Many, many thanks to all who have been involved in the campaign in 2025 – by signing petitions, writing emails, linking with MPs or councillors, donating money, attending rallies,  contributing to meetings, or joining in on our actions…. We are grateful to one and all.  

When we take a look at 2025, our Campaign comprised five main types of intervention:

1) Petition campaigns and email formatted letters:

A focus has been on the Governments “Ten Year Plan”, the increased use of private companies in elective care, and the use of PFIs to build the planned Neighbourhood Health Centres.  We have supported petition and email campaigns devised by national KONP and We Own It, and these have been targeted primarily at MPs, members of the Gocernment, 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 in January, and this email was followed up by an 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
Presentation to a Council Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Attended (either online or in person) and asked a question at 5 Integrated Care Board meetings
Presented a Motion to local CLP

3) Participation in organised events:

Provided speakers to a range of meetings – Unite Community, Stop the War and two Peoples Assembly public meetings
Supported marches and rallies – May Day, Asylum Support, Anti-austerity march (London), Anti Far Right rally, and stall at Durham Miners Gala
Supported the BMA Resident Doctors picket lines at the RVI

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
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   //   research   //   associated news items in Chronicle
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 

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
Very regular posts and updates on KONPNE website, facebook, x, Whatsapp group
Attended some of the national KONP Steering Groups, national KONP supporters meetings, and We Own It weekly meetings (all online)

IT IS OUR NHS