AT A GLANCE:
(then scroll lower down this page for detailed information about these current Campaigns and events:
1: KONPNE supports the Royal College of Nursing Strike Action; Thursday 15th December and Tuesday 20th December 2022 times and venues to be confirmed
2: A sincere ThankYou to all NHS staff – join us in giving out Christmas ThankYou Cards; 16th, 17th, 18th and 21st December 2022 – various hospitals – see below for venues and times
3: Log onto the next KONP North East meeting – all welcome; Thursday 5th January 2023 @7pm via ZOOM
4: Save the date! “We Own It” action in London; Saturday 25th February 2023
5: End NHS privatisation, save lives; sign the new “We Own It” petition NOW
6: Find out more about “Integrated Care Systems” and contact the Chair of “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System”
7: Read our response to North East and North Cumbria ICS about the draft Strategy
8: KONPNE puts formal questions to full Council meetings – read about our contact and responses from Durham, Sunderland, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Gateshead and South Tyneside Councils….
9: No Palantir in our NHS. We don’t trust them with our health data, and we don’t trust them to respect the values of our NHS. Find out more and sign the petition
10: End the social care crisis – sign the petition
11: Help with our admin, monitoring and scrutiny
12: Our NHS staff deserve better – the “pay rise” is not good enough.
13: Steve Barclay must rebuild our NHS – sign the petition
14: Access information about the NHS Campaign
15: Link to NHS Campaigning organisations – much going on…
16: Watch incisive films about the NHS
17: Follow decision-making in the North East Councils
18: Keep in touch with KONP North East
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“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
WE NEED YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT – 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. Your involvement in the following current Campaigns and events is very much welcomed:
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1:
KONPNE supports the Royal College of Nursing Strike Action
Thursday 15th December and Tuesday 20th December 2022 times and venues to be confirmed
The RCN nurses are striking for their pay, our health, and the future of #OURNHS
KONPNE supports @theRCN @RCNNorthern – join us in demonstrating our solidarity and support to the nurses on the picket lines – times and places for us to meet are to be confirmed, and will be posted here.
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2:
A sincere ThankYou to all NHS staff
16th, 17th, 18th and 21st December 2022
Join us in giving out Christmas ThankYou Cards to NHS staff…. it’s the very least we can do……
Friday 16th December – University Hospital of North Durham – time and place tba
Saturday 17th December at 7am – Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, meet at bus stop by main gate
Sunday 18th December at 7am – North Tyneside General Hospital, North Shields, meet at bus stop on Rake Lane
Wednesday 21st December at 12 noon – Sunderland Royal Hospital, meet at bus stop on Chester Road
Royal Victoria Hospital, Newcastle – date and time tba
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3:
“KEEP OUR NHS PUBLIC NORTH EAST” MEETING
Thursday 5th January 2023, 7pm via ZOOM
BE ACTIVE IN THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST NHS PRIVATISATION – Join us at the first “KEEP OUR NHS PUBLIC NORTH EAST” meeting of the New Year: Thursday 5th January 2023 @7pm via ZOOM.
We look forward to meeting you.
Zoom meeting ID: 880 6603 9258 / Password: campaign / Please feel free to use these to join the meeting – 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.
The Campaign continues as strong as ever; the Agenda 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, updates on collaborative work with “We Own It”, initial planning for a campaign art installation in the NE in mid-2023, feedback on our formal question to each of the seven Councils in the NE at the Full Council Meetings, 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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4:
Save the date! We Own It action in London
Saturday 25th February 2023
Advance notice that the national campaign group “We Own It” are in the process of planning a demonstration / event in London – to link with the Campaign against NHS outsourcing. We are working closely with WOI on this campaign, and hope to join with them in London on this day. Keep the date!
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5:
End NHS privatisation, save lives; sign the new “We Own It” petition NOW
Sign the “We Own It” petition to demand that local NHS leaders in the North East and North Cumbria commit to end NHS outsourcing.
We were told that outsourcing was ‘the most efficient way to provide services’ and, for over a decade, the ideology of privatisation has been gaining a strong foothold in our NHS. But many people always knew that this wasn’t true, and now they’ve been proven absolutely right. A new national research study has found the evidence to be crystal clear: preventable deaths of 557 people have been linked to the outsourcing of NHS services. Ben Goodair, the Oxford academic behind the research, told over 300 people at the petition launch rally (20th October 2022): “My research found that wherever privatisation increased, deaths from preventable causes also increased. It is clear that there is a connection there”.
NHS leaders now have to face the facts: privatisation fails our health.
Please add your name to the petition and demand that local health leaders in the North East and North Cumbria commit to end outsourcing in our NHS now…..and then share it with family and friends
CLICK HERE
to sign the “We Own It” petition
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CLICK HERE
to receive leaflets to distribute to houses on your street
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CLICK HERE
to read the research which links preventable deaths with outsourcing (scroll to the “We Own It” section)
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6:
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.
In May and June 2022, over 1500 people in the North East emailed the Chair of the new “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System” (NENC ICS) to demand the pledge: NO PRIVATE COMPANIES ON ICS BOARDS. This time-limited action was co-ordinated by the campaign group “We Own It”, and provided a very clear message to the new Chair of the fledgling Board.
There remain a number of issues, and 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.
“It is really important to understand that ‘integration’ as in Integrated Care Systems means ‘disintegration’, centralisation, loss of public accountability, opening door wider to private companies, driving down quality to reduce costs, rationing, and a fundamental shift way from a universal service providing comprehensive care to all, free at the point of use” Dr John Puntis, KONP Co-Chair, 7th February 2021
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7:
Read our response to “North East and North Cumbria ICS” about the draft Strategy
The local “Integrated Care System” (now responsible for all NHS commissioning in the North East and North Cumbria) is in the process of developing a strategy which set outs ambitions and goals for the future. The ICS invited feedback from the public and all stakeholders on their initial draft, and we responded accordingly – KONPNE supporters felt that there are a number of important issues to develop further in this document, including *the need for the NHS to be the default provider of services, to work towards decreasing outsourcing *a commitment to providing a free and comprehensive health service to all *no private sector representation on NHS decision-making bodies *Emergency Care for all – no need to be registered with a NE GP *thorough assessment of needs prior to discharge *commitment to nationally agreed pay and conditions for staff, and commitment to work alongside Unions.
CLICK HERE
to read our feedback to the local ICS
&
CLICK HERE
to read the ICS draft strategy 2022
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8:
KONPNE puts formal questions to full Council meetings
A road sign welcoming people to England and Northumberland. Northumberland is a county in North East England. The northernmost county of England, it borders Cumbria to the west, County Durham and Tyne and Wear to the south and the Scottish Borders to the north.
Date 10/04/2018 COUNCIL FORCED TO DENY CLAIMS THEIR STREET LIGHTS CAUSE CANCER, MISCARRIAGES AND NOSE BLEEDS Gateshead Council has been forced to deny claims that their STREET LIGHTS cause cancer, miscarriages and nose bleeds. Gateshead Council has released an official statement after “conspiracy theories” began circulating on social media about the lights being fitted with 5G technology and killing birds and insects. The statement reads: “We are aware that certain individuals are frightening local people with false stories about the street lights in Gateshead despite the fact we, and others, have told them repeatedly that their allegations are entirely false. “For your reassurance, we’d like to set the record straight. “Gateshead Council DOES NOT use 5G technology in any of its street lights, or in any other capacity. It has never done so.”The street lights in Gateshead will not give you cancer. See copy By North News
North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System (NENC ICS) is responsible for commissioning all health care in the region, from 1st July 2022. We have massive concerns about this new system – see our webpage here.
NHS campaigners in the North East are putting formal questions to seven North East councils to determine their stance on this development – given that the ICSs are under instruction from NHS England, our local Councillors are our representatives regarding this new programme, and we need to ensure that they are accountable in standing up for our NHS.
CLICK HERE
to read the responses from Durham, Sunderland, Newcastle, Northumberland and Gateshead Councils
AND
the shameful response from North Tyneside Council
South Tyneside Council:
A provisional date of 24th November 2022 at 6pm has been identified for questions to South Tyneside Council. We will confirm this date with you as soon as we liaise with speakers and get positive notification from the Council.
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9:
No Palantir in our NHS. We don’t trust them with our health data, and we don’t trust them to respect the values of our NHS. Find out more and sign the petition
Trust: it’s the beating heart of the NHS. Every time someone talks to their doctor or nurse, joins a clinical study, or decides to get vaccinated, they’re showing trust in their carers and in the NHS as a whole. There is no public health without public trust. So every partner of the NHS must be held to the highest standards. We can’t allow any public partner in the NHS who would undermine that trust.
Palantir fails the trust test. Palantir, a secretive US data company, wants a long-term role deeply embedded in NHS infrastructure. But it’s spent most of its history helping the powerful abuse the powerless. The CIA’s dirty wars in Afghanistan. The Los Angeles Police’s racist predictive policing scheme. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s brutal operations at the US-Mexico border. For years, Palantir’s tools have been used not to care – but to harm. A company like Palantir has no place in our NHS.
We demand that Palantir are dropped from the NHS as quickly as possible. We also call on the government to consult on alternatives that will preserve the sacred bond of trust at the heart of the NHS.
CLICK HERE
to sign the multi-agency petition, supported by KONP
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CLICK HERE
to send a formatted email to your MP
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CLICK HERE
to read the Observer article (13.11.22): “Controversial £360m NHS England data platform ‘lined up’ for Trump backer’s firm”
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CLICK HERE
to read the KONP article “Your Data is At Risk”
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10:
End the social care crisis – sign the petition
Many people who need social care don’t get the care and support they need, because they cannot afford the care charges. Additionally, millions of people who are paying the charges are being forced into poverty and debt – some of these people are being pursued by their local authority for this debt and being taken to court.
Furthermore, we need a trained social care workforce who get a living wage and decent work conditions. Many care workers are on zero hours contracts, have to undertake training in their own time, receive less than the real living wage and are only paid statutory sick pay if they cannot work due to illness. Care workers who support people in their own homes are not paid for their travel from one person’s home to the next. The care sector is short of 165,000 staff, because pay and conditions are so bad, leaving 500,000 waiting for social care assessment or support.
We also need to provide a service which provides a range of supports for unpaid carers.
CLICK HERE
to sign the KONP petition.
The current system of social care is a disgrace.
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11:
Help with our admin, monitoring and scrutiny
KONPNE is a busy regional NHS campaign group – and we can do even more campaigning with your help….
There are a number of background routine tasks and jobs that need to be done – everyday tasks that keep the Campaign ticking over – but which are also VITAL in providing a strong structure for our campaign work.
Some of these tasks are “one-off” and others are monthly commitments – but each one would take less than an hour or two… honest. Please contact us at konpnortheast@gmail.com if you are able to assist and wish for more information – we will provide the support and information to help you get started….
This month, we need help with
> updating our email address list of all Councillors in the North East (going on to the Council websites, and updating our word doc, so that we have email contacts for all new Councillors post-May 2022), This is a one off job!
>New “North East and North Cumbria ICS Board” – one or two people to research the meeting joining process, observe (online) the new ICS Board meeting, and feedback to our October meeting
> Research the “North East and North Cumbria ICS” strategy / operational policy / aims
> Our blog (on this website here) needs an injection of energy – please be a “one off” guest contributor and write about your NHS and campaign-related thoughts / reflections / experiences and musings. Maybe you have attended an event recently, or have reflections on campaigning
> Our campaigning in the North East primarily covers five local authorities (Northumberland, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Gateshead and County Durham….Sunderland KONP cover Sunderland, and Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign covers South Tyneside) …..PLUS there are a number of meetings (as yet unspecified) connected to the new Integrated Care System. We need one person from each of the five areas to keep a monthly check / have a general awareness of their Council and NHS minutes and meetings, and to keep us updated regarding discussions and decisions regarding the NHS in their area, as identified in these minutes. This monthly task is more straight-forward (and not as onerous) as it sounds! Please contact us for more info if you are able to help with this valuable work.
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12:
OUR NHS STAFF DESERVE BETTER – THIS “PAY RISE” IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH
CLICK HERE
to sign the change.org petition
Join “NHS Workers Say NO! to Public Sector pay inequality”
CLICK HERE
for the facebook page
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13:
Steve Barclay must rebuild our NHS
From national KONP:
The Health and Care Bill is now an Act. This major change to how our NHS will work is happening at a moment when people are dying on record high waiting lists and going far too long without urgent treatment.
The Health and Care Act will not make the situation any better. The sad thing is the current crisis in the NHS is unnecessary and avoidable. It arises from government policy and not inherent problems in our NHS. The government must step in to save lives and end needless suffering now. It will not do so of its own volition. We put on the pressure to make it change course.
That’s why we’ve launched a new petition demanding that Health Secretary takes urgent action to rebuild the NHS.
To do this the government must:
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end the staffing crisis, including paying staff properly
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train and recruit more staff by scrapping tuition fees and bringing back the NHS student bursary
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ensure the NHS has the funds it needs (to the level of comparable countries) – this is affordable for the fifth largest economy in the world
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stop the flow of cash to the private sector and invest in rebuilding the NHS instead
We urge you to sign the and share the petition now!
CLICK HERE
to sign the petition
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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 Health Campaigns Together news bulletin to catch up on local and national news and developments.
Click here to access the latest Bulletin, and also back issues
> Check out The Lowdown – superb, free, online health campaigning journal
Click here
> An excellent series of 20 virtual meetings, each with expert speakers, hosted by The Peoples Assembly.
For the complete playlist of meetings click here
> Click here for the “We Own It” campaign website re the NHS and click here for the facebook page
> Read and circulate issues of “NHS Staff Voices”, the newsletter for staff working in our health and care services:
NHS Staff Voices 5 (October 2021)
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 – 2022
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
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!! 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
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
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MORE ABOUT KONPNE
Please see these two-minute youtube videos, which summarise some of the campaign activity throughout recent years:
2021 – work in progress!
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…
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.
konpnortheast.com 