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 1st October 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:
1st October 2026
5th November 2026
3rd December 2026
Always the first Thursday 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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Thursday 1st October 2026 – National Day of Action and Protest against Palantir
Join us at Grey’s Monument, 12 noon – 2pm to assist with leafleting | Information | Announcements | Petition. Your help is appreciated.
This event is supported by Newcastle Stop The War.
This event is part of the International Day of Action Against Palantir – click here for more details: https://www.amnesty.org.uk/issues/international-crisis/no-palantir-in-our-nhs/people-vs-palantir-global-day-of-action/
Please see the post lower down on this page for links to petitions.
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Thursday 8th October 2026 and Friday 9th October – The Man With the Plan
Watch this newly released film about the Beveridge Plan.
A young student, Flea (Sophie Jenkin), discovers the 1942 Beveridge report – and its comprehensive vision for a better society. Flea’s fantastical journey takes her amongst Beveridge’s Five Giants: Want, Disease, Squalor, Idleness & Ignorance and the whirl of politicians, ineffective policies and missed opportunities across the decades until now. Based on texts and speeches by Beveridge and politicians, the film is a moving account of Beveridge’s vision, the desperate need for it today and a passionate call for action.
Thursday 8th October, 7pm – Tyneside Irish Centre. Following the screening, producer and editor of the film Olivier Stockman will discuss the making of The Man with The Plan, from its development and production to its message as a call to action. Members of Keep Our NHS Public North East will describe the campaign work of the local KONPNE group, plus information stall.
Friday 9th October, 7.30pm – Redhills Miners Hall, Durham
Click here for details about the film, and then click the venue link to book tickets: https://sandsfilms.eventive.org/films/the-man-with-the-plan-6984ee5b0a5c263491bcdb6b
Click here for a review in the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/sep/01/beveridge-revisited-simon-callow-film-celebrates-the-radical-co-founder-of-britains-welfare-state
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Saturday 24th October 2026 – Unity March and Rally – Stand Together Against the Far Right
Organised by Newcastle Unites – assemble 11am at Newcastle Civic Centre – bring friends, family, neighbours, banners and placards!
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Saturday 31st October – NHS at a Crossroads conference
A national conference hosted by Keep Our NHS Public. The public’s health is crucial to a well-functioning society, but our health service has been neglected to the point of deterioration. Either we continue along this road to ruin, or introduce the changes desperately needed to address this crisis. Keep Our NHS Public is calling our one-day conference to push for a new direction for the NHS.
Speakers confirmed so far: Keep Our NHS Public, Green Party (speaker TBA), Dr Andrew Meyerson (NHS Doctor), Jason Hussein (We Own It), Rathi Guhadasan (Socialist Health Association), George Binette (Hackney Coalition Against Palantir) and Stop the War Coalition
The Conference format is HYBRID – it will be held in person in London and with online presence also.
Click here for more details and to book tickets: https://keepournhspublic.com/event/nhs-at-a-crossroads/
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***URGENT*** Please write to your MP and sign these two petitions – Palantir Out of OUR NHS
URGENT: Please email your MP – there is an opportunity to activate a break clause in the contract between the NHS and Palantir
All the information you need is on the link here to a briefing from national KONP: https://keepournhspublic.com/palantir-out-briefing/
Sign these two petitions:
From Foxglove: https://www.foxglove.org.uk/campaigns/yvette-cooper-trigger-the-palantir-break-clause/
From 38 Degrees: https://act.38degrees.org.uk/act/to-the-new-health-secretary-get-palantir-out-of-our-nhs
More information:
CLICK HERE for the No To Palantir in the NHS toolkit: https://www.medact.org/2024/resources/toolkits/no-palantir-in-the-nhs-campaign-toolkit/
From Foxglove: https://www.foxglove.org.uk/campaigns/yvette-cooper-trigger-the-palantir-break-clause/CLICK HERE for the No To Palan===============
Disastrous PFI plans
It is both astounding and very worrying that the Labour Government are even thinking about reintroducing PFIs to healthcare, given the fact that many NHS Trusts are still paying off their borrowing from 30 years ago. At a recent meeting in Parliament, Richard Burgon MP (Leeds East) clarified that, with regards to the PFI of the past, the NHS received £13billion of assets in return for £80billion of PFI debt… Private finance is, and will always be, a rip off.
It is positive to note that 8 MPs from the North East (48 MPs in total) share our very significant concerns by signing the Parliamentary EDM 2317, in which they “note with grave concern proposals to reintroduce the use of private capital for building NHS Neighbourhood Health Centres“. Good for them. It is crucial that our MPs stand up and be counted.
To follow up on this, in February 2026, a KONPNE supporter / constituent reached out via email to his/her own MP (there are 19 MPs in the North East – all have been contacted) to inform of our views, and to ask for their support in combatting the disastrous PFI plans.
CLICK HERE
and scroll down to 9th February 2026 for more information.
Two important briefings published – please forward these to your MP
Your MP email address can be found here: https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons
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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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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FOLLOW DECISION-MAKING IN THE NORTH EAST – 2026
KONPNE are keen for people to follow decision-making at local Council (“Health and Wellbeing” and the “Health Scrutiny”) meetings and ICB meetings – either by tracking minutes online or by attending (via Zoom) as an observer.
It is crucial that we are aware of discussions at these meetings so that we are able to keep up-to-date with Council and ICB decision-making.
Please click our page here if you are interested in finding out more….
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National News
CLICK HERE
for the national KONP website – providing information and news from all over the country
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More about KONPNE
Our actions will continue apace until there is a return to a comprehensive, publicly funded and publicly provided NHS. Information about how to join in is provided in the posts below.
CLICK HERE
for a review of KONPNE action throughout 2025
and click 2022 – 2024 for an overview of activity over the three previous years
Click News for information about current issues
IT IS OUR NHS – and we need YOUR support throughout 2026 to further increase our level of activity.
We can do more with YOUR involvement! Please see post above for details about the next Campaign meeting (always the first Thursday of the month at 7pm via Zoom) and 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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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 Campaign News Archive
♦ KONPNE Blog – an opportunity to air your views and experiences – all contributions are welcome!!
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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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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 