JOIN THE CAMPAIGN: Keep Our NHS Public North East comprises, mostly, members of the general public, together with some local doctors, nurses and other health professionals who believe in a publicly funded and publicly provided NHS.
We meet monthly via Zoom, engage in face-to-face community-based actions across the region, and also do much individual campaigning from our homes via the internet (emailing and liaising with your councillors, MP and NHS). Scroll down this page for information about what you can do NOW – current campaigns, individual actions, ways of linking with political parties and Unions, petitions, key contacts to write to….. ranging from 2 minutes (to sign and then share a petition) to a half or full day (at one of our actions). Collectively, our actions make a difference.
Information relating to numerous current local and national campaigns and actions is linked below: Your involvement is very much welcomed
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“KEEP OUR NHS PUBLIC NORTH EAST” Monthly Campaign Meeting
Thursday 8th January 2026, 7pm via ZOOM
BE ACTIVE LOCALLY IN THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST NHS PRIVATISATION – Join us at the next “KEEP OUR NHS PUBLIC NORTH EAST” Campaign meeting via Zoom. We look forward to meeting you.
Please contact us at konpnortheast@gmail.com for the Zoom link.
ALL ARE WELCOME.
If you have never attended before, you will find that the meetings are open, and you are welcome to voice your thoughts and ideas, or sit back and listen – whatever suits you best.
Meetings are always held on the first Thursday at 7 via Zoom. Meeting dates for the rest of this year are as follows – please add these to your diary:
8th January 2026
5th February 2026
5th March 2026
2nd April 2026
7th May 2026
4th June 2026
Always the first Thursday (apart from January 2026 meeting) at 7pm via Zoom
The Campaign continues as strong as ever in the North East; the Agenda for our next meeting includes updates from across the NE region, update on NHS privatisation in the North East, campaign work regarding the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System incl questions to the Board, updates on collaborative work with “We Own It”, feedback from national KONP, updates on national events and petitions and much more…. We will continue to fight and stand up for our NHS until it returns to be publicly accountable and publicly provided.
CLICK HERE
to read the notes from previous KONPNE meetings – scroll to the first Thursday of each month
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HOSPITAL WARD CLOSURE – Ward 23, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead
It is devastating news that Ward 23 has closed. This ward served the needs of older people with physical health problems / dementia. Not only are we concerned about 1) future provision for the health and wellbeing of the client group – people with physical health problems and dementia – but we are also concerned about 2) the knock-on effect to other parts of the service and carers and 3) the decision-making process carried out by Gateshead Health NHS Trust.
CLICK HERE
for info about the Campaign, our communications with the Trust, councillors and MPs
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KONP Statement:
We stand with resident doctors fighting for pay restoration
The dispute with Resident Doctors will only end after meaningful discussions between Wes Streeting and RD representatives. Fixin
KONP petition
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Cloaked in Secrecy
The Sexual Health service in Newcastle was privatised two years ago and we are aware that members of the public have been appalled by the steady erosion of provision since that time.
More recently, members of KONPNE have become increasingly concerned about a recent comment from a Newcastle upon Tyne Council official about the need for improvements to the service – but, surprisingly, the Council seem reluctant to share the details. Very reluctant. In fact, all is cloaked in secrecy. In their latest response received 19th September 2025, they say
“the information you have requested is exempt information and falls under Section 41 of the Freedom of Information Act – ‘Information provided in Confidence’. A description of Section 41 is information which is held by a public authority, but which was provided by a third party will be exempt information if disclosure by the public authority to the public would constitute an actionable breach of confidence.”
CLICK HERE
for details of our recent contact with the Council about this matter
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Two important briefings published
Two important and very helpful briefings out recently:
From Keep Our NHS Public: “Privatisation of the NHS – What it looks like and the impact it has” (September 2025)
https://keepournhspublic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/KONP-Briefing-NHS-Privatisation-18-Sept-2025-Web-Email.pdf
From We Own It: “Private Finance in the NHS” (November 2025)
https://weownit.org.uk/site/assets/files/58979/mp_briefing_private_finance_in_the_nhs.pdf
Both are in the public domain – please circulate widely to all
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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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Find out more about “Integrated Care Systems” and contact the Chair of “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System”
Our NHS was reorganised on 1st July 2022. This followed the passing of the Health and Care Act 2022 (click here for more info) and, subsequently, England was geographically divided into 42 health units called “Integrated Care Systems” (ICS). In our region, “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System” is now responsible for commissioning all health care in the North East and North Cumbria.
We need to make it clear to the Board that the residents of the North East and North Cumbria are against any further privatisation of NHS services within the new “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System”.
CLICK HERE
to go to our “Integrated Care System” page, for more info and to write to the Board regarding your concerns.
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ACCESS INFORMATION
> Look through our KONP North East website. Click on the menu header on each page, OR click here to go to the site map, OR click on the following links for updates and information regarding….
♦ Latest news and developments
♦ Our mailing list
♦ NHS privatisation
♦ Privatisation in Primary Care – Livi
♦ NHS cuts
♦ NHS waiting lists
♦ Social Care
♦ Questions to NE Councils re NHS privatisation
♦ Covid 19 and NHS privatisation
♦ Peoples Covid Inquiry
♦ Integrated Care Systems
♦ The Health and Care Bill 2021
♦ The Police and Crime Bill 2021
♦ NHS and migration – fight racism and defend migrants
♦ NHS Data Grab
♦ Resources – recent reports, books, films, video
♦ Links to people and organisations
♦ KONPNE archive – our activity over the past ten years
♦ KONPNE Blog – an opportunity to air your views and experiences – all contributions are welcome!!
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LINKS TO NHS CAMPAIGNING ORGANISATIONS
> The national KONP website provides information and news from all over the country
Click here
> The KONP 2020 Vision for Healthcare
Click here
> Read the latest Health Campaigns Together newspaper and download The Lowdown bulletin; catch up on local and national news and developments.
Click here
> Check out The Lowdown – superb, free, online health campaigning journal
Click here
> And sign up to The Lowdown – free and direct to your inbox every two weeks
Click here
> Join The Peoples Assembly.
The People’s Assembly is all about you. Your activism, your campaigns, your demonstrations and your events. Join the Peoples Assembly and become a member today – if you do, you can be part of the local People’s Assembly group, meeting like minded people and being part of making change in your own community.
Click here for the national Peoples Assembly website and here for the North East Peoples Assembly facebook page
> Click here for the “We Own It” campaign website re the NHS and click here for the facebook page
KONPNE very often campaigns in association with the Campaign organisation “We Own It” – who are on Zoom every Thursday at 12.30.
This is a fantastic way to find out the latest information on WOI health campaigns AND ALSO to hear more, generally, about the case for public ownership. so
CLICK HERE
to sign up for the regular “We Own It” newletter – this will contain information about the Zoom meetings held on Thursdays
> Read and circulate issues of “NHS Staff Voices”, the newsletter for staff working in our health and care servicess
NHS Staff Voices 6 (Summer 2022)
Find out more about NHS Staff Voices here and check out the NHS Voices facebook page here
> See the Care and Support Workers Organise facebook page here
> Join “NHS Workers Say NO! to Public Sector pay inequality”
Click here for the facebook page
> Click here, and find out more about the SOS NHS coalition of pro-NHS organisations and campaign groups, and click here for information and reports on recent actions in the North East
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WATCH INCISIVE FILMS
Click here for links to documentaries about the NHS: The Great NHS Heist (Drew McFadyen and Bob Gill, 2019), Sell Off (Peter Bach, 2014) and Sicko (Michael Moore, 2007) – all are timely reminders about why we do not want an American healthcare system.
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FOLLOW DECISION-MAKING IN THE NORTH EAST COUNCILS – 2025
KONPNE are keen for people to follow decision-making at local Council meetings – either by tracking Council minutes online or by attending (via Zoom) as an observer. It is crucial that we are aware of discussions at specific meetings (the “Health and Wellbeing” and the “Health Scrutiny” meetings) so that we are able to keep up-to-date with CCG and Council decision-making regarding “Integrated Care Systems.
Please click our page here if you are interested in finding out more….
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KEEP IN TOUCH WITH KONP NORTH EAST…and tell your family, friends and contacts
We hold monthly meetings via zoom – always the first Thursday at 7pm. Details of all scheduled zoom meetings are posted above and in our social media – it would be good to see you and hear from you!! Please click on our home page here to find out more about us.
We circulate a regular Campaign briefing by email – If you would like to add your email address to the circulation list, then please click here and….job done.
Also, we host busy and lively facebook and twitter platforms…please help the Campaign by liking, following, commenting, sharing, tweeting, retweeting….Our social media is updated daily and works well….so long as it is shared….. find us at facebook.com/NHSPublicNorthEast and twitter.com/KONPNorthEast
We warmly welcome new members and encourage all to be involved and in and to support the future of a publicly-funded and publicly-provided NHS. People can help in many different ways – involvement in specific Campaigns, practical assistance in organising Campaign work, liaison with other organisations, keeping an eye on Council and CCG minutes, assisting with our social media, etc etc etc – please let us know if you have time to assist and be assured of a warm welcome. There is a role for you!!
And finally, wherever you are in the North East, and whatever you are doing, please let us know and keep in touch at konpnortheast@gmail.com
We offer our gratitude and MASSIVE respect to all health workers.
Take lots of care and keep in touch – all at KONPNE xx
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MORE ABOUT KONPNE
2024 – click here for an overview of activity over the previous three years
Please see these short youtube videos, which summarise some of the campaign activity throughout recent years:
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
More details? Please click the next link below for updates, media articles and photos relating to earlier Campaign activity:
2010 – 2019
and please click the following link which takes you to articles and photos relating to current and recent activity:
2020 – current
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AND FINALLY…
……to everyone in the North East, this is your invitation to join the KONPNE team. There is much that can be done over throughout the year – 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 may be thinking the same about you…..
We provide information about meetings and upcoming events through our Campaign email – circulated approx once per month. Please click here. We keep a record of your name and email address only – this remains confidential and secure, and we never share this information with anyone else. You are able to unsubscribe from the list at any time. “Keep Our NHS Public North East” takes consent and confidentiality very seriously and these arrangements are to comply with data protection regulations.
“Almost every day I’m asked “but what can I do?” The answer is the same as it has always been. Combine with other people. Mobilise. Build the movement until it becomes big enough to reach a social tipping point. The key to resistance is persistence”. George Monbiot, 8th April 2022
konpnortheast.com 