Many, many thanks

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 2025 – its been a busy one. Privatisation and NHS funding cuts have intensified. Although difficult to measure or quantify, our voices are being heard and, collectively, our actions make a difference.  We are grateful to one and all. It has been, very much, a team effort.
We anticipate another very active time throughout 2026 and we welcome all to join in with the Campaign – our actions will continue apace until there is a return to a comprehensive, publicly funded and publicly provided NHS.  Links to how to join in are provided at the bottom of this page.

When we take a look at 2025, our Campaign comprised five main elements:

1) Petition campaigns and email formatted letters:

A focus has been on the Governments “Ten Year Plan”, and especially on the increased use of private companies in elective care and the use of Private – Public Partnerships (aka PFI 2.0) to build proposed Neighbourhood Health Centres – a nightmare scenario  of history repeating itself.  We have supported petition and email campaigns devised by national KONP and We Own It, sent to MPs, members of the Government, and the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board.

2) Meetings and liaison with local decision-makers:

All MPs, councillors and Healthwatch CEOs in 3 local Council areas were emailed regarding ongoing cuts and increasing privatisation in January 2025, and this was followed up by a hard copy information pack to each person six weeks later.
Face-to-face meetings took place with CEOs from 3 local Healthwatch
Face-to-face meetings took place with 4 local MPs, plus ongoing email contact with all local MPs 
Attended (either online or in person) and asked a question at 5 Integrated Care Board meetings
Attended Healthwatch public meetings
Presentation to a Council Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Presented a Motion to local Constituency Labour Party

3) Participation in organised events:

Provided speakers to organisation meetings – Unite Community, Stop the War and two Peoples Assembly public meetings. 
Supported North East marches and rallies – May Day, Asylum Support, Anti Far Right rally, plus the Anti-Austerity march (London)
Supported the BMA Resident Doctors picket lines at the RVI
Hosted an information stall at Durham Miners Gala

4) Planned targeted campaigns:

Closure of Ward 23 at QEH, Gateshead by Gateshead Health NHS Trust:
Liaison with Board at Gateshead Health Trust, 4 Gateshead MPs, Chairs of the Health and Wellbeing and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Integrated Care Board   //   Presentation to Gateshead Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee   //   Attended Gateshead Trust Board meeting   //   Conversations with QEH staff, relatives and patients   //   Rally outside QEH   //   Leafletting in Gateshead town centre   //   Leaflets printed   //  social media posts and website reporting   //   associated news items in Chronicle.    Click here to read more.
Privatisation of Sexual Health Service, Newcastle, by Newcastle City Council:
4 Freedom Of Information requests to Newcastle City Council   //   communication with national Information Commissioner re lack of information from NCC   //   face-to-face meeting with MP   //  follow-up by MP   //   ongoing research   //   associated news items in Chronicle.    Click here to read more.
Three Days of Action:
January, at Newcastle University Medical School, in association with UCU, re Winter Bed Crisis   //    February, at Grey’s Monument, Newcastle City Centre, re Winter Bed Crisis   //   July, at Grey’s Monument, Newcastle City Centre, re NHS @ 77 birthday

5) Communication:

12 KONPNE online campaign meetings via Zoom (always the first Thursday of the month at 7pm, all welcome)
Monthly updates via Email mailchimp
Regular posts and updates on KONPNE website, facebook, x, activist Whatsapp group. We are in the process of running down our use of x and considering an alternative.
We are fortunate to have ongoing close liaison and joint campaign events with Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign, North East Peoples Assembly and Unite Community (Northumberland, Tyne and Wear branch).   We also look forward to future collaboration with NE Socialist Health Association.
Attended a number of national KONP Steering Group meetings, national KONP supporters meetings, and We Own It weekly meetings (all online)
Consolidated links with local media
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CLICK HERE

to read about these actions in more detail
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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!

CLICK HERE

to read info about our next Campaign meeting and actions
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CONTACT US HERE:

konpnortheast@gmail.com
We look forward to hearing from you!
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No cuts or cash-driven closures

Fair pay for all NHS staff

A fully-funded, universal, publicly owned and publicly provided National Health Service