade negotiations to “pay more” for drugs), and the harvesting of our UK patient data by US firms (many US corporations are keen to develop global business models for new markets).
A year later, Levy hit the NHS a second time by voting in favour of the Health and Care Bill which was subsequently enacted in April 2022. Despite strong opposition from health clinicians, organisations and campaigners across the country, this Bill operationalised “Integrated Care Systems” – KONPNE has consistently highlighted a number of major concerns regarding this change to NHS provision, including reduced local democracy; increased central control; a shift of focus for the NHS from the provision of universal, comprehensive care towards ‘demand’ management; the increased presence and influence of private companies; and the fragmentation of services. This, all wrapped up in what the Government calls an “integrated care system”, sounds cosy – but in reality, it means cuts and closures of NHS services.
So, in this lead up to the General Election, we call upon Ian Levy to do much better and, now, to STAND UP for the NHS. We have provided information relating to the Peoples NHS campaign to Ian Levy (see post below), and we will be back in both Blyth and Cramlington in the near future.
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Saturday 9th March – National Day of Action for the NHS
A change of location from our usual rally or campaign actions at Grey’s Monument! Today – out and about in Northumberland, spending time talking with people from both Blyth and Cramlington, inviting messages on postcards to the local MP, and providing info about the new Peoples NHS campaign….much activity, interest and much support – THANK YOU!!
We agree that we urgently need to END private involvement in our healthcare and ENSURE that the NHS returns to being universally accessible, publicly delivered and accountable. Thank you, Blyth and Cramlington for your warm welcome – we have made a note of your concerns and will ensure that your messages are passed onto the MP.
CLICK HERE
for information about the Peoples NHS campaign
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Thursday 7th March 2024 – KONPNE campaigning
Our monthly Campaign Zoom this evening – with a focus on the forthcoming Day of Action this Saturday. If you can spare one hour or a full day – come along and join us at Blyth (11am – 12.30) and Cramlington (2pm – 3.30pm).
The next Campaign meeting will take place on Thursday 4th April at 7pm via Zoom – info is here – if you believe in the need to return to a publicly funded and publicly provided NHS, then this is the meeting for you.
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Sunday 3rd March 2024 – Meeting a future Government?
Spring is in the air? New growth?? Energy??? Labour North Regional Conference is in town all weekend at Newcastle University, providing an opportunity for KONPNE members to bend the ears of delegates on their way into discussions….and to provide delegates with details of the current Peoples NHS campaign.
We need a future Government to support a NHS for all = publicly owned, provided and accountable. These founding principles ARE SOUND but the steady privatisation and defunding of our NHS has led to the worst crisis and worst performance in its history. We demand better from our politicians. Labour North – listen to your constituents….
CLICK HERE
for Information about the current Peoples NHS campaign, organised by national KONP
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Thursday 1st February 2024 – KONPNE Campaign Meeting
Another busy meeting – in fact, we had to reschedule some of the agenda for our March meeting… Much happening!!
CLICK HERE
to read the notes of the meeting – these are open for all to read.
Our next Campaign meeting will take place on Thursday 7th March at 7pm via Zoom – all welcome. Zoom log on details are here
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Tuesday 23rd January 2024 – KONPNE Video ’23 – please share!!
At last – a six minute overview of KONPNE activity throughout the last year is now complete and goes live on our social media today…. it took a little longer than expected to put together, but here goes….
CLICK HERE
to watch the video
MANY THANKS to all Campaigners. Your hard work and commitment is much appreciated, and we look forward to another year of campaigning together. Sincere thanks.
……And to everyone in the North East, this is your invitation to join the KONPNE team for 2024…. a wonderful new year resolution. There is much that can be done over the next 12 months – but only with your help. Please don’t leave it up to the next door neighbour or friend in the gym / pub / work / social group to join in ….they will be thinking the same about you…..
CLICK HERE
for information about future KONPNE Campaign Meetings
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11th January 2024 – At last – a response from the Integrated Care Board
Huge concerns about dentistry provision in Sunderland prompted KONP Sunderland to question the ICB at the end of July last year – with a response received today, 5 months later…
CLICK HERE
to read the Sunderland KONP letter and the ICB reply
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Thursday 4th January 2024 – Campaign planning for 2024 – election year
Great to meet up with folks after the festivities – now all focus is on the year ahead, including the parliamentary election….
Much discussion this evening on local and national campaign initiatives, including The Peoples NHS (KONP), liaison with We Own It, questions to the Integrated Care Board, Freedom of Info requests, Junior Doctors strike, and communication between campaigners (incl the start of KONPNE Campaigners Whatsapp group).
The notes from this meeting are here, and are open for all to read.
Please also read the notes from previous Campaign meetings – scroll down this page to the first Thursday of every month.
….and a date for the new diary – the next KONPNE Campaign Meeting will take place on Thursday 1st February 2024 – click here for more info and please attend…. much we can do, and we need your help….
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Wednesday 3rd January 2024 – Support to Jnr Doc picket line, RVI, Newcastle
Important to support the Junior Doctors on the picket line this morning – KONPNE stands in full solidarity with all Junior Doctors who, for the next six days, are fighting not only for fair pay, but for the safety of us all and the future of our NHS.
CLICK HERE
for the article in todays Chronicle: “Striking junior doctors in Newcastle say they will resume talks – but pay offer must improve“ (incls statement from Dr Helen Groom, KONPNE)
and
CLICK HERE
for the article in the Guardian re RVI, Newcastle picket line: “Cheers and sadness on junior doctors’ picket line”
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Monday 1st January 2024 – Good wishes for the New Year 2024
All of us at Keep Our NHS Public North East wish you the very best for this New Year 2024.
Last year has been exceptionally difficult for so many people, and we wish you well; special good wishes and respect also to all health workers who continue to work, day in and day out, in very challenging conditions.
We know that a public NHS for all is the most successful model of healthcare this country has ever had. No doubt about it and which ever party gets into Parliament, throughout 2024, we will continue the fight for a fully funded NHS, fair pay for NHS staff and for a publicly-owned and publicly-provided healthcare system. Everyone has something to offer to the Campaign, so please come and join us – we meet monthly on Zoom, and more information about this meeting is here
Wishing you happiness and good health throughout this year.
All at Keep Our NHS Public North East
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konpnortheast.com 