OUR NHS NEEDS OUR HELP. Boris Johnson is keen to work out a trade deal with the US, discussions are well underway and the Trade Bill is currently passing through Parliament. The dangers are very clear –large-scale take-oversby US private companies,reduced access to medication(US politicians have already made it clear that they want to”pressure” the UK through trade negotiations to “pay more” for drugs), theharvesting of our UK patient databy US firms (many US corporations are keen to develop global business models for new markets) and thelowering of standardsin medication, technology, and the numbers / skills / pay and conditions of staff (all could be lowered to make our NHS more profitable to US corporations).
Unbelievably, these six North East MPs voted AGAINST protecting the NHS, when the Trade Bill was voted on in the Commons in July 2020 and January 2021: 1) Guy Opperman (Hexham) 2) Anne-Marie Trevelyan (Berwick) 3) Ian Levy (Blyth) 4) Dehenna Davison (Bishop Auckland) 5) Richard Holden (NW Durham) 6) Paul Howell (Sedgefield) .
Read this article from KONPNE member Dr Sarah Walpole, published in The Independent (21st January 2021):
NHS SURVEY NOW CLOSED(as from Fri 8th January 2021 @ midnight)
Survey About Integrated Care Systems
NHS England (NHSE) is consulting on their latest plans for ‘integrating care’, including changes to legislation. The proposals include a top-down re-organisation of the NHS in England under tight financial control from the centre and with even less public accountability. The result will be massive new opportunities for private companies through the ‘Health Systems Support Framework’ (HSSF). ICSs will be statutory NHS bodies and, as such, limited in their ability to work in partnership with others, such as with local authorities in addressing health inequalities.
The main objections we have to ICSs is the lack of democracyand accountability (there will be no scrutiny by our local councils and it will be much more difficult to oppose any decisions to ration NHS services or deny access to care) and increased privatisation as ICSs will be instrumental in opening up the NHS to very large-scale (ICS-size) takeovers by multinational corporations and institutions.
*******HOWEVER….*******
….THIS IMPORTANT NHS CONSULTATION TOOK PLACE OVER CHRISTMAS AND IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC, WITH VERY LITTLE ADVERTISEMENT AND POOR EXPLANATORY MATERIALS. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
Have members of the public had a fair opportunity to get involved??
We think not.
CK 999 Call for the NHS propose that people contact their MP to ask for a two month extension to the Consultation deadline. See this guidance here
We hope that this movement for additional time is successful. However, until confirmed otherwise, the official survey is now closed and we have kept the NHSE survey documents plus associated reference materials on filehere(and we are working on updating and clarifying this page)….unfortunately, this issue will not be going away in the short-term….
Privatised test and trace has failed our communities.
The government has suggested that councils are likely to get bigger roles in contact tracing, but we know that local public health teams should be doing ALL contact tracing, not failing private companies. This would be a system the British public could have faith in.
Matt Hancock isn’t budging. We need you to email these key figures in government with responsibilities to scrutinise health policy (Hunt), test and trace (Clark), and outsourcing (Gove) TODAY!
LIVID – North Tyneside on the slippery privatisation slope
The private firm Livi has been awarded a contract to carry out virtual consultations in Primary Care in North Tyneside. Whilst this is claimed to be a pilot scheme, and it is to be seen as an addition to the usual GP clinical work, it is undoubtedly part of a very slippery privatisation slope.
WE NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE… wherever you live in the NE…
Click our “NHS Privatisation in Primary Care” page for an update on developments and information about how to join in.
PETITION 1 > Scrap the contracts for Serco and Sitel
At Newcastle Civic Centre (August 2020) and Serco HQ Newcastle (October 2020)
Privatised track and trace has been a 2020 disaster that is costing lives.
It’s time to put local public health teams in charge of the whole system. They have the tools and the local knowledge they need to do this vital work before any second wave this winter. Now they need the money. Hancock needs to scrap Serco and Sitels failed contracts now instead of renewing them. The government must give the £528 million allocated for these contract extension to local authorities and Public Health England teams instead.
Despite the massive threat posed by the Coronavirus pandemic, the Governments response has been exceptionally poor. This is doubly alarming given that our NHS is working following a decade of under-funding, under-staffing, and undermining.
PETITION 3> Private Test and Trace is failing – hand it back to the NHS
‘NHS test and trace’ is not run by the NHS. The testing side is run by private companies such as Deloitte, and it’s clear that it is failing. A partnership between local authorities and public health, primary care and NHS labs is needed to ensure a successful testing system. Please sign this petition calling for testing to be rooted within NHS structures and given the necessary investment.
As information comes to light, it is clear that there were huge gaps in the country’s preparedness for COVID 19 including delays to locking down, inadequate supplies of PPE, policies of discharging into care homes and more. They have all been identified as having contributed to the level of the death toll. It’s heartwrenching to know that some of the deaths could have been prevented if only this had been handled better.
Despite this, the government continues to refer to its ‘apparent success’ and being ‘proud’ of its record.
“KEEP OUR NHS PUBLIC NORTH EAST” MEETING: Thursday 4th February 2021 @7pm
Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at 7pm.
We look forward to seeing you at our next KONPNE meeting – 4th February 2021 at 7pm via Zoom – ALL WELCOME. Please log in for 7pm for introductions and notices….thank you.
Zoom links are posted here, on our mailings and on our social media a few days before the meeting.
The Campaign continues as strong as ever in 2021 with our current focus on the Trade Bill, the privatised Track and Trace fiasco, the news that North Tyneside CCG has contracted the private company “Livi” to provide some interventions in Primary Care, and the unacceptable NHS charges to migrant workers. Our meeting will update on all developments in these areas.
Like all KONPNE meetings, our meetings remain open to all who support a publicly funded, publicly accountable and publicly provided NHS, and new supporters are very warmly welcomed. If you are not familiar with zoom, we have found it very easy to use and intuitive…many thanks to XR Midlands for the attached very useful guide:Zoom User Guide
“HEALTH CAMPAIGNS TOGETHER” CONFERENCE: Thursday 25th February 2021 @ 6.30pm
The NHS faces its most serious threat ever as ministers use the cover of the pandemic to push through far-reaching changes. Billions have been frittered away on inefficient and ineffective private contractors rather than investing in the NHS and public health* Huge and continuing scandals in the allocation of PPE contracts to “fast-tracked” neighbours and cronies of ministers* Private management consultants paid up to £7,000 per day – and steering investment to contractors, not the NHS* £12bn spent on privatised Test and trace systems that are a byword for failure* Tens of millions wasted on new ‘lighthouse’ laboratories and fully privatised ‘megalabs’ that bypass NHS laboratories* Billions spent hiring private hospitals, with up to £10 billion more in next 4 years while thousands of NHS beds lie empty.
Unprecedented attacks need new ways of fighting back: join us to discuss how we can best respond to and beat back this new wave of privatisation.
NHS PRIVATISATION: FORMAL QUESTIONS PUT TO SEVEN NORTH EAST COUNCILS
Prompted by the recent growth in “outsourcing” (aka NHS privatisation) by North Tyneside CCG (see here) , members of KONPNE are putting questions to the SEVEN North East Councils about NHS privatisation in their area.
Questions have recently been presented by KONPNE members to three North East Councils – Gateshead, Sunderland and Northumberland – at full Council meetings. Our question will be put next to Newcastle City Council on Wednesday 6th January 2021 at 6pm – watch live online (see post above for details). Emails have been forwarded to North Tyneside, South Tyneside and County Durham Councils, requesting their response to our concerns – watch this space.
To see all of our questions, responses and emails, go to the “Questions to North East Councils” webpage:
Click herefor 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.
FOLLOW DECISION-MAKING AT LOCAL COUNCILS – January 2021
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….
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH KONP NORTH EAST…and tell your family, friends and contacts
All of our regular face-to-face monthly meetings are, of course, cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, and we are now holding meetings via zoom. 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!!
We circulate a regular Campaign briefing by email – If you would like to add your email address to the circulation list, then please contact us at konpnortheast@gmail.com (stating that you would like to join our secure KONPNE mailing list, and that you understand that you can unsubscribe at any time), 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 atfacebook.com/NHSPublicNorthEastandtwitter.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
At this time, we offer our gratitude and MASSIVE respect to all health workers and keyworkers.
Take lots of care and keep in touch – all at KONPNE xx
More details? Please click the following links for updates, media articles and photos relating to our past (2010 – 19) activity and more recent activity.
We provide information about meetings and upcoming events through our Campaign email – circulated approx once per month. Please provide your name and email address to us at konpnortheast@gmail.com stating that you would like to join our secure KONPNE mailing list, and that you understand that you can unsubscribe at any time. We will be pleased to add your name to our circulation list.
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.
