KONPNE campaign news – photos, videos, updates, media articles – from January 2020 to NOW

(For KONPNE Campaign activity for the ten years 2010 to December 2019, click here   

and 

for a brief overview of 2022, 2023, 2024, click  here) 

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Friday 19th December 2025 – Review of the Year from national KONP

CLICK HERE

for an overview of a very busy 2025

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Wednesday 17th December 2025 – Alongside Resident Doctors at the RVI, Newcastle

For fair pay, jobs and for the future of our NHS….

Rather than demonise doctors and feign outrage over staff taking industrial action, this Government should reflect on its own role in the current disastrous state of the NHS – including the Governments responsibility for the thousands of people dying each year after being stuck in the corridors of A&E departments. 

Progress will only be made through investment in our NHS.  Desperately hoping that a solution lies in focusing on prevention, technology and a shift to community care does not alter this reality. 

KONPNE stands with NHS staff.

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Wednesday 10th December 2025 – “HOW TRUSTS ARE BEING MADE TO MAKE CUTS”

See todays article from John lister in The Lowdown -amongst others, this item reports on our huge concerns re the closure of Ward 23

CLICK HERE

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Wednesday 10th December 2025 – Damning CQC report re privatised Sexual Health Services in Newcastle

CQC report published today

CLICK HERE

to see the article in todays Chronicle 

Before privatisation and under the NHS, the Sexual Health Service was once a flagship resource.
Very saddening.
KONPNE have been following up Newcastle City Council re FOIs about this  and only three weeks ago wrote to the Information Commissioner as we were dissatisfied with the lack of transparency shown by the Council.
We need to know how much money has been wasted through this privatisation exercise undertaken by the Council, what the impact has been on clients, and how many expert staff have  moved on or been lost to the NHS through this privatisation two years ago.  We will be taking this further.

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Thursday 4th December 2025 – KONPNE meets – meeting notes available for all to read

The monthly Campaign meeting this evening – including an overview of the past year and planning for future action.

CLICK HERE

for the notes of the meeting – these are open and we invite all to read  

Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 8th January 2026 at 7pm via Zoom – All welcome – please click here for details. 

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Thursday 27th November 2025 – Meeting with North East Socialist Health Association

Good to meet up members of NE Socialist Health Association this evening at the Irish Centre to begin to consider a joint Campaigning event, possibly also in collaboration with Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign and Unite Community.

We discussed ideas around a public meeting – perhaps in the spring of 2026 – maybe a focus on the Ten Year Plan, outsourcing and / or Public Private Partnerships??

Watch this space!!

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Monday 24th November 2025 – Formal question to the Integrated Care Board 

NENC ICB meets every two months and is responsible for the commissioning of services in the North East and North Cumbria. We put this formal question to the Board meeting tomorrow, in the wake of the appalling decision of Gateshead Health NHS Trust to shut down a ward earlier this year (scroll down to September to find out more about this ward closure, or click here for the webpage). We will report on the response from the Board.

Dear ICB,

Question from Keep Our NHS Public North East for ICB meeting Tuesday 25th November 2025.

The National Strategic Commissioning Framework, which is designed to support all ICBs, states:

• ICBs will develop a clear, evidenced-based methodology for determining priorities and the commissioning and decommissioning of services to meet these priorities. 

• ICBs will be transparent in making decisions and sharing the evidence on which they are based. They will use high quality data, analysis and dialogue and a sound understanding of what or who is driving cost in a system and of any variations in productivity between providers. 

Keep Our NHS Public North East ask if North East and North Cumbria ICB will ensure that these same principles are applied to the closure of wards and services across providers?

Gateshead Health NHS Trust recently made the decision to close Ward 23 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital without public consultation and without discussion with Gateshead Care, Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

How will North East and North Cumbria ICB ensure transparency in ‘decommissioning’ decisions so that patients, staff and the general public in the North East understand which services will stop and what the consequences of the cuts will be?

Copies of this email have been forwarded to Councillor Lynne Castrey (Chair, Gateshead Health and Wellbeing Board), Councillor Stuart Green (Chair, Gateshead Care, Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee) and Jennifer Boyle (Company Secretary, Gateshead Health NHS Trust).

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Sunday 23rd November 2025 – David Smith MP (North Northumberland)

Dear David

The Guardian article is here: 

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/nov/21/labour-mps-urge-reeves-to-drop-private-finance-plans-for-nhs-buildings-pfi

Information from We Own It is here:

https://weownit.org.uk/news/tell-wes-streeting-no-new-pfi/

We also spoke about the notion of “spare capacity” in the private healthcare system. As discussed, the Government has recently provided a press release stating that independent providers have provided 6 million appointments, tests and operations to NHS patients this year, which will “help to cut waiting times and free up NHS capacity”.  However, there is more to this than meets the eye. There are a finite number of doctors and nurses in the UK – there is no spare capacity – and we know that if clinicians increase their work in the private sector, then there will be a corresponding decreased availability for work in the NHS.  As we discussed, this erosion of the NHS is backed up by recent research (2025) from Graham Kirkwood and Prof Allyson Pollock, Newcastle University,  who found that as private provision expanded, NHS capacity fell sharply and waiting times increased.  We believe that the money currently being invested in the private sector should, instead, be redirected to consolidate and expand NHS provision. NHS staff have the skills.  Additionally, there is no mention of this private sector involvement as being a short-term emergency development – indeed, the Ten Year Plan suggests the opposite, proposing the further embedding of the private sector in a number of different ways – on Trust Boards and in education.  

The Kirkwood and Pollock article (Newcastle University, 2025) is here: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/press/articles/latest/2025/04/privateprovisionlongerwaitfornhshipsknees/

We thank you for your attention

Friday 21st November 2025 – 40 MPs challenge Chancellor regarding PFI 2.0 

Further to our recent meetings with North East MPs (most recently with David Smith MP, North Northumberland – see post, scroll two down) and robust campaigning across England from We Own It and national KONP,  the national media today highlight a step in the right direction – 40 Labour MPs have written to Rachel Reeves to demand that she drops plans for another PFI in our NHS.

CLICK HERE

for the Guardian article

CLICK HERE

for the BBC report

The final decision is on Wednesday 26th November – 

CLICK HERE

to email your MP now

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Thursday 20th November 2025 – NOT TO BLAME

We celebrate the great contribution migrants make to our society and the NHS in particular. It is simply not true that migration harms our NHS and social care. WE NEED TO FIGHT THE RACIST SCAPEGOATING OF MIGRANTS.  Powerful statements this evening from a broad panel of speakers at an open meeting hosted by KONP national office.

Members of KONPNE joined via Zoom; we hope that a recording will be available for all to watch. In the interim, please click here to read the leaflet produced by KONP – and order some to distribute….

“Yes – the NHS and social care are in crisis. And it is Government policy that is responsible, not migrants”

“The NHS is not over-run my migrants – it is run by migrants”

“We are not your enemies – we are your work colleagues, your neighbours and your friends”

“When you walk into a hospital, you’re far more likely to be treated by a migrant person than see one in the waiting room” 

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Thursday 20th November 2025 – David Smith MP (North Northumberland)   

Members of KONPNE were pleased to meet up with David Smith MP once again, to continue our conversation of May 2025. We brought two issues to the table.

KONPNE members are increasingly concerned about what can only be described as PFI 2.0. Given the disastrous consequences of the Private Finance Initiative of the 1990s – NHS Trusts in England will have paid back on average almost eight times the initial PFI capital put into their Trusts – it is not unreasonable to have huge concerns about the proposal in the Ten Year Plan that a business case is made for “Public – Private Partnerships” (PPP) to fund Neighbourhood Health Centres. History repeating itself? Has this Government really learned the lessons of the past?  David agreed with us that the past PFI deal was (and still is) a disaster but, for the time being, remains uncertain regarding the current notion of a PPP until the exact details of such are known –  apparently, until the details are made public by the Government, all is speculation, the essence of a “PPP” is unknown.  Given that David is a Labour MP under the current Labour Government, we made the assumption that he would be in a position to cast some light on this issue but this was not to be. It appears that this Government works in secretive ways, even in relation to its own MPs – worrying?  We understand that the Chancellor may be providing details regarding PPPs as part of the Budget statement next week, so we (together with David and Labour MPs) shall see…

We move on to our second issue – the nebulous idea that there is some sort of “spare capacity” in the private health system, all ready and waiting to mop up the elective care waiting lists. Last week, the Government announced in a press release that independent providers had carried out 6 million appointments, tests and operations for NHS patients this year, and that this will “help to cut waiting times and free up NHS capacity”. All well and good? Is it?   People who work in the NHS all know that if clinicians increase their work in the private sector, then there will be a corresponding decreased availability for work in the NHS.  There are a finite number of doctors and nurses in the UK – there is NO spare capacity. This is backed up by recent (2025) research from Graham Kirkwood and Prof Allyson Pollock (Newcastle University) who found that as private provision expanded, NHS capacity fell sharply and waiting times increased. We put this to David, who agreed that staff movement across NHS and private health is an issue to consider further – we agreed to forward a link to the Newcastle University research. David stated his belief that, whilst generally against the growth of privatisation in the NHS, he supports the use of the private sector in the short term as a way of reducing the current huge waiting lists – citing his belief that no-one should be in pain.  Absolutely, of course – but one minute. Why couldn’t this money flooding down to the private sector be redirected to bolster and develop NHS provision?  NHS staff have the skills.   And who says that the use of the private sector will be a short term measure?   We see the Governments Ten Year Plan as embedding the private sector more and more, in a number of different ways…

The demands of time brought our conversation to an end.  We hope that David has some food for thought, and we followed up our meeting with this email.  David has welcomed our further contact which, of course, we will be proactive in arranging next year. 

PFI deals still haunt the NHS: https://weownit.org.uk/news/tell-wes-streeting-no-new-pfi/

Graham Kirkwood and Allyson Pollock article (Newcastle University):   https://www.ncl.ac.uk/press/articles/latest/2025/04/privateprovisionlongerwaitfornhshipsknees/

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Friday 14th November 2025 – Solidarity: We stand with resident doctors fighting for pay restoration and job prospects

Chilly day, warm reception and a good turn out supporting Resident Doctors on the picket line outside the RVI, Newcastle upon Tyne.  it is not rocket science. We need to invest in the NHS as an organisation (which includes investing in all NHS staff) and we’ll have a well functioning NHS that serves the population well. 

The dispute with Resident Doctors will only end after meaningful discussions between Wes Streeting and RD  representatives. Fixing pay, addressing morale by improving working conditions and filling staff vacancies require necessary investment and are essential for a more resilient and healthier future service. KONP stands in solidarity with striking RD and all NHS staff and urges Streeting to enter into negotiations with RD in good faith – an important step in rebuilding the NHS.

CLICK HERE

for the full statement from KONP  

RVI, Newcastle upon Tyne, 14th November 2025

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Friday 14th November 2025 – Joe Morris MP (Hexham)  

Dear Joe

We thank you for your attention and look forward to hearing from you

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Thursday 13th November 2025 – Two important briefings published 

Both are in the public domain – please circulate widely to all

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Thursday 6th November 2025 – KONPNE meets

Monthly Campaign meeting (always the first Thursday of the month at 7pm via Zoom).

CLICK HERE

for the notes from the meeting – open to all to read

Our next meeting is on Thursday 4th December 2025 – always the first Thursday at 7pm.

Please click here for further details  -ALL WELCOME

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Thursday 2nd October 2025 – Very active Campaign meeting  

Much discussed and planned tonight – focussed on the closure of Ward 23 QEH in Gateshead and concerns regarding the privatised Sexual Health service in Newcastle….and also discussed our ongoing contact with MPs in the North East and other campaign work.

CLICK HERE

to read the notes of the meeting – open for all to read.

Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 6th November 2025 at 7pm via Zoom – always the first Thursday of the month at 7.  Please join us – info is on our website here

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Wednesday 1st October 2025 – Campaigning in Gateshead

The sudden shut down was known to some and news to others – but the same response from all. Gateshead residents shopping at Tesco Extra in Trinity Square in Gateshead all voiced feelings of unhappiness and despondency regarding the decision of Gateshead Health NHS Trust to decommission Ward 23 at QEH….and anger at the lack of public consultation. Many knew of family or friends who had received treatment on the ward.

Leafletting also at Gateshead Bus / Metro Interchange and at Gateshead Civic Centre.

CLICK HERE

for our webpage on the closure of Ward 23 QEH

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Saturday 27th September 2025 – Love Newcastle, Hate Racism

Good to meet up with many KONPNE supporters at the Anti Racism Rally / counter protest in Newcastle this afternoon.  Apparently, Tommy Robinson, prominent far right wing racist was in town for a conference / protest march – but they very soon found that they, the far right,  were not welcome in the North East.  In short, the far right were massively, totally outnumbered. The counter-protest from the people of the North East was IMMENSE. We made it clear that there is no place for racists on the streets of Newcastle.

When immigration is considered in the cold light of day, the reality is that the UK would be unable to function as a society if it weren’t for people from other countries. Every aspect of public life would be significantly damaged were it not for those who have moved from abroad to live and work in the UK. Major cultural, educational, political and civic institutions would cease to function, especially the NHS and care system. We must dispel the myth that immigration harms society, and particularly the NHS. Austerity and cuts are to blame for the NHS crisis, not migrants. 

FACT CHECK: The NHS and social care would collapse without overseas workers. Around 35% of doctors are from abroad and 27% of nurses and health advisors. See this data from The House of Commons Briefing paper, 20th November 2023 – click here

Huge thanks to Newcastle Unites, Stand Up To Racism North East and other groups and individuals for organising todays very successful  counter protest. You did a superb job. Respect from all at KONPNE. 

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Thursday 25th September 2025 – The protest gets support from Gateshead hospital staff and patients – but the Board…..?

Keen KONPNE campaigners saw an early morning (7.15am…..) start at Queen Elizabeth Hospital to catch up with the day / night staff changeovers, and then over to the Trust HQ to catch up with the Board, prior to their Board Meeting at 9.30am.

Lots of leaflets handed out at the hospital gates – to pedestrians and those in cars – and masses of support in return. After the Chronicle coverage about the appalling decision of the Board to shut down Ward 23, which provided a valuable service to those older people experiencing dementia and physical health problems, it seems that the whole of Gateshead are concerned about this loss.  Click here for more information about this.

Campaigners were pleased to speak with Dr Gill Findley, Deputy Chief Exec, Gateshead Health who, it has to be said, came outside Trust HQ before the Board Meeting to talk – but, clearly, no shift as yet in her views on our stance that the ward should not have been closed in the first place, and also our views that there needs to be a proper PUBLIC consultation on the closure of a ward!!  The closure of Ward 23 is a massive change in service provision from, primarily, an in-patient unit to a community-based service – and, in our view, this requires a PUBLIC CONSULTATION.   And losing 24 beds?  Winter bed crisis in Gateshead looms…. 

CLICK HERE

for our webpage on the closure of Ward 23 QEH

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Tuesday 23rd September 2025 – KONPNE speaks at Gateshead Council Health Scrutiny Committee…and we are not alone…

Campaigners Pat F and John spoke at the Gateshead Council Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee this afternoon….and found that we are not the only people concerned about the closure of Ward 24 at QE Hospital Gateshead and the process of closure carried out by Gateshead Health NHS Trust….

Dr Gill Findley (Chief Nurse and Deputy Chief Exec, Gateshead Health NHS Trust) presented information to the Council Committee about current demands on the Trust and highlighted that “Gateshead Health has more beds than most other organisations of our size” and that “hospital care is not always the best thing for patients”. She concluded the presentation with a focus on the closure of Ward 23, confirming that the closure of Ward 23 wasn’t a decision taken in isolation, and that there would be additional community staff, virtual wards, and training in dementia care for in-patient teams. She stated “any patient who needs in-patient care will get in-patient care – I am very confident that this will happen”

In response to the presentation, Councillor Dot Burnett stated that there had been a lack of information from the Trust and, whilst she had some knowledge (in her capacity of Trust Governor) that a ward would be closed, she wasn’t informed which ward, and with no specific information about the process of closure. Likewise, Councillor Lynne Caffrey (Chair of Gateshead Council Health and Wellbeing Board) stated that there had been “a lack of consultation around issues, the people in Gateshead are very concerned”. Cllr Caffrey highlighted that the 20 “High Impact Schemes” referred to in Dr Findleys presentation had not been shared with the Gateshead Health and Wellbeing Board and how there is “a very poor level of communication between Gateshead Health Trust and Gateshead Health and Wellbeing Board at the current moment in time”.  Yvonne Probert (Gateshead Healthwatch) noted how the Health Trust had consulted with staff and partners – but wondered if the Trust had spoken to patients. 

Addressing the meeting, Campaigners provided key information about the KONPNE group, the type of work carried out over the last 15 years, and the current huge concern over the closure of Ward 23 – highlighting concern about future provision for the client group (older people with physical health problems / dementia), concern about the knock-on effect to other parts of the service and carers, and concern about the lack of public consultation (the Trust claims there to be no substantial variation in how services are accessed by the client group, so a public consultation was not required….however… there has been a move from an in-patient based service to one which is, primarily, community based…?!)

So – in short – much dissatisfaction expressed to the Health Trust. The Chair requested information about the impact of the closure of Ward 23, and this was agreed by Dr Findley, who spoke of “lessons learnt and the need for the Health Trust to be clearer about changes”. In terms of reopening the ward and the need for PUBLIC consultations in the future, as required by KONPNE – no shift.  We continue with the Campaign. 

Liaison / consultation / engagement / collaboration with the public???

CLICK HERE

for our webpage on the closure of Ward 23 QEH

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Sunday 21st September 2025 – HUGE thanks to all  

Before – team talk and stretches sorted! Now the hard work.

All done and dusted, all finished in one piece and twelve ankles untwisted. Amazingly, the sun was beaming for the North Tyneside 10K road race this morning.

Many thanks for all support – you smashed through the sponsorship target with total donations at £1,215  which, in itself, shows the huge depth of support for our NHS.  Half of the money raised goes to the KONPNE campaign funds, and half to the national KONP campaign. This is very much appreciated and we sincerely thank all supporters – this will help our campaigning over the next year. 

And, of course, HUGE THANKS also to the elite (?) team of six athletes (?) who seemed to just glide along that 10K route…. we catch up with them after the race….

Helen:    “We’re running to raise funds for Keep Our NHS Public. Nye Bevan said that the NHS will exist only as long as people fight for it – and fight for it we must”

Lucy:     “OUR NHS =  healthcare for all, from cradle to grave. We must not allow this AMAZING organisation to slip between our fingers. Once its gone, its gone. Keep our NHS public  now and for future generations”

Rob:     “I’m here today because it is NO WAY acceptable to see patients being treated in hospital corridors. We need to fight for more investment in the NHS”

Adam:    “The NHS is sick – and I don’t want to see it die”

Lucy:     “It’s easy to take for granted the sense of security we  get from knowing the NHS is there if we need it. I ran today to say THANKYOU”

John:     “I see the NHS moving towards a privatised system. The next step will be health insurance, a two-tier system,  and increased inequality in health. We all have an opportunity now to return our NHS to the world-class healthcare it was – accessible to all, publicly-provided and publicly-funded”

After…voltarol all round

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Friday 19th September 2025 – Cloaked in Secrecy

The Sexual Health service in Newcastle was privatised two years ago and we are aware that members of the public have been appalled by the steady erosion of provision since that time. 

More recently, members of KONPNE have become increasingly concerned about a recent comment from a Newcastle upon Tyne Council official about the need for improvements to the service – but, surprisingly, the Council  seem reluctant to share the details. Very reluctant. In fact, all is cloaked in secrecy. In their latest response received today, they say

“the information you have requested is exempt information and falls under Section 41 of the Freedom of Information Act – ‘Information provided in Confidence’.   A description of Section 41 is information which is held by a public authority, but which was provided by a third party will be exempt information if disclosure by the public authority to the public would constitute an actionable breach of confidence.”

CLICK HERE

for details of our recent contact with the Council about this matter

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Thursday 18th September 2025 – KONPNE meets with Joe Morris MP (Hexham)

The constituency of Hexham was always considered to be a safe seat for the Tory party having been under their control with safe majorities since 1924, until it was gained by Labour in 2024. Interesting to meet with Joe  Morris MP this afternoon – elected as Labour MP in this, the second-largest constituency by land area in England. Joe is also Parliamentary Private Secretary to Wes Streeting – which adds a further dimension to our meeting.

Angela and John (KONPNE) outlined the work of KONPNE and current concerns, and Joe spoke of some of his values. He spoke of being “immensely privileged” to be voted in as MP and how his focus is on “making improvements to healthcare in constituency work and in national policy making”. When asked about his views on the Ten Year Plan, he spoke of it being “a step in the right direction” and how we now need to look to the future and “move on”….

We asked specifically about the elusive “spare capacity” in the private health system which is, apparently, ready and waiting to reduce the waiting lists in NHS elective care (ie planned medical treatments, not emergencies). Joe spoke about his concerns regarding long waiting lists for treatment and stated his commitment to using “whatever gets a person into a better place – there is a case for using the private sector”. We put forward the notion that there is NO spare capacity in the private system, and that this Labour initiative will contribute to the decline of the NHS by diminishing the range of services and through further eroding the NHS workforce. Joe stated that he is committed to the NHS and that “we need to ensure that people maintain faith in the NHS”…..? This response doesn’t seem to stack up – Labour are pushing resources and investing in the private sector and, in doing so, running down the NHS – we can’t see any “faith in the NHS” there… This capital finance provided to the private sector should be invested in NHS services.   ACTION: Given that the notion of taking up “spare capacity” in the private sector is central to the Governments plans, Joe agreed  to provide information about research data and the modelling carried out on this issue.

We move on to discussion about the dreaded Public – Private Partnerships, as a way of financing new Neighbourhood Health Centres. We, of course, fully agree with Joe on the importance of health promotion initiatives and ensuring access to services closer to home – but PPPs?? Using private finance to build the centres and then (obviously) extracting taxpayers’ money as shareholder profit once they are up and running?  Sounds like PFI 2.0 to us – a concept rejected by Joe. He spoke of “lessons learnt” from the past…we asked for the difference between the new PPP contracts  and the disastrous contracts of PFI, many of which are STILL being paid off…   ACTION: Joe agreed to take a look at this issue with a view to providing information about the differences in contracts – but no guarantees on this feedback, given staff shortages and a huge constituency backlog of work…

We appreciate the opportunity to present the HUGE concerns of our group to Joe about increased NHS privatisation, and positive that Joe offered to meet up again. We focused on NHS privatisation at this meeting, but there is lots more re NHS that we need to talk about.

In parting, we asked Joe to relay two personal messages to Wes Streeting…. 

For Streeting to STOP describing the NHS as being “broken” – this is inaccurate and is wholly disrespectful to the thousands of staff working tirelessly to provide a service to people in need. 

For Streeting to, at least, consider the view that the NHS needs investment, and not so-called “reform”. The founding principles of the NHS – healthcare for all, publicly funded and PUBLICLY PROVIDED – have proved to be effective and are as relevant today as ever. 

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Thursday 18th September 2025 – Excellent briefing paper published by national KONP 

Briefing paper published today “Privatisation of the NHS – What it looks like and the impact it has”.

Highly recommended – please circulate. The link to the paper is here:

Click to access KONP-Briefing-NHS-Privatisation-18-Sept-2025-Web-Email.pdf

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Tuesday 16th September 2025 – Update on closure of Wd 23, QEH, Gateshead  

This is devastating news. Not only are we concerned about 1) future provision for the health and wellbeing of the client group – people with physical health problems and dementia – but we are also concerned about 2) the knock-on effect to other parts of the service and carers and 3) the decision-making process carried out by Gateshead Health NHS Trust. 

CLICK HERE

to read our communications with the Trust, councillors and MPs, plus Campaign plans

CLICK HERE

for our webpage on the closure of Ward 23 QEH

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Friday 12th September 2025 – KONPNE meeting with Chi Onwurah MP (Newcastle Central and West)

We started the meeting this morning by thanking Chi Onwurah MP for her previous support of KONPNE –  and reminding her of the Labour Party manifesto quote that once in power they would bring about the biggest insourcing of services in the NHS in a generation…. 

Discussions between Maggie and Helen (KONPNE campaigners) and Chi focused on our huge concerns about

-the financing of the proposed Neighbourhood Health Centres through Public Private Partnerships. We are concerned that this is no more than PFI 2.0. Chi said that she could understand that Wes Streeting might want to get ‘buildings built’ and want to use private capital to do that, but felt it would be inappropriate for private companies to be running and employing the neighbourhood health centres.     ACTION: Chi agreed to ask a Parliamentary Question about the use of PPPs to build and operate Neighbourhood Health Centres

-the privatisation of cataract operations. We are concerned that the private sector is creaming off lucrative contracts with profits going to shareholders instead of NHS care and that increasing private sector involvement will undermine NHS services and staffing.  We need clear information on the scale of this problem.  ACTION: Chi agreed that her office would write a PQ to ascertain number of cataract operations being completed in the private v NHS sector

-the privatisation of the Sexual Health Service in Newcastle two years ago and recent concerns about the quality of service provided by the contract holders ACTION: Chi requested sight of our FOIs, and would consider writing to Director of Newcastle / Gateshead Public Health to ascertain the situation

-the safety and confidentiality of patient data. Chi expressed her concerns and spoke of the challenges around big contractual agreements  being held by one provider

All in all, a helpful discussion with action points to be picked up by Chi and her office.  We will also follow up, as necessary. 

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Monday 8th September 2025 – 88% of fundraiser raised….. 

Many, many thanks to all who have donated so far. We realise that times are hard, and we are truly grateful for all donations, large and small.  The running (pun intended) total this morning is £875, with £125 to go before we hit the target of £1000. Half of the money raised will go to KONPNE Campaign funds, and half to the national KONP,  who provide the support to local KONP campaign groups.

Our elite (?) team of six runners are on the starting blocks (almost) for the North Tyneside 10K on Sunday 21st September 2025. Please go to our fundraiser page for more information about the event and how to donate.  With many thanks. 

Click here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/2f3qq-keep-our-nhs-public-north-east

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Thursday 4th September 2025 – KONPNE campaign meeting

A busy meeting tonight – plans to protest the CLOSURE of Ward 23 at QE, Gateshead and Freedom of Information requests regarding the privatisation of Sexual Health services in Newcastle, and much more.

CLICK HERE

for the notes from the meeting – open for all to read

Our next campaign meeting is at 7pm on Thursday 2nd October via Zoom – click here for details – we welcome all to join in

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Monday 1st September 2025 – A reply from Gateshead Health NHS Trust re ward closure

We remain very concerned about the closure of the highly-regarded Ward 23 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead – for information, scroll down to the posts on 6th and 17th August 2025.

A Freedom of Information request was made by KONPNE members and, today, we received responses to our three questions from the Trust. 

CLICK HERE

to read the responses from Gateshead Health Trust.

Apparently, there was no public consultation process, as the Trust believes there to be “no substantial variation in how services are accessed by patients”.   Really?  The ward is closing down, the treatment is apparently being picked up by Community staff and, if in-patient treatment is required, then the patient will go to a generic in-patient ward – not one that specialises in dementia / physical health presentations. A HUGE change.  The actions of the Trust are not acceptable.  All to be discussed at the KONPNE campaign meeting on 4th September – click here for details. Watch this space.

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Friday 29th August 2025 – Support from Unite Community

Thanks to Unite Community (Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Branch) for the warm welcome and much support at todays Branch meeting in Newcastle. A member of both KONPNE and Unite Community presented information about both the NHS Ten Year Plan and the closure of Ward 23 QE Hospital in Gateshead, with Unite Community members agreeing to active follow up on both of these important issues. Thanks also for the donation from Unite Community to the KONPNE campaign fund – much appreciated.  This joint working and joint support model is the way forward.

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Tuesday 26th August 2025 – Please donate to the KONPNE fundraiser

Six KONPNE supporters are in training to complete the North Tyneside 10K Road Race on Sunday 21st September 2025. Please consider giving a one-off online donation to this fundraiser. Half of the money raised will go to the “Keep Our NHS Public North East” campaign, and half to the national “Keep Our NHS Public” organisation which provides support to local groups.  

Please see our video here: https://youtu.be/7zlT5x55GZY

….donate on our gofundme page here:            https://www.gofundme.com/f/2f3qq-keep-our-nhs-public-north-east

….please share!!! (this is also on facebook, x and gofundme)

….and maybe see you on September 21st!!! The run starts in North Shields at 10am > Fish Quay > Mouth of the Tyne > Tynemouth Priory and Castle > Seafront > Spanish City > finish line is at St.Marys Lighthouse, Whitley Bay… 11am – 11.30am??

Many thanks for your help – we need to KEEP OUR NHS PUBLIC

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Tuesday 20th August 2025 – response from Integrated Care Board re community mental health services

North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board is the body responsible for the commissioning of all healthcare in the region. The Board meets every two months, and members of the public are able to observe (either online or in person) and submit formal questions to Board members. 

Papers for the Board meeting of 29th July 2025 included an update on the development of the North East and North Cumbria (NENC) assertive and intensive community mental health action plans, so it felt appropriate that we question the Board about mental health.

The model of Assertive Outreach is under review nationally, low cost changes have been made in the NE, and more extensive service change is on hold pending financial help from the Government. Our question focuses on whether the additional cash from the Government will actually materialise, and whether there will be any knock-on negative change to the service (eg: cuts or staff reductions to other parts of the service) to accommodate the outcome of the Assertive Outreach review.

CLICK HERE

to read our questions in detail, and to read the response from the Board received today

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Sunday 17th August 2025 –  Freedom of Information request to Gateshead Health NHS Trust + emails to Gateshead MPs and Council Chair

Devastating news that Ward 23 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead will close as “part of cost cutting measures” – to read more about this, scroll down to our post below on 6th August 2025.

We understand that staff at the hospital and relatives are outraged. More information is needed about this, the consultation process and the plan of action.

CLICK HERE

to read the email to Kate Osborne MP  (Jarrow and Gateshead East). Emails have also been sent to Mark Ferguson MP (Gateshead Central and Whickham) and Liz Twist MP (Blaydon and Consett) from constituents / supporters of KONPNE (Friday 15th August 2025). Email to Sharon Hodgson MP (Washington and Gateshead South) sent Sunday 31st August 2025.

CLICK HERE

to read the Freedom of Information request to Gateshead Health NHS Trust (Saturday 16th August 2025)

and

CLICK HERE

to read the email to Cllr Lynne Castrey, Gateshead Council (Sunday 17th August 2025)

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Friday 15th August 2025 – Freedom of Information request to Newcastle upon Tyne City Council

Members of KONPNE remain extremely concerned about the recent comment from a Council official about the need for improvements to Sexual Health services in the city –  to read more about this, scroll down to our post on Friday 11th July. 

Sadly, we are not surprised. 

This service is currently provided by a private business – two years ago,  Newcastle City Council made the appalling decision to privatise the service  after 70 years of it being run by the NHS.

CLICK HERE

to read the Freedom of Information request, emailed to Newcastle City Council today

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Thursday 14th August 2025 – Congratulations, well done and a sincere THANK YOU to NHS staff in the NE 

The Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust scored highest in England on a national survey of patients’ experiences with cancer care. The annual National Cancer Patient Experience Survey asks those to have had care for any form of the illness in 2024 to rate a range of aspects of their care – including their overall satisfaction – on a scale of 0 to 10. In total, the Northumbria Healthcare trust scored 9.36 on average from 466 responses.

The England average was 8.94 – meaning that all five of the North East’s NHS hospital trusts did better than their peers nationally. Elsewhere in the region, the County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust received an average score of 9.04 (from 532 responses), Gateshead Healthcare NHS Trust got 9.24 (from 413), South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust got 9.05 (from 866) and the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust 8.99 (from 1,204).

CLICK HERE

for the Chronicle article (14th August 2025)

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Thursday 7th August 2025 – KONPNE meets

Our monthly campaign meeting this evening – with much on the agenda…feedback from the day of action and Durham Miners Gala, formal questions to the Integrated Care Board, BMA strike and RCN ballot, Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign, QE ward closure, privatised sexual health services, Ten Year Plan, KONP elections, We Own It petitions, meetings with MPs, and more….

CLICK HERE

to read the notes from the meeting – open to all to read

Our next Campaign meeting is on Thursday 4th September at 7pm via Zoom – all are welcome. Click here for more info.

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Wednesday 6th August 2025 – Closure of Dementia / Physical Health ward at QE, Gateshead

Devastating news today that Ward 23 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital will close as “part of cost cutting measures”.

In a report to the Board, trust management said: “Following a formal consultation process, we are proceeding with the proposal to close Ward 23, one of our older persons’ wards. Whilst this does reflect the need to meet our Cost Reduction Programme (CRP) it is important to note that it forms part of a broader move towards supporting patients in the community”

Ward 23 was set up as an innovative 24-bed approach to caring for elderly people who experience both physical and mental health issues. We understand that staff at the hospital and relatives are outraged at this sudden announcement – as are members of KONPNE. We will be following up on this development and we need to see a clear plan.

Apparently, the plan is to strengthen community-based care – but surely the whole point is that this client group requires integrated (mental health and physical health) and intensive 24 hr support. There will undoubtedly be  knock-on effect on other inpatient wards at QE and, additionally, we all know that existing community-based health interventions are at breaking point, and this will move will place increased pressures on existing community services and hard-working community staff.

This move is appalling.

CLICK HERE

for the report in todays Chronicle

and

CLICK HERE

for the earlier Chronicle report (9th June 2025)

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Tuesday 29th July 2025 – KONPNE puts question to the July Integrated Care Board

North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board is the body responsible for the commissioning of all healthcare in the region. The Board meets every two months, and members of the public are able to observe (either online or in person) and submit formal questions to Board members. 

Recently released papers for the Board meeting included an update on the development of the North East and North Cumbria (NENC) assertive and intensive community mental health action plans, so it felt appropriate that we question the Board about mental health at todays meeting.

The model of Assertive Outreach is under review nationally, low cost changes have been made in the NE, and more extensive service change is on hold pending financial help from the Government. Our question focuses on whether the additional cash from the Government will actually materialise, and whether there will be any knock-on negative change to the service (eg: cuts or staff reductions to other parts of the service) to accommodate the outcome of the Assertive Outreach review.

Thanks, Helen, for sorting this.

Our question, submitted in writing:

Supporters of “Keep Our NHS Public North East” recognise the work of the NENC ICB and NHS Trust providers of mental health services in producing the paper at item 16 (Integrated Care Board meeting, 29th July 2025) on Assertive and Intensive Community Mental Health.

This paper states that;

“ There has been national acknowledgment that the major transformation of services cannot be achieved without additional funding allocation and the system awaits further detail on this.”

Given the current situation in which mental health trusts are required to make very significant cost reductions during 2025/26 (7% across the whole system), and within the context of year on year cuts, please advise:

1) Have all of the four NHS Trusts been required to cost out their draft action plans?

2) Given current financial constraints, does NENC ICB expect that further funds will be made available from the Government for major service transformation, and will this additional funding recur annually?

3) How and when will NENC ICB make public any differences between the estimated costs from the Trusts and the actual additional funding received from the Government?

4) What impact will any major transformation of services within Assertive and Intensive Community Mental Health have upon the same or other areas of service delivery within the mental health trust? Please provide links to or copies of the impact and risk assessments.  We fully understand the principle that it is crucial to continually look to ways to improve services to meet the needs of clients – but we are also interested and concerned about any potential reduction in clinical services or staffing that may be brought about by the requirement to make these identified changes within Assertive and Intensive Mental Health.

I thank you for your attention

Our question was verbally repeated in full at the Board meeting today, and a response from Levi Buckley, Chief Delivery Officer, NENC ICB was made in detail and can be viewed online at the link below. We will make public the written response, when we receive it. The verbal response today included Q1) all action plans have been costed  Q2) As yet, no confirmation of additional funding from the Government. ICB will monitor  Q3) Given no details re additional funding, unable to clarify – will update at ICB meeting in February 2026  Q4) Current focus has been on low and no cost changes. Major transformation to services brings challenges, and the ICB works with provider Trusts to mitigate risks. Connections are made with all parts of the wider mental health service to ensure best outcomes possible.

The Board meeting was streamed live and  can be viewed online here: https://northeastnorthcumbria.nhs.uk/about-us/corporate-information/governance/meetings-and-agendas/integrated-care-board/

The papers for the meeting are also at the above link.

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Friday 25th July 2025 – We stand with resident doctors fighting for pay restoration

Strikes must be seen as an indication of systemic weaknesses in the NHS that demand attention. This dispute will only end after meaningful discussions between Wes Streeting and RD  representatives. Fixing pay, addressing morale by improving working conditions and filling staff vacancies require necessary investment and are essential for a more resilient and healthier future service. KONP stands in solidarity with striking RD and all NHS staff and urges Streeting to enter into negotiations with RD in good faith. The aim should be both to agree the promised road map to pay restoration and by doing so, take an important step in rebuilding the NHS.

CLICK HERE

for the full statement from KONP 

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Thursday 24th July 2025 – Written response received re our question to the June Integrated Care Board meeting

KONPNE put a question about service cuts to the Integrated Care Board meeting held on Tuesday 3rd June – the question was responded to briefly at the meeting, and the written response (below) was received today

Our question in short:

Keep Our NHS Public North East note that there are significant risks and that, additionally, relevant equality and quality impact assessments will take place on all efficiency plans.
We also noted the statement made at the last ICB meeting by the CEO Sam Allen about considering how some services that are currently provided could become ‘discretionary’ in future.

Keep Our NHS Public North East ask;
1. Will all of the risk, equality and quality impact assessments be made public and be presented at the ICB meeting?
2. As a result of the assessment/ review process, will any services that are currently provided free of charge become ‘discretionary’?
3. Will the list of these ‘discretionary’ services be made public and shared with Healthwatch representatives and others, in order to consult the public?

CLICK HERE

to read our question in full, with context, as provided to the ICB at the beginning of June

The response from the Integrated Care Board, received today:

Any changes to services deemed a significant variation need to follow an appropriate consultation or engagement process in line with the Health and Social Care Act.

All NHS organisations are required to undertake Equality, Quality Impact Assessments (EQIA), and every NHS organisation in the North East will have a policy for developing, approving, and monitoring these. Each organisation may have a different approach to what is published.

The reporting of EQIAs will be formally presented at every meeting of the NENC ICB’s Quality and Safety Committee (QSC). The paper will summarise quality and safety risks and include a list of completed EQIAs in all future papers. A summary report from the QSC is then presented at every NENC ICB board.

Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) continuously review service needs and the services they commission. They may need to decommission some services that are deemed less critical to the prevention, treatment, or care within the NHS, taking into account the funds made available by the government. This may be due to the availability of better services or the necessity to make difficult decisions about which services the NENC NHS can afford or how they are provided within limited resources. Rather than being considered “discretionary,” these services may be decommissioned or amended. Every effort is made to ensure that service provision is as efficient and effective as possible to maximise value to the public purse.

The ICB will make public any planned service changes and will follow appropriate consultation and engagement regulations and guidance. This includes working with and sharing information with Healthwatch and other relevant organisations.

KONPNE notes:

We need some clarity regarding what “significant variation” means to ensure that ALL cuts are consulted on. Obviously, many more questions need to be put to the ICB – we will continue to play our part, but important to note that all members of the public and organisations can submit questions: information about the process is here.  

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Saturday 12th July 2025 – 139th Durham Miners Gala

Fastforward to 2025, and proud to be at the Gala – a day of unity and celebration. The Gala is still with us, as is the NHS – BUT, no doubt about it, we need to campaign and fight for the NHS to continue as a publicly-provided service available to all.

ALSO (and no doubt about it!!)  a publicly-provided and publicly-funded NHS is the way to go in Durham today!! Huge support!!

Great reception and much support shown on the march to the wonderful Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign https://www.savesouthtynesidehospital.org/  :

A packed field….

…and a busy time for KONPNE and all in the Communities marquee – “Keep Our NHS Public” information display, some great visual images from “We Own It”,  hundreds of leaflets distributed, many conversations and wonderful to meet up with supporters… 

….and, of course, fantastic to meet up with NHS campaigners from far and wide – immediate rapport! Hello to activists from the Lewisham, Leeds and Manchester KONPs, Socialist Health Association and Unite Community (TWN). Great to meet up!! 

CLICK HERE

for the Friends of Durham Miners Gala website

(Date for the diary….always the second Saturday in July!)

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Friday 11th July 2025 – Privatised Sexual Health Services in Newcastle  “should and could do better”

This comes as no surprise – appalling decision by Newcastle City Council to go down the privatisation route two years ago.

KONPNE quoted in this article.

CLICK HERE

for the report in todays Chronicle

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Saturday 5th July 2025 – NHS @ 77

Birthday celebrations!!  Alongside KONP groups and supporters in events across the country, we thank all NHS staff and are proud to celebrate our NHS at 77 at our lively information event at Grey’s Monument in Newcastle upon Tyne.  And, of course, in addition to celebrations, we continue to highlight a crucial message – we wish and fight for Many Happy Returns.

CLICK HERE

for a roundup of NHS birthday events across England

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Saturday 5th July 2025 – A check-up for the NHS @ 77

“The NHS is still Britain’s greatest achievement and saves countless lives every day. But, it needs urgent treatment.

We must bring all of its services back into public provision and fund it fully. To stop the catastrophic haemorrhaging of staff, we need fair pay and conditions for all workers now. And to ease the burden on the NHS, we need a publicly provided care service and intersectoral approach to public health and disease prevention.

Nye Bevan said of the NHS: “It will last as long as there are folk left with the faith to fight for it.” Today, we celebrate the NHS and all who work in it – but if we don’t act now, there will be nothing left to fight for.  “

CLICK HERE

for the full article by Dr Rathi Guhadasan, Labour Hub

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Thursday 3rd July 2025 – NHS Ten Year Plan 

….one of the main topics of discussion at tonights KONPNE monthly campaign meeting. 

CLICK HERE 

for our bespoke webpage on this key current issue

We meet monthly on the first Thursday of the month – our next meeting is Thursday 7th August – more info is here, all welcome

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Friday 27th June 2025 – Privatisation hiding in plain sight

Concerned about the increasing privatisation of NHS eye care, a KONPNE supporter in Blaydon has recently been in touch with Liz Twist MP – and received a startling response. 

CLICK HERE

for the eye-watering details on our blog page

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Thursday 12th June 2025 – Nowhere near enough

‘The NHS funding increase is nowhere near enough to be transformative’   KONP statement on the government’s latest spending review, with JustTreatment and EveryDoctorUK

CLICK HERE: https://keepournhspublic.com/spending-review-2025-not-yet-a-turning-point-for-nhs/

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Saturday 7th June 2025 – NO to Austerity 2.0 – National March and Rally

Thanks to Pam and Lawrence who made the journey to London, and to all from the North East and beyond who were able to attend.

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Thursday 5th June 2025 – KONPNE Campaign Meeting

Always the first Thursday of the month, 7pm – 8.30pm, via Zoom.

CLICK HERE

for notes from this evening’s meeting

Good discussions, clear ways forward, enthusiasm and commitment. Many thanks to Helen for Chairing. 

Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 3rd June at 7pm – we need a Chair for this meeting, please get in touch (chairs are rotational). Info about our monthly meetings is here…. ALL are welcome, and hope that you can join us.

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Tuesday 3rd June 2025 – KONPNE puts another formal question to ICB about cuts

North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board is the body responsible for the commissioning of all healthcare in the region. The Board meets every two months, and members of the public are able to observe (either online or in person) and submit formal questions to Board members. 

At this meeting, once again we put a question to the Board about forthcoming cuts to services. Many thanks to Helen for taking the lead on devising this question and for attending the meeting, and for Maddy in attending the meeting online. Your feedback and discussion is invaluable.

Our question in short:

Keep Our NHS Public North East note that there are significant risks and that, additionally, relevant equality and quality impact assessments will take place on all efficiency plans.
We also noted the statement made at the last ICB meeting by the CEO Sam Allen about considering how some services that are currently provided could become ‘discretionary’ in future.

Keep Our NHS Public North East ask;
1. Will all of the risk, equality and quality impact assessments be made public and be presented at the ICB meeting?
2. As a result of the assessment/ review process, will any services that are currently provided free of charge become ‘discretionary’?
3. Will the list of these ‘discretionary’ services be made public and shared with Healthwatch representatives and others, in order to consult the public?

CLICK HERE

to read our question, with full context, as presented to the ICB

And the ICB response at the meeting…

Any service that is subject to cuts that are a “significant variation in service” will be subject to the consultation process, as contained in the Health and Social Care Act 2022

There was no response about our question as to whether any services  which are currently provided free of charge will become discretionary, although the CEO did confirm that it is likely that there will be service changes.

KONPNE notes:

We will circulate the written response from the ICB when we receive it. We will need a clear understanding of what “significant variation” means and ensure that ALL cuts are consulted on. Obviously, many more questions need to be put to the ICB – we will continue to play our part, but important to note that all members of the public and organisations can submit questions: information about the process is here.  The next Board meetings are scheduled for 29th July and 30th September 2025.

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Monday 2nd June 2025 – Rage Against Austerity

Thank you to North East Peoples Assembly for organising this event and for inviting KONPNE to speak this evening, and thanks to Martin for representing our team. A knowledgable range of speakers – UCU Newcastle University – University and College Union Branch Committee, Keep Our NHS Public North East, Stand Up To Racism – North East, PCS Northern Region, Berwick National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) and NEU Northern Region. Together with one voice – NO TO AUSTERITY. 

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Sunday 1st June 2025 – All is on track (!?)…..A response from Sharon Hodgson MP (Washington and Gateshead South)

THE NHS IS IN CRISIS.  Further to our MASSIVE concerns about ongoing privatisation and cuts expressed in our email, letter and information pack sent earlier this year, please click below to read the response from Sharon Hodgson MP (Washington and Gateshead South)…. but, strangely, we can’t detect any alarm bells ringing for Sharon regarding current Government activity. No concern about the increased use of the private sector and the embedding of the private sector within NHS structures (alignment of NHS and private sector digital systems around national standards, joint planning of services, involvement in staff training, etc), no reference to massive cuts in the ICB budget for the current year, no concern about the increased use of SubCos, no worry about staff morale and wages, current balloting and potential strikes….we could go on.   In fact, all seems promising and on track! 

Significantly, Sharon states that she will “always defend our NHS as a publicly funded, public service, free at the point of use” – Sharon expresses no commitment to it being PUBLICLY PROVIDED.

On a positive note, Sharon supports further investment in the NHS and, also, the launch of the independent commission into adult social care. Although current high workload means that a face to face discussion is not possible at the moment, Sharon confirms the possibility of a meeting after the summer recess, and this is very much welcomed. Sharon has also confirmed the option of further written contact. 

CLICK HERE

to read the response (23rd May 2025) from Sharon Hodgson MP (Washington and Gateshead South), May 2025

CLICK HERE

to read our reply (8th June 2025) to Sharons letter. There is much to discuss and we will keep you updated on our further contact.

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Friday 30th May 2025 – Oppose SubCos

SubCos (wholly-owned subsidiary companies) are private companies, set up by NHS Trusts – and they’re sadly back on the agenda.

Contracts take NHS workers out of the NHS, with inferior T&Cs against their will, and must be opposed.

Five things to know about NHS SubCos in 2025 and why they should be resisted…..

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Monday 26th May 2025 – CROWDFUNDER – National KONP 20th Anniversary Emergency Appeal

Our NHS is in crisis – we need to expand and intensify our fight to save it. However, without urgent financial help our ability to campaign is under threat too. 

We must act now

Keep Our NHS Public is intensifying its fight to demand proper NHS funding to deliver safe patient care, end privatisation, and secure a fair deal for NHS workers.    We need more protests, events, printed materials, and more press and media.

We must act before it’s too late.But we can’t do it alone. Without urgent financial support, our ability to fight back is at risk – just when the NHS needs us most.  We can still save the NHS – but we need your help.  Every pound you give strengthens our campaign to protect public healthcare.

Keep Our NHS Public has been the leading campaign against privatisation and underfunding of the NHS for 20 years.

CLICK HERE

for the Crowdfunder Appeal page

Thank you.

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Tuesday 13th May 2025 – Discussion with MP for North Northumberland

Meeting with David Smith, the new MP for North Northumberland. Time was spent highlighting our huge concerns about the ongoing privatisation of the NHS. 

Mr Smith confirmed how he is committed to a publicly funded NHS through taxation, as is the Government. As regards a publicly provided NHS, he spoke of his absolute agreement with the Governments direction of travel regarding using the so-called “spare capacity” in the private sector to reduce waiting lists.  He felt that this to be a temporary arrangement stating that, whilst he is ideologically committed to a publicly provided service, he is also pragmatic and that people shouldn’t have to wait in pain.

Of course. But this doesn’t get around the fact that this money needs to be invested in NHS provision, and not private business. Additionally,  the private sector doesn’t have “spare capacity” – in essence, this policy will involve NHS staff working overtime or moving to work in the private sector. We also dispute the notion that it will definitely be temporary – the Government is clearly working towards further embeddding private concerns into the NHS infrastructure by recommending private involvement in planning services together with Integrated Care Boards, and joint training between private providers and the NHS.

Agreement was identified over some issues, including the need to ensure that private providers have no future place in advising or sitting on Integrated Care Boards, and the importance of maintaining a range of clinical services in the context of future planned financial cuts – treatments should not be discontinued, forcing patients to pay for services (eg: ear wax removal).

Mr Smith highlighted the forthcoming Ten Year Plan which will set the future direction of travel, and welcomed our further contact with him once this plan is produced. We thank Mr Smith and his team for arranging this meeting today, and we will be in touch to discuss further. 

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Tuesday 13th May 2025 – Starmer is wrong: the NHS and Social Care need immigrants to survive

On Monday morning, Keir Starmer doubled down on the scapegoating of immigrants, who he claims have caused ‘incalculable’ damage to the UK. Starmer’s desperate pandering to the racist politics of Reform in an attempt to win back votes after the council elections is dishonest and dangerous.  Suggesting that the UK risks becoming “an island of strangers” is WRONG on many levels.

CLICK HERE

to read the KONP Statement

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Saturday 3rd May 2025 – For Peace, Justice and Democratic rights

Proud to be at the Tyne and Wear May Day March and Rally in Newcastle upon Tyne today. Solidarity from KONPNE.

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Thursday 1st May 2025 – KONPNE Campaign Meeting

Campaign discussions and planning session this evening. Notes are open to all to read – please click here.

Our next meeting is on Thursday 5th June (always the first Thursday) – please click here for more info.

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Monday 28th April 2025 – Government survey on NHS now closed

The NHS Change Team write:   “Thank you for being part of Change NHS. This has been the biggest conversation on the future of the NHS in its history with well over a quarter of a million contributions.

The surveys on the Change NHS website are now closed as we finalise the Plan ahead of its publication in June. This follows months of engagement with staff and the public online and in-person across England, culminating in the Change NHS National Summit held on the 4 April. This brought together hundreds of members of the public and health and care staff to help us develop the 10 Year Health Plan.

You can now head to change.nhs.uk to find out what participants and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care had to say about the Summit, and you can read more about the engagement that has taken place since last October.

Thank you for taking part – it’s your views, experiences and ideas that are helping us to develop the 10 Year Health Plan to build a health service fit for the future.

We’ll be launching the Plan in June and will let you know when it’s published so stay tuned for further updates. In the meantime, you can follow DHSC on social media for more updates.

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The deadline for submissions has now passed but, for info, the campaign group We Own It  devised a formatted email. 

CLICK HERE

for the formatted We Own It email

***

CLICK HERE

to read the KONPNE organisational response to the Survey

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Friday 25th April 2025 – Presentation to Unite Community (Northumberland Tyne and Wear Branch)

Thank you to Unite Community for the invitation to address the Branch meeting this afternoon and for the very warm welcome – great collaboration in the past between KONPNE and Unite Community and good to have the opportunity to update members today and join in discussions.  

KONPNE Steering Group member and Unite member John Whalley states: “The NHS founding principles are sound – publicly funded, publicly provided and publicly accountable, available to all based on need. We KNOW that they are sound because, until recently, the NHS has consistently delivered some of the best healthcare outcomes in the world, as evidenced by the Commonwealth Fund analyses. The UKs NHS was consistently top of this international health analysis league. But now, comparing the data from 2014 and 2024, our ranking has steadily dropped.  So – what has changed? The defunding and ongoing privatisation of our healthcare has led to the worst crisis in NHS history. It is URGENT that we reinforce the founding principles of the NHS before the service collapses completely”

CLICK HERE

for information about ongoing campaigns

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Tuesday 22nd April 2025 – Discussion with Healthwatch Hartlepool and Healthwatch Darlington

Healthwatch has a statutory role in representing the voice of local populations in decision-making regarding healthcare provision; indeed, North Cumbria and North East Integrated Care Board (the organisation which contracts healthcare in the North East) confirm that “Healthwatch has a seat at each level of decision making within the ICS” and “ensure that any service change has a foundation of patient involvement and engagement”.

It was good to be in Hartlepool today and to have the opportunity to meet up with Christopher Akers-Belcher (CEO Healthwatch Hartlepool / Healthwatch NE Regional Coordinator on the Integrated Care Board) and Diane Lax (Operations Manager, Healthwatch Darlington), and to hear of their work in representing the views of people locally and regionally.

Time was spent outlining the deep concerns of KONPNE supporters regarding the ongoing privatisation of the NHS – showing how (through opinion polls) the vast majority of people wish for a publicly-provided health service; how (through recent research from Oxford) outsourcing services to the private sector private leads to reduced quality of care; and how the Governments current increased focus on using the (so-called) “spare capacity” in the private sector will, in effect, both entrench private business in healthcare AND further the erosion of the NHS workforce.  There is no room for shareholders creaming off profits from monies that should  be used to provide health treatments.

We hope that, at our meeting today, we clarified our belief that by far the vast majority of people maintain that the NHS founding principles are sound – publicly funded, publicly provided and publicly accountable, available to all based on need – and that what we need now is investment in the NHS, a commitment to public provision and an end to outsourcing. 

We thank Christopher and Diane. Members of KONPNE hope for further involvement with Healthwatch organisations in the North East who, we feel, are in a key position to voice and get these beliefs across to those who commission services. 

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Tuesday 15th April 2025 – 3 MPs react…. but only 2 provide helpful ways forward

⇒  MP 1: Richard Burgon MP (Leeds East)

Richard Burgon, MP for Leeds East – not in the KONP North East area, but DEFINITELY worth a mention!! – on x (twitter) today states “Tax Wealth – Don’t Cut Disability Support”.

Richard Burgon states:

“We shouldn’t cut a single penny in support for disabled people – we should tax the wealthiest instead. I’ve launched a petition calling for wealth taxes, not cuts – as part of our campaign to get as many MPs as possible to vote down these cuts.   A Labour Government should not punish the poorest and most vulnerable. Cuts to support for disabled people aren’t just wrong but completely unnecessary. A 2% wealth tax on assets over £10 million would raise £24 BILLION!”

CLICK HERE 

to sign the Change.Org petition launched today

⇒  MP 2: Ian Lavery MP (Blyth and Ashington)

Ian Lavery slams Government over proposed £5 billion welfare cuts.

Blyth and Ashington’s Labour MP has called the Government’s planned welfare cuts “a step in the wrong direction” and vowed to vote against the plans in Parliament.

Ian Lavery said the reforms, which were outlined by Secretary of State Liz Kendall, contained “deeply concerning elements”. The Government hopes to save £5 billion by 2030, but the reforms announced have drawn significant criticism.  The plans would see the eligibility for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) tightened so fewer people would be eligible. PIP is paid out to people under state pension age who have a long-term physical or mental health condition and difficulty with daily living activities or mobility.

Ian Lavery stated:

“The Government’s benefits reform are a step in the wrong direction. While supporting people into employment and promoting workplace flexibility are positive steps, these reforms contain deeply concerning elements.  We all want people to have access to well-paid jobs with fair terms and conditions, as well as the flexibility needed for those living with disabilities and long-term illnesses. However, reforming the benefits system should not come at the expense of financial security for the most vulnerable. At its core, these changes are driven by cost-cutting rather than genuine support. Not only do these proposals impose significant financial penalties on sick and disabled people, but they also make accessing benefits like Personal Independence Payment (PIP) far more difficult”.

CLICK HERE

for the full Chronicle article (20th March 2025) 

and….

⇒  MP 3: Liz Twist  MP  (Blaydon and Consett) 

A KONPNE supporter living in Gateshead recently wrote to MP Liz Twist with huge concerns about the cuts to disability benefits….

CLICK HERE

for the very limited response from  Liz Twist MP (April 2025)

….who is, shall we say, “following the party line”…..?

At a time like this, we need our MPs to stand up and speak out loud and clear, with no ifs or buts….we need to be taxing wealth, and not reducing support by taking money from vulnerable people in our society.

KONPNE are following this important matter closely and we will, of course, be monitoring and reporting on the voting patterns of ALL of the MPs who represent us in the North East. We are not aligned to any political party, and will be following any and all. 

CLICK HERE

for the Statement from Keep Our NHS Public “Labour Party Abandons Disabled People”  (21st March 2025)

In the interim, here’s some great advice from Disabled People Against the Cuts (DPAC): https://www.facebook.com/DPACne

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Saturday 12th April 2025 – Healthcare and War

We wonder what kind of society we live in where even more cuts to disability benefits and health are made, while arguing for an extra £2.5 billion to go on so-called defence?

One person from the floor writes: An excellent meeting. Thanks very much to all concerned, both those representing the various organisations and those contributing from the floor. Especially pleased that all contributors covered such a wide range of material, offering a proper 360° view of the situation.

Thank you Pam for a great speech on behalf of KONPNE at the Stop The War open meeting today. 

Newcastle Stop the War facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064705415537

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Saturday 5th April 2025 – North Tyneside Councillors

Meeting with Cllr Sarah Burtenshaw and Cllr Anthony McMullen (Weetslade ward councillors, North Tyneside Council) at their weekly Surgery – good opportunity to highlight major concerns about the ongoing privatisation of the NHS in the North East. 

Crucial to get our councillors involved, as they sit on the Council Health and Wellbeing Boards and Health Scrutiny Committees, and are the ONLY elected voices in healthcare…. other personnel associated with planning / contracting health services tend to be paid officers of the ICB or representatives of local organisations…

At the meeting, a request has been made, via Cllr McMullen,  for KONPNE to address the North Tyneside Council Health and Wellbeing Board and the Caring sub-committee.

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Thursday 3rd April 2025 – KONPNE meets

Summer 2024 in Newcastle

Monthly Campaign meeting tonight via Zoom – much discussed and Campaign plans made. The notes from the meeting are, as always, open for all to read – please CLICK HERE

Do you support a publicly-funded and publicly-provided NHS???   Then join us at our next Campaign meeting – always the first Thursday of the month at 7pm via Zoom – details are HERE.… and see you on Thursday 1st May…. 

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Wednesday 27th March 2025 – KONP Statement

Other than repeated claims to be ‘on the side of working people’ Rachel Reeve’s Spring Budget statement sounded more like a Conservative chancellor’s speech 

CLICK HERE FOR THE KONP RESPONSE: https://keepournhspublic.com/labours-austerity-budget-our-response/

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Friday 21st March – KONP Statement – Starmer’s Labour Party abandons disabled people 

Keep Our NHS Public is shocked and outraged by the government’s plan to cut disability benefits by up to £5bn.

CLICK HERE FOR THE KONP STATEMENT: https://keepournhspublic.com/labour-party-abandons-disabled-people/

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Monday 24th March 2025 – Keep Our NHS Public – We Can Afford It

Great article by KONPNE member Pam Wortley in todays North East Bylines….

CLICK HERE

to read

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Thursday 20th March 2025 – Collaboration

Many thanks to North East Peoples Assembly for hosting the open meeting this evening, and for inviting KONPNE to speak on the panel – clear from all that the need for a mass anti-austerity movement is more important than ever. We need to work together to ensure a massive demo in London on 7th June 2025. Click here for details.

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Saturday 15th March 2025 – new KONP petition 

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Friday 14th March 2025 – KONP Statement on the abolition of NHS England

What does the abolition of NHS England mean for the future of the NHS?   Is it anything other than more disruptive restructuring, in the middle of a major NHS crisis? 

CLICK HERE FOR THE KONP RESPONSE: https://keepournhspublic.com/nhs-england-abolished/

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Thursday 6th March 2025 – Business As Usual 

Unfortunately the Zoom meeting this evening ended abruptly after introductions, due to an unforeseen electronic intrusion into the meeting shortly after the meeting started. The incident has been reported to Zoom, who are taking further Action.

Our next meeting will go ahead as planned on Thursday 3rd April at 7pm on Zoom, with enhanced log in security – we will be in touch regarding this.

In the interim, this does not stop us and the Campaign continues. Business As Usual.

CLICK HERE

for the Agenda from the meeting / what would have been discussed, together with a few additional details

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Wednesday 5th March 2025 – dates released by Peoples Assembly

“NO MORE AUSTERITY 2.0” – A public meeting hosted by Peoples Assembly North East

Thursday 20th March 2025, 7pm – 9pm at Tyneside Irish Centre, 43 Gallowgate Street, Newcastle upon Tyne

and 

“NO MORE AUSTERITY 2.0” – March and Rally hosted by Peoples Assembly

Saturday  7th June 2025, London

CLICK HERE

for more information

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Monday 3rd March 2025 – Meeting with Newcastle and Gateshead Healthwatch

A warm welcome and a useful meeting with Yvonne Probert, CEO of “Tell Us North CIC” – the organisation which hosts both Healthwatch Newcastle and Healthwatch Gateshead. The 2023/4 Annual Report of Healthwatch Newcastle confirms that “we make sure leaders and decision-makers hear your voice and use your feedback to improve care”. Healthwatch Gateshead state on their website that “the more people share their ideas and experiences and concerns about the NHS and social care, the more services can understand what works and what doesn’t”. Importantly, Healthwatch have a statutory role in healthcare provision across the country, and sit on the Local Authority Health and W 

Today, KONPNE took the opportunity to present information about the Campaign and, especially, about our deep concerns related to the ongoing privatisation of the NHS. Given that the majority of members of the public wish to retain a publicly-funded NHS and, importantly, wish for the NHS to return to a publicly-provided service, we also described the need for this fundamental issue to be represented as much as possible at place, ICP and ICB meetings, and also at LA Health and Wellbeing Board and Health Scrutiny meetings. It is crucial that some way is found for all present at these meetings to focus a bright light on this central issue, that the elephant in the room is seen for what it is, and that the voices of the local population are clearly heard. All present have a part to play in this.

We asked Yvonne to consider taking the following issues to the regional “Healthwatch” group, for action. NENC ICB make their belief clear that members of the public must be at the forefront of decision-making at all levels of their organisation, and we feel that these statements must be enacted in practice. 

1) the need for increased public awareness of plans re procurement and contracting, so that the public may have a voice, 

2) the poor physical accessibility to the ICB / Strategic ICP meetings for members of the public at Belmont Industrial Estate outside Durham – given that these are NENC regional meetings, members of the public are potentially travelling from as far as Cumbria, Berwick, and Middlesbrough 

3) the lack of access to the agenda, minutes and papers of the Area ICP meetings – these should be available on the ICS website – the ICB and the Strategic ICP minutes are already available there.

It was good to meet up with Yvonne today.

We are also keen to meet up with two members of Healthwatch who sit on the Board of the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board. We made contact seven weeks ago to request a meeting – KONPNE and Christopher Akers-Belcher (CEO Healthwatch Hartlepool) are in the process of arranging a date to meet…..but, as yet, no word from Paul Jones (Director, Healthwatch North Tyneside)….

CLICK HERE

for Healthwatch Newcastle

CLICK HERE

for Healthwatch Gateshead

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Friday 28th February 2025 – North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB) replies 

North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board is the regional statutory organisation responsible for NHS budgets, functions, commissioning and performance of our health services in the North East. Further to their recent reports, it seems that even more cuts are to be considered…..thus this important question from KONPNE was put to the Board Meeting on Tuesday 28th January 2025:

KONPNE note the current financial position of the ICB with an End of Year breakeven position, after receiving extra central funding, to cover the previously projected deficit. We note that the three areas of spending with the greatest risk are; 1) Prescribing  2) Continuing Healthcare  3) Delivery of efficiencies

We also note that the expectations of efficiency plans are higher in 24/25 than they were in 23/24. We also note the considerable number of ‘deep dives’ into the system currently proposed.

We ask;  1) Which patient facing services, in which geographical areas, are expected to deliver the largest efficiencies and what is the predicted reduction in patient services that will result?  2) Will the proposed ‘deep dives’ be conducted ‘in house’ or by ‘external consultants? If  ‘external consultants’ are undertaking this work, which firms have been contracted and what is the agreed cost for this work?

We feel it is fair to say that the responses at the Board meeting didn’t develop these questions, and we awaited the written response from the Board in the hope that this would provide greater details. This written response was received today.

CLICK HERE   and  HERE

for the NENC ICB response to our question

The response from NENC ICB doesn’t answer our first question, and we will seek further clarification on this issue.

Our second question was answered – whilst £200K was spent on an external consultant to assist in the review of financial sustainability and the resilience of systems, we note that half of the work was performed inhouse, and that there are no plans to commission external consultants to do any further review work at present. 

To be discussed further at the April 2025 Campaign meeting.

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Friday 28th February 2025 – To date we have responses from just 3 councillors, 3 MP secretaries, and 2 healthwatch…. but where is everyone else???? 

Six weeks ago, we wrote to all MPs, Councillors (on health committees) and Healthwatch in Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside. We are positive about the 8 responses so far – but where is everyone else???  Scroll down to 29th January 2025 for the full picture….

People are dying in hospital corridors. 

This is NOT the new normal and it is in NO WAY acceptable. 

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Thursday 6th February 2025 – KONPNE Campaign Zoom

Welcome to our monthly Campaign Zoom – the notes from the meeting are available and open for all to read – we want people to know what we are about and what we campaign on.

CLICK HERE

for the meeting notes.

Our next meeting is on Thursday 6th March 2025, 7pm – 8.30pm, and log on info for Zoom is here.  Please join us. It is OUR NHS….

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Saturday 1st February 2025 – KONPNE + Unite Community + National Pensioners Convention 

Teamwork in full force at Grey’s Monument, Newcastle upon Tyne city centre today….. KONPNE  leading on the absolute need for Streeting to cease his ongoing NHS privatisation and for the Government to reinvest in the NHS – people are DYING in hospital corridors – this is NOT the new normal and it is in NO WAY acceptable…..and Unite Community Tyne and Wear and Northumberland  leading on restoring the winter fuel allowance.  There is, of course, a shared theme – we all know that cold homes = increased illness = increased hospital admissions.  But where are the beds?   The Government needs to think this through….

United campaigning and, also, United playing at St.James today – lots of football, lots of footfall, many conversations and hundreds of leaflets distributed….

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Friday 31st January 2025 – KONPNE + UCU at the Medical School,  RVI / Newcastle University

Great to be at the Medical School in Newcastle upon Tyne today campaigning alongside the University and College Union – conversations with current academics and our medical staff of the future…..we need to work together to ensure that they, and us, have a publicly funded and publicly provided, comprehensive and world-class service back in place….

Many leaflets given out – on the hour, twixt lectures, sure is a lively time.

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Wednesday 29th January 2025 – URGENT: All MPs, Councillors (on health committees) and Healthwatch contacted in Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside

People are dying in hospital corridors. 

This is NOT the new normal and it is in NO WAY acceptable. Tragically, the Governments plan is to increase the use of the private sector rather than investing in expanding NHS capacity. 

This week we have contacted and need to speak urgently with our elected representatives – MPs and Councillors – and to reps from local Healthwatch who are purportedly “the independent voice of residents using health and social care services”.  We will let you know all responses.

Live in Northumberland or further south of the Tyne?  We have started off with the three Councils areas above – if you wish to assist with your own Council, please let us know at konpnortheast@gmail.com

CLICK HERE

to read the letter to Councillors.

The letters to MPs and Healthwatch are very similar, adjusted slightly for the person in question

CLICK HERE

for the information link we have sent to all

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Wednesday 29th January 2025 – KONP interview on Talk TV

Excellent interview of Dr Tony O’Sullivan, Co-Chair of KONP, on Talk TV today

CLICK HERE

to watch the interview (you can skip any pre-adverts)

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Tuesday 28th January 2025 – Integrated Care Partnerships combine in the NE – definite risks and uncertain gains

We understand that the Integrated Care Partnership meetings for the North and Central parts of the North East region are to combine – but, surely, bringing much uncertainty….

CLICK HERE

to read our Question to the Chairs of the North and Central Areas (20th January 2025)

and

CLICK HERE

to read the response (28th January 2025)

We hope to be able to observe future meetings and will keep you updated

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Tuesday 28th January 2025 – Meeting attended; Question asked; Awaiting written response

Further to the post below, our question was considered at the Integrated Care Board meeting which took place earlier today…..we are awaiting the written response from the ICB, before we respond to their response….. we will post all communications here….

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Sunday 26th January 2025 – Question to the Board Meeting

North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board is a regional statutory organisation responsible for NHS budgets, functions, commissioning and performance of our health services in the North East. Further to their recent reports, it seems that even more cuts are to be considered…..thus this important question from KONPNE to the Board Meeting scheduled for Tuesday 28th January 2025:

KONPNE note the current financial position of the ICB with an End of Year breakeven position, after receiving extra central funding, to cover the previously projected deficit.

We note that the three areas of spending with the greatest risk are;

Prescribing

Continuing Healthcare

Delivery of efficiencies

We also note that the expectations of efficiency plans are higher in 24/25 than they were in 23/24. We also note the considerable number of ‘deep dives’ into the system currently proposed.

We want to ask;

1. Which patient facing services, in which geographical areas, are expected to deliver the largest efficiencies and what is the predicted reduction in patient services that will result?

2. Will the proposed ‘deep dives’ be conducted ‘in house’ or by ‘external consultants? If  ‘external consultants’ are undertaking this work, which firms have been contracted and what is the agreed cost for this work?

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Monday 20th January 2025 – Advance notice  

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***Update: FOR FRIDAY: We have permission to host our stall in the lobby of the Medical School , located on Framlington Place- see you there!!

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Sunday 19th January 2025 – Yes to localised collaboration 

The letter below is self explanatory – we question this move to discussion and decision-making taking place further and further away from localities and local population AND ALSO putting the NHS in danger by setting the field for macro-privatisation at some point in the future….. hence this important question (below) to the “Integrated Care Partnership” meeting scheduled for the 30th January 2025…

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Sunday 19th January 2025 – Starmer delivers wrong prescription

Excellent article from Dr John Puntis, Co-Chair of KONP, published today.  Please read and share.  Also on our social media.

CLICK HERE

for the article

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Thursday 16th January 2025 – NHS support in Longbenton and Benton

Excellent work by KONPNE member Helen M in writing and putting the following motion to her local Labour Party Branch – accepted unanimously

Longbenton and Benton branch ask Newcastle North CLP to write to the Secretary of State for Health (Wes Streeting) asking him to refuse to accept the offer known in the press as PFI 2.00 which would mean Independent health care providers spending up to 1 billion pounds to build up their private hospital infrastructures in exchange for contracts to do NHS work in perpetuity. If the decision is made to accept this offer, then Newcastle North CLP requests that the Parliamentary Health Select Committee be asked to scrutinize the arrangements.  

The Labour Party’s 2024 General Election Manifesto promised that ” Labour will make sure that the NHS is owned by the government, not private companies“ and “Labour will stop the chaos in our health and care services, turn the page, and reform them in line with the principles of the NHS that Labour founded.”

There are many reasons why private providers are not the answer to the waiting list and NHS crises:

1. 100,000 vacancies in the NHS, private hospitals will be taking existing staff to do the additional work.

2. PFI’s which the government concluded in 2018 should not be repeated, left the NHS with 13 billion pounds of assets for 80 billion pounds (and counting as still being paid off)

3. NHS staff are already losing out on training due to private hospitals cherry picking the straightforward operations like cataracts, hernias and the straightforward hip and knee replacements.

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Friday 10th January 2025 – dates confirmed for street action

Keep these dates!!  31st January and 1st February 2025, 11am – 1pm (with a possible 1 hr extension)

WE HIGHLIGHT: NHS Winter Crisis / Increased funding to private healthcare companies / Cuts to services

THERE IS ANOTHER WAY: A publicly provided NHS / An NHS funded to succeed / Respect and decent pay for all health workers / Reinvest in public health / Restore and expand our NHS

Please assist with leafletting and on our information stalls:

Friday 31st January, 11am, at Framlington Place, Newcastle (on the pedestrian walkway, by the side of the RVI leading to the Medical School) and Saturday 1st February, 11am at Greys Monument, Newcastle City Centre, 11am.

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Thursday 9th January 2025 – Into 2025

Our first Campaign meeting of the New Year – and obviously no shortage of material to discuss.

CLICK HERE

to read the notes of the meeting

We need your help this year. Our next meeting is via Zoom on Thursday 6th February at 7pm (always the first Thursday at 7pm) and everyone is welcome. Info is here  Everyone is welcome.

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Wednesday 8th January 2025 – Support two “We Own It” campaign actions  

Keir Starmer’s private healthcare deal sells out NHS patients

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Stop the Government from backing private companies – SIGN THIS PETITION!!!! 

According to the Telegraph, the private healthcare sector is prepared to spend £1 billion on expanding their facilities. In exchange, the government would guarantee them access to NHS contracts and budgets for the long term.

THIS MUST BE STOPPED.

CLICK HERE

for more information from We Own It, plus sign the petition, plus forward it on…..

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Wednesday 1st January 2025

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN IN 2025!!

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Tuesday 24th December 2024

Season’s Greetings

& Best Wishes for 2025

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 the year – its been a busy one. NHS funding cuts and privatisation continues apace and we anticipate another very active time throughout 2025.  Although difficult to measure or quantify, our voices are being heard and, collectively, our actions make a difference. The Campaign will also continue apace.  Next year will be our fifteenth year of Campaigning for a return to a comprehensive, publicly funded and publicly provided NHS – and we stay strong.

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Monday 23rd December 2024 – KONPNE Fundraising Appeal

As the end of a busy year of campaigning approaches, your help is now needed – please donate to KONP North East

PLEASE DONATE

Please help us to develop our Campaign activity further throughout 2025.

All of our Campaigners give freely of their time and expertise; no-one is paid. Expenses such as transport costs and parking charges are also paid willingly by the Campaigner concerned. All this will continue, and we give our grateful thanks to all Campaigners and supporters.

We do, however, have a range of financial outgoings for a number of Campaign items such as leaflets, posters, printing costs, banners, badges, room hire, Zoom, display materials, copies of the Health Campaigns Together newspaper, annual membership of national KONP, and domain / website hire. Financially, we have (just about) managed to keep our head above water over the past 12 years, and we are currently planning Campaign activity for 2025 which will involve financial outlay.

Click here to see our activity over the past 3 years!

And we could do more!!

If you are in a position to help financially with either a one-off donation or a monthly standing order, then this would be a HUGE help. All contributions are very gratefully received, however small.  

CLICK HERE

for our Donate page

All help is greatly appreciated, and every penny is used wisely in our campaign to Keep Our NHS Public. 

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Thursday 19th December 2024 – Stop the Government from backing private companies – SIGN THIS PETITION!!!!

According to the Telegraph, the private healthcare sector is prepared to spend £1 billion on expanding their facilities. In exchange, the government would guarantee them access to NHS contracts and budgets for the long term.

THIS MUST BE STOPPED.

CLICK HERE

for more information from We Own It, plus sign the petition, plus forward it on…..

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Thursday 12th December 2024 – Campaign on Labour’s Data Bill

The Labour government has introduced draft legislation – the Data (Use and Access) Bill – that is expected to move quickly through Parliament. One of its main intentions is to  ‘harness the power of data’ to encourage innovation and economic growth.  The Bill includes a number of worrying provisions that aim, for example, to:

> reduce data protections and increase access to our personal health data for the private sector and public authorities;

> redefine ‘scientific research’ to include commercial activities;

> change the meaning of ‘consent’ so that agreeing to the use of your data for one research project means also consenting to future but yet unknown projects;

> expand the lawful basis for the use of solely automated decision making without consent;

> weaken our right to question organisations about the data they may hold about us;

> give significant new powers to a Secretary of State allowing them to introduce or change legislation with little to no Parliamentary scrutiny.

In effect, the Bill is a gift to the private sector at the expense of our rights and privacy.

CLICK HERE

for more information, an MP briefing and a template covering letter for you to send to your MP

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Thursday 5th December 2024 – A KONPNE Christmas

Click here for the notes from tonights monthly Campaign meeting via Zoom – these notes are in the public domain, and are available for all to read…..and please join us at our next meeting on Thursday 9th January 2025….All welcome!! 

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Monday 2nd December 2024 – with “Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign”

Great happy evening with our friends Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign at their end of year Festive Social, with foot stomping music from the Shamrock Street Ceili Band, all at the Red Hackle in Jarrow. We greatly value SSTHC campaign work….great to spend time together.

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Monday 2nd December 2024 – KONPNE response to Government survey

Although it seems likely that the Government consultation on the future of the NHS is a PR exercise rather than a serious attempt to obtain views from the public that will then inform policy, we have nonetheless gone along with it and have submitted a response from KONPNE. The survey closes at 5pm today….for an issue so huge and important, the window was open for a very short time…..

CLICK HERE

to view the KONPNE response (2nd December 2024)

Our submission was a combo between our own ideas and a guidance document from national KONP – MANY THANKS to our friends at national KONP for this help.

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Monday 25th November 2024 – KONPNE Fundraising Appeal

As the end of a busy year of campaigning approaches, your help is now needed – please donate to KONP North East

PLEASE DONATE

Please help us to develop our Campaign activity further throughout 2025.

All of our Campaigners give freely of their time and expertise; no-one is paid. Expenses such as transport costs and parking charges are also paid willingly by the Campaigner concerned. All this will continue, and we give our grateful thanks to all Campaigners and supporters.

We do, however, have a range of financial outgoings for a number of Campaign items such as leaflets, posters, printing costs, banners, badges, room hire, Zoom, display materials, copies of the Health Campaigns Together newspaper, annual membership of national KONP, and domain / website hire. Financially, we have (just about) managed to keep our head above water over the past 12 years, and we are currently planning Campaign activity for 2025 which will involve financial outlay.

Click here to see our activity over the past 3 years!

And we could do more!!

If you are in a position to help financially with either a one-off donation or a monthly standing order, then this would be a HUGE help. All contributions are very gratefully received, however small.  

CLICK HERE

for our Donate page

All help is greatly appreciated, and every penny is used wisely in our campaign to Keep Our NHS Public. 

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Saturday 16th November 2024 – Newcastle COP 29: Climate Emergency = Health Emergency 

Good to support this important event, to represent KONPNE and to co-host a stall, together with friends at Peoples Assembly North East, Medact and Stop the War.

The science is clear. The world is in a state of climate emergency, and we URGENTLY need to shift into emergency gear. Humanity’s burning of fossil fuels has emitted enough greenhouse gases to significantly alter the composition of the atmosphere and average world temperature has risen between 1.1 and 1.2°C. This is a CLIMATE EMERGENCY and, by extension, a HEALTH EMERGENCY.

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Saturday 9th November 2024 – Two forthcoming dates for the diary…..

More information about both events is on our Action webpage – click here

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Thursday 7th November 2024 – KONPNE Campaign Zoom

Our monthly meeting tonight – and, as always, a full agenda….many thanks, Jude for keeping us to time….

The monthly meeting is always the first Thursday of the month at 7pm and finishing at 8.30pm via Zoom – please join us next month…all are welcome!

The notes from this months meeting are here, and information about the December meeting is here.

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Thursday 31st October 2024 – Where are we up to and what will we do next?

Every now and then, it is good to stand back and reflect on past activity, strengths and areas to develop further….and also good to meet up in person and not on Zoom….and even holding the Away Half Day on Halloween didn’t make things too scarey.

The meeting was very different from the monthly Zoom – more reflective, broad but still focussed (if that makes sense), more about ways of working together and campaigning rather than the details of a specific campaign. Please find below the notes (two documents) taken at this half-day meeting – as always, in the spirit and ethos of the group, these notes are open for all members of the public to read – please have a look and let us know what you think. Please click on the Action Now  page here for details of our next Zoom meeting…YOU are invited….there is a role for YOU

CLICK HERE

to read the document “Overview of Campaign Activity for three years 2022, 2023, 2024”

and

CLICK HERE

to read the notes of todays review meeting

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Thursday 3rd October 2024 – KONPNE meeting

The notes from tonights meeting are here – please feel free to read and share. We are open about what we are doing and what we stand for.

Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 7th November, 7pm via Zoom. Joining links are here and all are welcome.

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Thursday 5th September 2024 – KONPNE into Autumn

Please click the link here for notes from tonights meeting….these are open for all to read.

Our next Campaign meeting is on Thursday 3rd October at 7pm via Zoom – please come along and join us – all are welcome. Log on information is on our action page here.

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Saturday 10th August 2024 – The fight for the NHS includes the fight against racism

Statement from Keep Our NHS Public national office

Keep Our NHS Public condemns the far-right rioting that has taken place in Southport last week and around the UK over the weekend of 6/7 August and beyond. This Islamophobic and racist violence is shocking and upsetting. We extend our solidarity to Muslims, migrants and people from ethnic minorities at this time of increased threat.

Typically, those on the right choose to scapegoat migrants for crumbling public services. The crisis in the NHS is often blamed on migrants coming to the UK to use NHS services ‘fraudulently’. This is false.

The crisis in the NHS can only be blamed on the governments since 2010 who are responsible for 14 years of underfunding, cuts to services and outsourcing to private companies. This has led to a situation where the NHS has been severely undermined.

Without migrant health and care workers, the NHS would cease to function, be they consultants or auxiliary staff: one in five NHS workers are non-UK nationals, including 35% of doctors.

Migrants are not a threat to the NHS, they hold it together. And they are double charged via the health surcharges levied in advance, and the taxes they pay.

The idea that migrants and undocumented people use the NHS fraudulently is a right-wing myth: the last government’s ‘Hostile Environment’ ended universal access to healthcare, free at the point of need, for over a million people in the UK, including 215,000 children, who do not have access to free health care.

The use of GPs and emergency care in A&E is free of charge, but ongoing treatment is heavily charged. People who, under the hostile legislation, can’t prove their right to free care, pay 150% of NHS prices for most other hospital or mental health care, even in life-threatening emergencies. Additionally, 60% of migrant charges are aimed at women: mothers are charged £7500 for having a baby, and up to £15,000 for more complex delivery if things go wrong.

Keep Our NHS Public condemns migrants charges for NHS care as another example of racism and scapegoating being fuelled from the very top.

We condemn the role of the previous government, and right-wing politicians and media, encouraging the scenes we are seeing today: violent mobs at mosques, outside immigration lawyers, and attacks on hotels housing asylum seekers and random racist violence to individuals and families.

We encourage our members and supporters to oppose racist and Islamophobic threats and to join local counter-protests and anti-fascist initiatives where possible. As Keep Our NHS Public campaigns to restore an NHS that is publicly funded and provided, and free for everyone and anyone who needs it, we urge everyone to remember that the fight for the NHS includes the fight against racism.

….and in Newcastle city centre: Hope not Hate 

Hundreds of counter protesters turned out in Newcastle city centre today with a clear message in the wake of days of violent disorder across the country.

Geordies made their presence felt on Newgate Street  with speeches and chant: “Refugees are welcome here” .   Many held up signs spreading messages of peace and unity, with one reading: “Immigrants welcome – racists not!” and another declaring: “Hope not hate”. 

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Thursday 1st August 2024 – August Campaign Meeting

The notes of this meeting are here – open for all to read! Please take a look and find out what is happening in the Campaign!  Lots.

The next KONPNE meeting is on Thursday 5th September (always the first Thursday at 7pm)  YOU ARE INVITED!!  Log on info is here.

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Thursday 18th July 2024 – meeting with Integrated Care Board

Further to the joint letter to the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (25th November 2023 – click here and scroll down the page to read the letter and the ICB response), representatives from KONPNE have, this morning, met with Claire Riley (Executive Director of Corporate Governance, Communications and Involvement at NENC ICB) to discuss our huge concerns about public access to Board and ICP level minutes, documents, meetings, questions etc.

It was felt to be a productive meeting, a good discussion, and with a number of action points taken by the ICB for further consideration – we will, of course, be following these up…. 

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Saturday 13th July 2024 – Durham Miners Gala

The second Saturday in July =  Durham Miners Gala, and great to have a stall in the Campaigns marquee once again. A very busy day – much interest and support from all present!

CLICK HERE

for the Guardian article: Durham Miners’ Gala, the world’s biggest celebration of working class culture

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Saturday 6th July 2024 – Restoring the Peoples NHS  on Tyneside

A few hours in the Toon and wonderful for us to be together today  ***to celebrate the 76^th Anniversary of the founding of the NHS    ***to thank all NHS staff for all their continuing hard work and commitment (we witnessed what NHS staff are made of during the Covid pandemic – and we understand the very difficult working conditions that they face when they go to work now – staff shortages, lack of resources, crumbling environments, reduced pay…..)   ***to alert people to the ongoing devastating effects of underfunding and cuts imposed by the Tory Government and    ***to provide information about THE PEOPLE’S NHS – a post-election way forward.

Restore the People’s NHS: OUR FIVE DEMANDS 

– We need an NHS which is publicly provided – we need to end private involvement, contracting out, shareholders in private companies creaming off money which should be spent on HEALTH CARE

– The NHS needs to be properly funded – at the moment it is defunded

– Our health workers – doctors, nurses, all clinicians, indeed all staff who, together, make the health service work – these dedicated and committed staff need respect and decent pay and conditions

– Public health needs increased funding – these are the services provided by the Council. We need to tackle health inequalities

– And, finally, we need to restore and also EXPAND our NHS to meet the demands of NOW and the FUTURE

IT’S OUR NHS – and it needs to be publicly funded, publicly provided and publicly accountable, available to all on the basis of need.  The NHS can be restored if our new Government and all politicians commit to the above 5 core demands….

Certainly, very well-received in Newcastle today….. starting off on the Quayside….

and onto the Millenium Bridge….

…and then heading into the town….

And a very special HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!! to  both the NHS and to Sylvia – both born in the same year and in the same month!!  Wonderful. Great to have Sylvia as a supporter, and many thanks to everyone else who took part today – it was good to spend time together.

…..and the Campaign continues….   

This event today provides a strong and crystal clear message to all newly elected Councillors and MPs in the North East – we are now counting on them, our representatives, to work to Restore the Peoples NHS.   Written information and briefing notes on The Peoples NHS campaign will now be provided to all North East Councillors with a health remit and to all newly elected North East MPs. 

We stand for a national NHS that is universally accessible, and publicly funded, delivered and accountable. We stand FOR the NHS and WITH  NHS staff.

For details about the next KONPNE meeting and for further information about the “Restore the Peoples NHS” campaign

CLICK HERE

to go to our ACTION page 

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Friday 5th July 2024 – Post Election Statement

CLICK HERE

for the statement from Keep Our NHS Public

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Thursday 4th July 2024 – KONPNE Campaign Meeting 

The monthly KONPNE Campaign meeting – also coinciding with election day…..

Click here for the notes from the meeting, and click here for information about the August meeting….always the first Thursday at 7pm…. and now for a long night…..

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Wednesday 3rd July 2024 – Creative Campaigning

Some of the banners – all good to go

Art Session Number Two!!   And banners now just about complete (apart from a few finishing touches), all good to go for the “Restore the Peoples NHS” banner event in Newcastle city centre on Saturday.

Scroll down two posts or click here for info – and see you there!!  Help is needed to hold this artwork….

We stand for a national NHS that is universally accessible, and publicly funded, delivered and accountable. We stand FOR the NHS and WITH  NHS staff – how about you? 

“Restore the Peoples NHS” – Newcastle city centre

Saturday 6th July 2024 – 11am at Millennium Bridge  and 12 noon at (or nearby) Grey’s  Monument

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Saturday 29th June 2024 – all roads lead to Consett, Co Durham

Our final pre-election leafletting session in Consett town centre – and many and varied conversations later we have amassed a significant body of feedback about local health provision from constituents to provide to the incoming MP of Consett (and also, from previous leafletting sessions, for the incoming MPs of Blyth and Cramlington).  We intend to study this, group it into themes, and present it to the respective MPs in person – watch this space….

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Friday 28th June 2024 – Art Class!!

Welcome to the strange and varied world of health campaigning. Members of KONPNE spent an “interesting” afternoon brandishing paint brushes and prit stick – and five new posters all good to go for the “Restore the Peoples NHS” banner event in Newcastle upon Tyne city centre next weekend – half way there, more artistic efforts next week…

Can you assist on Saturday 6th July?

Join us for a post-election, high-viz, high-impact event in Newcastle city centre to affirm and bring public attention to the highly regarded “Restore the Peoples NHS” campaign. We meet on Saturday 6th July **to celebrate the anniversary of the NHS, **to thank all NHS staff, **to alert people to the ongoing devastating effects of underfunding and cuts imposed by the Tory Government and **to provide information about a post-election way forward which will safeguard the underlying principles of our NHS.

This is not a march or a rally….. instead, think visual effect of key Peoples NHS  facts on a range of full length colour banners, interspersed with spoken messages over our PA system, at two prominent North East locations.

ALL HELP IS MUCH APPRECIATED – PLEASE CONTACT US NOW at konpnortheast@gmail.com   We need firm commitments of help on the day (around 24 people to hold the 12 banners – 2 per banner) !! 

We stand for a national NHS that is universally accessible, and publicly funded, delivered and accountable. We stand FOR the NHS and WITH  NHS staff – how about you? 

“Restore the Peoples NHS” – Newcastle city centre

Saturday 6th July 2024 – 11am at Millennium Bridge  and 12 noon at (or nearby) Grey’s  Monument

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Thursday 28th June 2024 – In Solidarity with NHS Staff

BMA:  In a letter to Rishi Sunak, BMA junior doctors committee co-chairs Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi point out that waiting lists have been rising in recent months while no strikes have taken place, even as the PM attempts to blame strikes for his failure to reduce them.  

“We are not asking for the world,” continues the letter. “A doctor currently starts on £15.53 per hour and we are asking for that to be restored to what a doctor was worth in 2008, which would be £21.58 per hour.” They remind the PM the process could process could happen over time rather than in one go. The co-chairs offer to call off strikes, currently planned for 5 days from the 27 June, if they get a commitment “in writing to a detailed pathway that will restore our pay in the form of a comprehensive deal that will be implemented if you are able to form the next Government.”

The PM is challenged to take this opportunity to deliver for patients and doctors, investing in the NHS and addressing the current staff retention crisis.

KONPNE: While workload and waiting lists are at record highs, junior doctors’ pay has been cut by more than a quarter since 2008.   The crippling cost-of-living crisis, burnout and well below inflation pay rises has led to doctors leaving the NHS and, when doctors are forced out of the NHS because of poor pay and conditions, the health services we all need and rely on suffer….

The message is straightforward.  KONPNE stands with NHS Staff.

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Wednesday 27th June 2024 – a very clear NO to NHS privatisation in Blyth and Cramlington

Further “Restore the Peoples NHS” stalls at both Blyth (am) and Cramlington (pm) today, a hot day, but clear as ice messages from residents. Many leaflets distributed, and postcards completed which are now awaiting the two incoming MPs (whoever they are…)

One final pre-election stall in Consett on Saturday 29th June – info is here – help is needed – please join with us

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Tuesday 26th June 2024 – Nye at the Tyneside Cinema

Another screening of Nye in the North East, and yet another warm welcome from staff at the Tyneside Cinema – many thanks for again agreeing that members of KONPNE distribute Campaign information flyers from inside the auditorium….much appreciated.

It is great that KONPNE have been able to attend and distribute information at a number of screenings in cinemas over recent weeks….and there are still more screenings scheduled…. if you haven’t seen a screening of this play from National Theatre, it is DEFINITELY worth watching….an account of the life and politics of Nye Bevan and a representation of the founding of the NHS. Go to our action webpage here, to find out the times and locations of the remaining screenings and (as you are going….) info about how to collect our leaflets. 

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Saturday 15th June 2024 – Blyth and Cramlington, Northumberland

Health campaigning today alongside Blyth market and outside Manor Walks in Cramlington – plus inaugural session for the new Stop Privatisation banner!  Excellent artwork, developed by our friends at Leeds KONP – thank you –  no room for misinterpretation – we think prospective North East MPs will get the message!!    Many thanks to Blyth and Cramlington residents – more feedback received for incoming MPs regarding local health services….

KONPNE are hosting two more NHS campaign information stalls over the next fortnight – again in Blyth and Cramlington,  and in Consett. Join us for the final push before the Election!!   All help is much appreciated – dates and information is on our action page here. PLEASE MEET US at the location on the day or CONTACT US NOW at konpnortheast@gmail.com  for more info 

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Wednesday 12th June 2024 – KONPNE in Consett, County Durham

Really pleased to be back in Consett today – MUCH interest on the high street – many conversations, leaving absolutely no doubt that a publicly-provided NHS is required….and NO to NHS privatisation.

Much information about the “Restore the People’s NHS” campaign was shared,  and local residents were asked to fill in postcards for the incoming MP, outlining their concerns about local health provision.

We are hosting THREE MORE information stalls over the next fortnight – in Blyth, Cramlington and again in Consett. Join us for the final push before the Election!!   All help is much appreciated – dates and information is on our action page here. PLEASE MEET US at the location on the day or CONTACT US NOW at konpnortheast@gmail.com  for more info

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Sunday 12th May 2024 – More leafletting outside NYE 

A further very active “Peoples NHS” leaflet session at todays screening of Nye, at the Tyneside Cinema – led by our friends at Sunderland KONP. Great work.

All supporters – please check out our action page here for details of further screenings and leafletting – your assistance is needed.

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Saturday 11th May 2024 – “Restore the Peoples NHS” Campaign in Consett, County Durham

Following the success of recent actions in Blyth and Cramlington, Northumberland (see 9th March post, below), today members of KONPNE and the Peoples NHS Campaign were pleased to be in Consett, Co Durham – much interest, many people wanting to talk, and some people thanking  the Campaign for raising the profile of exactly what is happening in the NHS, and where we need to go….

A very large number of campaign leaflets were distributed throughout the town centre plus 61 postcards were completed by local residents for their MP, Richard Holden, Chair of the Tory Party. Outlining HUGE concerns about local health provision, two members of the team called in to see Richard to personally hand deliver this important feedback –  but, sadly, he was nowhere to be found. A parcel is on its way.

We will  be holding more sessions in the town centre in the future – watch this space.

And, in the interim, more info about the Peoples NHS is here

AND

find out about what is happening in the NE by clicking our action page here

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Wednesday 8th May 2024 – Nye: A new play from the National Theatre

Various dates and  cinema locations in the North East over the next month

Great to be leafletting at the Tyneside Cinema tonight – and a very warm welcome received from Cinema staff. Thank you. 

Michael Sheen is Nye Bevan in this surreal and spectacular journey through the life and legacy of the man who transformed the welfare state.  From campaigning at the coalfield to leading the battle to create the NHS, Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan is often referred to as the politician who’s had the greatest influence on the UK without ever being Prime Minister.  

This new play, now screened at cinemas,  provides an ideal opportunity to provide information about KONP campaigns. Please consider distributing leaflets at a cinema screening near you in May and June 2024. Some cinemas (especially independent cinemas) will allow you inside before or after the screening, whilst distribution outside the cinema door is the option for others….

Please check the National Theatre Live link https://nye.ntlive.com/ for cinema dates and locations(*), and then contact Jude at konpnortheast@gmail.com to collect leaflets – and let us know how you go on. Many thanks to supporters who have been active already….

Thank you!!!

(*) Type in “Newcastle upon Tyne” in the search box, and then click the individual dates to see where the play is shown in the north.  There are numerous screenings at a range of locations in the North East.

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Tuesday 7th May 2024 – assistance needed

Peoples NHS Campaign – Consett, Co Durham on  Saturday 11th May 2024 , 11am

Following the success of the recent action in Northumberland, our next information and leafletting session is in Consett on Saturday 11th May.

Please join us at 11am in Consett at the junction of Middle Street and Wesley Street.  We will be distributing KONP  leaflets about the People’s NHS campaign and asking local residents to fill in postcards for their MP, Richard Holden, Chair of the Conservative Party, outlining their concerns about local health provision.

Join us – we need as much assistance as possible

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Saturday 4th May 2024 – For Peace and Solidarity

Great to take part in the Tyne and Wear May Day 2024 March and to be invited to address the  Rally at Grey’s Monument.  Jude Letham (KONPNE Co-ordinator) spoke of the current Peoples NHS campaign, specifically highlighting issues relating to staff and actions needed: 

• restore safe patient care, job safety and satisfaction for all health and care staff by providing safe staffing levels, decent pay and career progression

• fund a long-term NHS workforce plan based on assessment of needs, match training numbers to safe staffing levels

• End de-professionalisation and deregulation of the health workforce

• Ensure necessary recruitment and retention, practice ethical recruitment principles

• End the two-tier working conditions of NHS staff outsourced to private companies

  Click here for info about the Peoples NHS Campaign

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Thursday 2nd May 2024 – KONPNE speaks

That month passed quickly….

CLICK HERE

for notes relating to the May Campaign meeting. Numbers lower due to tonights Council elections – but, nonetheless, much discussed….

Always the first Thursday at 7pm – next meeting on Thursday 6th June – all welcome, and info is here

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Thursday 4th April 2024 – Monthly campaign meeting

What is discussed at the KONPNE campaign meetings?   Well, we work hard to be open and transparent in all of our campaign work.  All are welcome to join in the meetings and discussions, and notes of meetings are always freely available for all to read – scroll down this news page to the first Thursday of every month.

CLICK HERE

for the notes from tonights meeting

Lots discussed plus many dates in the diary for the next few months – ALL ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THE CAMPAIGNING.  Our next campaign meeting will take place on Thursday 2nd May (election day….) – click here for more info

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Thursday 4th April 2024 – Answer the door, and put these 3 questions to your prospective Councillors….

Knock knock….

At this time of the year, we can guess who’s there….

Here’s three key questions to put to prospective Councillors – or, indeed, all Councillors even if they are not facing an election this year

….and if there is no knock on the door, please go to your Council website for email addresses

WE NEED COUNCILLORS WHO ARE ACTIVE IN PROTECTING OUR NHS!! 

a) What will you do to encourage the local health commissioning body (“North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System”) to keep healthcare within the NHS? 

Privatisation puts profits before patients – a recent national research study from Oxford University links the deaths of 557 people with the outsourcing of NHS services –  see The Lancet, July 2022. 

Click here

b) How will you work to increase democracy in local health structures?  

Since July 2022, key decision-making and the direction of travel regarding healthcare has been set by the Integrated Care Board – responsible for health commissioning for over 3 million people over a huge geographical area covering the North East and North Cumbria. It is a top-down system brought about by The Health and Care Act 2022 which significantly reduces opportunities for councillors and local people to be involved in key strategic discussions

Click here 

c) What are you doing to fight for fair pay for all NHS staff?  

NHS staff are underpaid and overworked, and it is not surprising that the NHS has over 130,000 vacancies. Many NHS hospitals now have foodbanks for staff. We need to stand alongside all NHS staff and demand that the Government finds the will to do what is right for NHS staff and for the NHS as a whole.

Click here

Please let us know all responses from Councillors – write to us at konpnortheast@gmail.com    Thank you.

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Thursday 21st March 2024 – Amanda Pritchard, NHS Chief Exec, on Tyneside

Great that Newcastle University Public Lecture series has secured Amanda Pritchard to speak at tonights event.

The University writes:  In this lecture our speaker will discuss how the evolving needs of the public, as well as advances in science and technology, will shape both the demand on, and capabilities of, the NHS over the coming decade and beyond.  Amanda Pritchard leads one of the 10 largest employers in the world, responsible for £150bn of annual funding. She has worked in the NHS since 1987, including in the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit, and speaks about the service at a time of unparalleled pressures and demands, as it wrestles with demographic change and political challenges.

Speaking to a packed auditorium at the Herschel Building, Newcastle University, Amanda Pritchard structured her presentation through an emphasis on the importance of viewing the NHS as a diverse team, charged with the three-fold need to recover (from the pandemic),  to strengthen (the workforce, through recruitment, training and retention, and by being open and fair to all staff) and to transform (into a joined up, person-centred service through innovation and integration).

So far, so good.  But what of the cuts, closures, underfunding and privatisation?  Of course, this evening demanded strong attendance from KONPNE, and we were successful in having two questions attended to in the short post-lecture question slot:

“In order to reduce waiting lists the NHS is frequently paying for treatments from private companies. How do you justify the increasing use of public money to fund profit making companies and their shareholders,  resulting in less of that money being available to pay for healthcare? “

and 

“I am a member of Keep Our NHS Public North East, and I am interested in what you just said about privatisation. There is, this week, a piece in a national newspaper which reports  that 10% of elective care is now provided by the private sector. Additionally, here, in the North East, an increasing number of private companies are gaining huge contracts to provide health care. One private healthcare group has the contract to run the Urgent Care Walk In Centres, which are located within our NHS hospitals throughout the North East. These take overs are not widely known, and this secrecy is compounded by the private companies concerned being allowed to use the NHS logo in their publicity….it may be argued that private companies are hiding behind the trusted NHS logo and that the public are being hoodwinked.  What is your view on this?”

It has to be said that the responses to both questions were underwhelming. It was astonishing that Amanda Pritchard insisted that “private healthcare provision is small”. Really??!!  Fact check called for. And even more astonishing that she expected the audience to believe her claim.  We believe otherwise.  She went on to speak of her personal agreement with the ideals of Bevan who, in 1948, described the NHS as a milestone in history, a civilised step, free at the point of delivery, available to all, funded through taxation…fastforward to 2024 and Amanda Pritchard made no mention as to who would provide it, what would be provided and where.

And so – all in all, a very mixed bag.  Time was called in the windy cloisters of Newcastle University, but not without final opportunistic conversations in the foyer…always the last to leave, KONPNE had a final word with Amanda Pritchard about the Peoples NHS campaign hosted by the national office of KONP, and provided her with her own personal copy of the newly published and detailed “Restore the Peoples NHS” brochure, which she agreed to read.  Much food for thought. 

CLICK HERE

for info about the Peoples NHS campaign

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Wednesday 20th March 2024 – BMA junior doctors have extended their mandate to strike 

While workload and waiting lists are at record highs, junior doctors’ pay has been cut by more than a quarter since 2008.

The crippling cost-of-living crisis, burnout and well below inflation pay rises has led to doctors leaving the NHS and, when junior doctors are forced out of the NHS because of poor pay and conditions, the services we all rely on suffer.

• BMA staff turnout for ballot: 61.86%

• Question: Are you prepared to take part in strike action?

  Number of YES votes: 33,869 (97.97%), number of NO votes: 702 (2.03%)

• Question: Are you prepared to take part in action short of a strike?

  Number of YES votes: 33,411 (97.08%), number of NO votes: 1,004 (2.92%)

  A very clear mandate.   KONPNE stands in full solidarity with all Junior Doctors who are fighting not only for fair pay, but for the safety of us all and the future of our NHS.  The Government needs to face up to the issue and stand up for what is right.

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Monday 18th March 2024 – KONPNE contacts Ian Levy MP (Blyth and Cramlington)

Further to the KONP National Day of Action last week (see post below), we have now collated the responses from Blyth and Cramlington residents into one document and have forwarded this document, together with the original written responses, to Tory MP Ian Levy. These written responses from Blyth and Cramlington constituents reflect years of underfunding from central Government, with the subsequent cuts and closures of services. Constituents identified issues around primary care, dentistry, hospital waiting lists, staffing levels, underfunding and privatisation. We will see what Ian Levy makes of this valuable feedback from constituents about their concerns regarding health provision under this Government….and these constituents deserve a comprehensive response.  

CLICK HERE

to read the document which collates the responses from constituents 

Levy, a newcomer to Parliament at the last General Election, does not have an auspicious record in his dealings regarding the NHS. He first voted in favour of passing the Trade Bill which was subsequently enacted in January 2021 – this Bill exposes the NHS to many dangers including the risk of large-scale take-overs by US private companies, reduced access to medication (US politicians made it clear that they want to ”pressure” the UK through trade negotiations to “pay more” for drugs), and the harvesting of our UK patient data by US firms (many US corporations are keen to develop global business models for new markets).

A year later, Levy hit the NHS a second time by voting in favour of the Health and Care Bill which was subsequently enacted in April 2022. Despite strong opposition from health clinicians, organisations and campaigners across the country, this Bill operationalised “Integrated Care Systems” – KONPNE has consistently highlighted a number of major concerns regarding this change to NHS provision, including reduced local democracy; increased central control; a shift of focus for the NHS from the provision of universal, comprehensive care towards ‘demand’ management; the increased presence and influence of private companies; and the fragmentation of services. This, all wrapped up in what the Government calls an “integrated care system”, sounds cosy – but in reality, it means cuts and closures of NHS services.

So, in this lead up to the General Election, we call upon Ian Levy to do much better and, now, to STAND UP for the NHS.  We have provided information relating to the Peoples NHS campaign to Ian Levy (see post below), and we will be back in both Blyth and Cramlington in the near future. 

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Saturday 9th March – National Day of Action for the NHS

A change of location from our usual rally or campaign actions at Grey’s Monument! Today – out and about in Northumberland,  spending time talking with people from both Blyth and Cramlington, inviting messages on postcards to the local MP, and providing info about the new Peoples NHS campaign….much activity, interest and much support – THANK YOU!! 

We agree that we urgently need to END private involvement in our healthcare and ENSURE that the NHS returns to being universally accessible, publicly delivered and accountable. Thank you, Blyth and Cramlington for your warm welcome – we have made a note of your concerns and will ensure that your messages are passed onto the MP. 

CLICK HERE

for information about the Peoples NHS campaign

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Thursday 7th March 2024 – KONPNE campaigning

Our monthly Campaign Zoom this evening – with a focus on the forthcoming Day of Action this Saturday. If you can spare one hour or a full day – come along and join us at Blyth (11am – 12.30) and Cramlington (2pm – 3.30pm).

The next Campaign meeting will take place on Thursday 4th April at 7pm via Zoom – info is here – if you believe in the need to return to a publicly funded and publicly provided NHS, then this is the meeting for you.

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Sunday 3rd March 2024 – Meeting a future Government?

Spring is in the air?  New growth??  Energy???   Labour North Regional Conference is in town all weekend at Newcastle University, providing an opportunity for KONPNE members to bend the ears of delegates on their way into discussions….and to provide delegates with details of the current Peoples NHS campaign.

We need a future Government to support a NHS for all = publicly owned, provided and accountable. These founding principles ARE SOUND but the steady privatisation and defunding of our NHS has led to the worst crisis and worst performance in its history.  We demand better from our politicians.  Labour North – listen to your constituents…. 

CLICK HERE

for Information about the current Peoples NHS campaign, organised by national KONP 

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Thursday 1st February 2024 – KONPNE Campaign Meeting 

Another busy meeting – in fact, we had to reschedule some of the agenda for our March meeting…   Much happening!!

CLICK HERE

to read the notes of the meeting – these are open for all to read.

Our next Campaign meeting will take place on Thursday 7th March at 7pm via Zoom – all welcome. Zoom log on details are here

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Tuesday 23rd January 2024 – KONPNE Video ’23 – please share!!

At last – a six minute overview of KONPNE activity throughout the last year is now complete and goes live on our social media today…. it took a little longer than expected to put together, but here goes….

CLICK HERE

to watch the video

MANY THANKS to all Campaigners.  Your hard work and commitment is much appreciated, and we look forward to another year of campaigning together. Sincere thanks.

……And to everyone in the North East, this is your invitation to join the KONPNE team for 2024….  a wonderful new year resolution. There is much that can be done over the next 12 months – 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 will be thinking the same about you…..

CLICK HERE

for information about future KONPNE Campaign Meetings 

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11th January 2024 – At last – a response from the Integrated Care Board

Huge concerns about dentistry provision in Sunderland prompted KONP Sunderland to question the ICB at the end of July last year – with a response received today, 5 months later…

CLICK HERE

to read the Sunderland KONP letter and the ICB reply

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Thursday 4th January 2024 – Campaign planning for 2024 – election year

Great to meet up with folks after the festivities – now all focus is on the year ahead, including the parliamentary election….

Much discussion this evening on local and national campaign initiatives, including The Peoples NHS (KONP), liaison with We Own It, questions to the Integrated Care Board, Freedom of Info requests, Junior Doctors strike, and communication between campaigners (incl the start of KONPNE Campaigners Whatsapp group).

The notes from this meeting are here, and are open for all to read.

Please also read the notes from previous Campaign meetings – scroll down this page to the first Thursday of every month.

….and a date for the new diary – the next KONPNE Campaign Meeting will take place on Thursday 1st February 2024 – click here for more info and please attend…. much we can do, and we need your help….

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Wednesday 3rd January 2024 – Support to Jnr Doc picket line, RVI, Newcastle

Important to support the Junior Doctors on the picket line this morning – KONPNE stands in full solidarity with all Junior Doctors who, for the next six days, are fighting not only for fair pay, but for the safety of us all and the future of our NHS. 

CLICK HERE

for the article in todays Chronicle: “Striking junior doctors in Newcastle say they will resume talks – but pay offer must improve“ (incls statement from Dr Helen Groom, KONPNE)  

and 

CLICK HERE

for the article in the Guardian re RVI, Newcastle picket line:  “Cheers and sadness on junior doctors’ picket line”

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Monday 1st January 2024 – Good wishes for the New Year 2024

Last year has been exceptionally difficult for so many people, and we wish you well; special good wishes and respect also to all health workers who continue to work, day in and day out, in very challenging conditions.

We know that a public NHS for all is the most successful model of healthcare this country has ever had. No doubt about it and which ever party gets into Parliament, throughout 2024, we will continue the fight for a fully funded NHS, fair pay for NHS staff and for a publicly-owned and publicly-provided healthcare system. Everyone has something to offer to the Campaign, so please come and join us – we meet monthly on Zoom, and more information about this meeting is here

Wishing you happiness and good health throughout this year.

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Saturday 23rd December 2023 – a sincere THANK YOU to all NHS staff

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Wednesday 20th December 2023 – Full Solidarity with Junior Docs

KONPNE stands in full solidarity with all Junior Doctors who, for the next 3 days, are fighting for fair pay, for the safety of us all and for the future of our NHS. The Government now needs to face up to the issue and stand up for what is right.  

CLICK HERE

for more information   

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Tuesday 19th December 2023 – Wes Streeting on the NHS

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Thursday 14th December 2023 – On the Toon

Some of the KONPNE team enjoying a festive get-together in Newcastle this evening – talk about campaigning not allowed!!….although banners still managed to make a presence!!

The banners are printed up and are now en route for prime locations outside ten hospitals in the NE….. the words say it all:
“THANKYOU TO NHS STAFF FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. We will continue to fight for     *A fully funded NHS     *Fair Pay     *A Publicly Owned and Publicly Provided NHS”

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Thursday 7th December 2023 – KONPNE plans for the festive season

Lively discussions at tonights Campaign meeting, with much planned for the coming month into the New Year….  

CLICK HERE

for notes from tonights meeting – these are open for all to read.

Our next campaign meeting will take place on Thursday 4th January (always the first Thursday of the month at 7pm) at 7pm via Zoom – joining information is here  All are welcome!!

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4th December 2024 – Response received from the Integrated Care Board re our concerns

Further to the post below, KONPNE has received a response from North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board

CLICK HERE

to read the response

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Saturday 25th November 2023 – Much concern regarding public access to local NHS decision-making meetings and documentation

KONPNE, Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign and KONP Sunderland have, today, forwarded a jointly written open letter to North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board which focuses on openness, transparency and collaboration regarding decision-making at local sub-committees and Board meetings. Members of all three North East Campaign groups are increasingly concerned regarding hurdles to public access and involvement, a reduction in local democracy and restricted access to papers and information regarding some of these meetings.

We are aware that the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System is managed by a Chair and a Board of Directors, with a duty to provide healthcare for people in the area – but with some flexibility in the way in which it operates. We believe that the 2022 reorganisation of the NHS provides local NHS leaders with an opportunity to review ways forward, and we feel that attention to a number of practical process issues will lead to a healthier way forward for all. 

CLICK HERE

to read our open letter to NENC ICB – we will keep you informed of all responses.

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Friday 24th November 2023 – FOI feedback on privatisation of Newcastle Sexual Health

Following discussion at recent KONPNE meetings, it remains clear that there remains much public dissatisfaction with the privatisation of what was an established, well-used and effective clinical service provided by a NHS team. Following the FOI from KONPNE to Newcastle City Council, a response to our questions was received from the Council today . 

Our questions: 

Q:1 Was a Strategic Needs Assessment completed before the new Newcastle sexual health services were commissioned and, if so, when and where can we see this assessment?

Q:2 How does the new contracted service meet with the Governmental guidance around the need for a “one-stop shop” for sexual health services?

Q:3 How will the Council monitor the effectiveness and quality of the new Newcastle sexual health services?”

CLICK HERE

for more information and to read the Council FOI response.

To be discussed at the next KONPNE meeting on 7th December.

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Thursday 23rd November 2023 – Sign this letter from “We Own It”

Sign the Letter –  “Victoria Atkins: Reinstate our NHS as a fully public service” (We Own It)

Dear Rt Hon Victoria Atkins,

Congratulations on assuming your new role as Secretary of State for Health. On behalf of the whole country, we wish you the best of luck.

Over the past 2 years, as waiting list figures have skyrocketed, we have seen 4 Secretaries of State attempt to fix the crisis by increasing the role of the for-profit private sector in the NHS. We, the undersigned, are writing to you as you begin your time as Health Secretary, to ask you to face the facts: privatisation is wasteful, ineffectual and costs lives………. (continued)

Read and sign the full letter to new Health Secretary Victoria Atkins here:

CLICK HERE

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Wednesday 22nd November 2023 – They are our Representatives

In the comings and goings of day-to-day life, it is easy to forget that we still have a voice in decision-making (although it doesn’t feel like that at times) and it is important to hold our representatives (aka Councillors) to account. Please ask these three questions….. 

WE NEED NORTH EAST COUNCILLORS WHO ARE ACTIVE IN PROTECTING OUR NHS!! 

a) What will you do to encourage the local health commissioning body (“North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System”) to keep healthcare within the NHS? 

Privatisation puts profits before patients – a recent national research study from Oxford University links the deaths of 557 people with the outsourcing of NHS services –  see The Lancet, July 2022. 

Click here

b) How will you work to increase democracy in local health structures?  

Since July 2022, key decision-making and the direction of travel regarding healthcare has been set by the Integrated Care Board – responsible for health commissioning for over 3 million people over a huge geographical area covering the North East and North Cumbria. It is a top-down system brought about by The Health and Care Act 2022 which significantly reduces opportunities for councillors and local people to be involved in key strategic discussions

Click here 

c) What are you doing to fight for fair pay for all NHS staff?  

The current pay offers are derisory and unacceptable. Many NHS hospitals now have foodbanks for staff. Staff are underpaid and overworked, and it is not surprising that the NHS has over 130,000 vacancies. We need to stand alongside all NHS staff and demand that the Government finds the will to do what is right for NHS staff and for the NHS as a whole.

Click here

Please let us know all responses from Councillors – write to us at konpnortheast@gmail.com    Thank you. 

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Thursday 16th November 2023 – NO to Palentir – KONPNE contacts NENC ICB

It is extremely disturbing to find that the US spy technology firm Palantir has just been awarded a  £330m NHS Contract. We don’t trust Palentir with our health data, and we don’t trust them to respect the values of our NHS. This is a huge setback. But our fight for data protection and controls on data collection and processing isn’t over. Palantir may have won the contract, but HUGE questions remain about how the proposed new data system – the NHS Federated Data Platform – will work. 

CLICK HERE

to read our email to the local health commissioners North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board

and 

CLICK HERE

to find out more about the NHS Data Grab

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Thursday 2nd November 2023 – KONPNE Campaign Meeting

Much discussed this evening – updates from across the NE region, campaign work regarding the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System, updates on collaborative work with “We Own It”, feedback on the national KONP “Peoples NHS” campaign and supporters meeting, discussions and planning regarding questions to the “Integrated Care Board”, feedback regarding recent Freedom of Information requests, planning the Christmas poster campaign, updates on national events and petitions and much more….   

CLICK HERE

for the notes from the meeting – these are open, and available for all to read.

Our next meeting will be held on Thursday 7th December at 7pm via Zoom, and ALL ARE WELCOME.

CLICK HERE

for links to join the meeting and for more information.

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Friday 6th October 2023 – What IS this nonsense and where IS the Blyth MP???

2453 NEW DOCTORS….5969 NURSES FOR NORTH EAST”

We were extremely surprised to read the above headline piece of….errr,,,, “news” from Ian Levy MP (Blyth). It is certainly at variance with first person accounts from the wards, departments and hospitals throughout the region.

A North East resident wrote to the Blyth MP to enquire of his sources, but….surprisingly?….no information is as yet forthcoming from Mr Levy or his election agent.

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The initial email (13th September 2023):

Dear Ian Levy

I write with regard to the Summer 2023 “Cramlington and Killingworth Chronicle”, which was recently posted through my letterbox. I understand that this news bulletin is published by yourself. On the second page, an article reports that there are “2,453 new doctors and 5,969 nurses for North East and Yorkshire”. I would be grateful for a reference regarding the source of this information and, also, please clarify the dates that the figures relate to, and whether this data relates to private as well as NHS provision.

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Thursday 5th October 2023 – Plans for Autumn 2023 (and beyond)

Much discussed at tonights meeting!

Click here for the notes from our October meeting – these are open to all to read.  Find out what was discussed, and what we do!!  We need YOU to get involved!!!!

Also, click here for current campaign actions, plus details about our next meeting (Thursday 2nd November)

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Thursday 27th September 2023 – Connect with the Campaign organisation “We Own It” – live on YouTube on the first Thursday of the month at 5pm

KONPNE very often campaigns in association with the Campaign organisation “We Own It” – who are now live on YouTube at 5pm on the first Thursday of the month.

This is a fantastic way to find out the latest information about WOI health campaigning AND ALSO to help in getting the case for public ownership out to more people every week – the more people tune in to watch, like and comment on the livestream, the more new people YouTube will recommend the videos to….

CLICK HERE

to watch the Live broadcasts on the first Thursday (these are also available to watch after the session)

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Thursday 7th September 2023 – KONPNE speaks: notes from the September campaign meeting

Click here for the notes from our September meeting.

We need YOU to get involved!!!!

Also, click here for current campaign actions, plus details about our next meeting (Thursday 5th October)

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Wednesday 6th September 2023 – Newcastle City Council commissions private firms to run Sexual Health services in Newcastle

It is appalling that Newcastle City Council have seen fit to award the contract for Sexual Health services to two private companies: Solutions 4 Health and Preventx.
This new contract is due to commence on 1st October 2023.  Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, the current providers, claim they were unable to submit a sustainable bid within the funding being offered, which seems to suggest that the funding provided from October will only provide for a reduced or inferior service.  It is important to highlight that Solutions 4 Health and Preventx will also be creaming off a proportion of the funding for shareholders – so even less money to be spent on services for patients.  We can only speculate about the type of service to be provided in the future.

This evening, members of KONPNE, the public and NHS professionals gathered outside Newcastle City Council chambers at the time of the full Council meeting to question Councillors and to make our views known – although many of the Councillors we met were not involved in this specific commissioning process, our views were received loud and clear. In addition to concern about the future of the service, our thoughts are also with the current highly-regarded and professional multidisciplinary NHS workforce who are each faced with difficult decisions regarding future employment. This is an appalling situation for the city and for the NHS workforce.

KONPNE is awaiting a Freedom of Information request from the city council regarding their decision-making processes, and a further FOI has been forwarded to Newcastle Hospitals this week.

Click here for links and more info on the privatisation of Sexual Health Services in Newcastle

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Monday 4th September 2023 – “Threads of Survival “  Exhibition now open at Sunderland City Hall

Another chance to see “Threads of Survival”!!

This fantastic exhibition of 28 quilts follows in the long tradition of protesting through the use of textiles.  Having been in Tynemouth over the summer, it is now in Sunderland at the Exhibition hosted by Sunderland & District KONP. 

You can view it at:
Sunderland City Hall, Plater Way, Sunderland SR1 3AA

Monday -Friday 8am-6pm until 18th September
FREE ENTRY

Don’t miss it!!

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Thursday 31st August 2023 – “Threads of Survival” moves on from Tynemouth

After a hugely successful six week Exhibition at Tynemouth Metro Station, “Threads of Survival”  has now moved on – but not without a farewell celebration at the station bar from KONPNE to see it on its way…. plus brand-new teeshirts to mark the event!

HUGE THANKS go to all who made the Exhibition happen – to the “Threads of Survival” team and “999 Call for the NHS”  for curating the artwork and for keeping it on the road for so long (the Exhibition has now been viewed in countless venues throughout the country, to wide acclaim), to “North Tyneside Art Studio”  and “The Bridge Gallery”  at Tynemouth Metro Station for providing such a wonderful public viewing space and for entertaining the idea of us using the gallery in the first place (the Quilts caused some lively conversations between members of the public – which is good), to the groups and organisations who provided financial support (we know who you are – and we couldn’t have done it without you), and to the thousands of residents, commuters and holiday makers who stood twixt platforms and viewed. All very much a group effort – and now up to us all to carry the message forward.

Join with us – we need your help – click here for info

Photos and videos are on this news page below (scroll to 31st July), and keep an eye open for a Threads review and reflections on our KONPNE blog here – to be posted shortly. Good wishes to our friends at “KONP Sunderland and District” who have now received the Exhibition and are making preparations for an opening event in Sunderland.

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Sunday 13th August 2023 – North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll  contacted to support “Threads of Survival”

Further to the posts below…..

Today we have emailed the North of Tyne Mayor, inviting him to confirm his agreement with the following statement:

“I support the Threads of Survival exhibition, currently showing at Tynemouth Metro. It is apparent that now, more than ever, we need to return to a fully public NHS – publicly-funded and publicly-provided. It is time to return to founding principles”.

We will keep you updated.

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Saturday 12th August 2023 – All 205 Councillors north of the Tyne know about “Threads of Survival”

KONPNE has now emailed all Councillors in North Tyneside, Newcastle and Northumberland with news about the Exhibition – our Councillors represent us and act on our behalf, and it is CRUCIAL that they take the time to view it

Dear Councillor

Keep Our NHS Public North East – “Threads of Survival” Exhibition now open at Tynemouth until 31st August

I am writing to let you know that the national travelling exhibition THREADS OF SURVIVAL is now open at Tynemouth Metro Station and will run for another three weeks until 31st August. It is located at The Bridge Gallery – the pedestrian bridge that links both platforms at Tynemouth Metro Station – and is open 7 days/week, free. 

Following shows at key locations throughout England – galleries, libraries, exhibition spaces, festivals, churches and minsters – we are very fortunate to host this Exhibition in the North East at the time of the 75th anniversary of the NHS. THREADS OF SURVIVAL continues the proud tradition of documenting important historical events and protest in quilts and textile art. It is a powerful collection of 28 items made by over 160 people across England, reflecting their experiences of the Covid Pandemic. The Exhibition is powerful and thought-provoking, has been very well-received, and makes some very clear points. It is apparent that now, more than ever, we need to return to a fully-public NHS – publicly-funded and publicly-provided. This isn’t the time to “reform or retreat” – it’s the time to return to founding principles.

Photos, videos and a report is here: https://konpnortheast.com/news/  (scroll to 31st July). 

The Exhibition is with us for a further three weeks only – it is crucial that it is viewed by as many people as possible.

Yours sincerely

***For more info, pictures and videos about “Threads of Survival”, scroll down three posts to 31st July

***Many thanks to the Councillors who have replied to the above email – it is good for the NHS to have your support

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Thursday 10th August 2023 – Key North Tyneside politicians contacted about “Threads of Survival”

The “Threads of Survival” Exhibition at Tynemouth Metro Station has been open for three weeks and, we feel, it fair to estimate that thousands of people have now viewed the Exhibition – residents, commuters, visitors, holiday makers and the many people who attend the weekend craft markets. It’s certainly eye catching, thought-provoking, powerful and skilful. And its angry – which is good. And occasionally humorous. 

Today, KONPNE contacted key politicians in North Tyneside to invite them to demonstrate their support for the Exhibition and for the NHS – see our email below, which is self-explanatory. 

Please watch this space and KONPNE social media. We will keep you informed of all replies / any lack of response.

Dear Sir / Madam,

Keep Our NHS Public North East – “Threads of Survival” Exhibition now open at Tynemouth until 31st August

I am a North Tyneside resident, and I am sending this email to the following people, on behalf of Keep Our NHS Public North East: Mary Glindon MP, North Tyneside,     Alan Campbell MP, Tynemouth,      Norma Redfearn, Elected Mayor,       Cllr Karen Clark, Cabinet member for Public Health and Wellbeing,        Alan Steele, Lead Candidate, North Tyneside Green Party,       North Tyneside Liberal Democrats,       North Tyneside Conservatives

We are very fortunate in being able to host THREADS OF SURVIVAL in the North East and, specifically, in North Tyneside. To mark this event in the Borough, members of KONPNE invite you to demonstrate your support for the Exhibition and for the NHS by confirming your agreement with the following statement:

“I support the Threads of Survival exhibition, currently showing at Tynemouth Metro. It is apparent that now, more than ever, we need to return to a fully public NHS – publicly-funded and publicly-provided. It is time to return to founding principles”.

I would be grateful if you would kindly forward your response to me at this email address, together with any additional comments and, if available, a photo of yourself at the Exhibition, and your support will be reported on in the regional KONPNE mailing, plus website, facebook and twitter.

Information about the Exhibition is below and attached.

I thank you for your attention

***For more info about “Threads of Survival”, scroll down two posts to 31st July

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Thursday 3rd August 2023 –  Summer time at KONPNE, and the Campaign continues

Much on the agenda at the monthly KONPNE campaign meeting tonight, including feedback on Campaign activity throughout July, contact with the Integrated Care Board, Freedom of Information requests re opthalmology, feedback on our involvement with the recent We Own It NHS birthday card campaign, discussions regarding nominations to national KONP EC and Steering Group, updates on our hosting of the current (and very thought-provoking) Threads of Survival exhibition at Tynemouth metro, information about the privatisation of Sexual Health services in Newcastle and our follow-up, details about the Peoples Assembly coach to march against the Tory party conference in October, and updates re KONPNE finances.  Much food for thought ….and action…. 

CLICK HERE

to read the notes from the meeting.

The next KONPNE meeting will take place on Thursday 7th September (always the first Thursday of the month) at 7pm via Zoom. All welcome!! More information, plus log on information, is here

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Monday 31st July 2023 – “Threads of Survival” now open at The Bridge Gallery, Tynemouth Metro Station

Well, what can we say? 

It’s been open for two weeks and, we feel, it fair to estimate that thousands of people have now viewed the Exhibition – residents, commuters, visitors, holiday makers and the many people who attend the weekend craft markets. Certainly eye catching, thought-provoking, powerful and skillful. And angry – which is good. And occasionally humorous. And a huge shout out to all who work in the NHS – you guys are truly INSPIRING.

Videos don’t do it justice in any way. Two shorts are linked below – they will give you an idea as to what “Threads of Survival” is about…but, on these videos, you won’t see the detail, skill, content and you won’t catch the feelings….

This Exhibition is unique and is with us in the North East for another four weeks – make sure you don’t miss it – closes 31st August 2023.

The Bridge Gallery, Tynemouth Metro Station (on the pedestrian bridge linking the two platforms). Open 7 days/week, free.

CLICK HERE

for the two minute Tynemouth promo

and 

CLICK HERE

for the seven minute Tynemouth walkaround 

***Please share these videos – the short video is now on our social media facebook and twitter  and we will post the longer video in a few days time….. BUT BE AWARE!!!!  Both of these videos do not do it justice – you need to experience it in person!!  In the North East until 31st August 2023 !!

Click here for more info about the Threads of Survival initiative

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Monday 31st July 2023 – North East Bylines   

Now is the time to stake our claim for a return to publicly-provided healthcare – we have a right to it, and it belongs to us.  In this pre-election period, it is vital that we stand together to defend our NHS from those who seek to undermine its core values.

CLICK HERE

to read todays article in North East Bylines

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Friday 28th July 2023 – Blog activity increases 

If you haven’t done so already, it may be a good time to check out the KONPNE blog – we aim for thought-provoking posts from a range of people – let us know what you think……

CLICK HERE

to go to the KONPNE blog

Also – if you are interested in writing a guest post, please get in touch. Patients experiences, staff commentaries, suggestions for the future NHS, campaign ideas, reflections – we all have experiences and ideas and this may just be the right place to share them…..

Please contact us at konpnortheast@gmail.com

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Thursday 20th July 2023 – 15 campaigners @ NHS75

It’s July 2023, and OUR NHS is 75. KONP North East asks 15 Campaigners what we, collectively, need to do for the NHS to get to 100…..

CLICK HERE

to watch this ten minute video

Hear from: Dr Pam Wortley (KONP Sunderland),  Dr Helen Groom (KONP North East),  Mark Greenfield (KONP Sunderland),  Dr John Puntis (Co-Chair, National KONP),  Laura Murrell (Secretary, KONP Sunderland),  Roger Nettleship (Chair, Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign),  Vicki Gilbert (Community Activist),  Dr Helen Murrell (KONP North East),  Alec McFadden (KONP Sunderland),  Prof Allyson Pollock (Newcastle University),  Mark Ladbrooke (Chair, Socialist Health Association),  Keith Venables (Health Campaigns Together), Tony Dowling (Chair, North East Peoples Assembly),  Mike Forster (Chair, Health Campaigns Together),  Jude Letham (Co-Ordinator, KONP North East).

KONP North East thanks all fifteen contributors

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Wednesday 19th July 2023 – Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign wins award

Many, many congratulations to all the team at the wonderful Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign, who have won the “Love South Tyneside” award for “Communities helping Communities”. Hugely well deserved and reflects all your energy and commitment over many years and, importantly, shows the strength of support and respect for your work in South Tyneside.

With love from all at KONPNE

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Monday 17th July 2023 – Health Minister and Health spokespeople contacted by We Own It

Last week, 14,000 people plus the following celebrities added their names to the We Own It open letter demanding ALL PARTIES make the choice to invest in our NHS, not in private healthcare profits.

Dame Emma Thompson – Actor, screenwriter,  Stephen Fry – Actor, Comedian,  Siobhán McSweeney – Actor,  Joe Lycett – Comedian, TV presenter,  Jon Pointing – Actor,  Billy Bragg – Musician,  Rankin – Celebrity photographer,  Michael Rosen – Author,  Ken Loach – Film-maker,  Marina Purkiss – Broadcaster,  Rosie Holt – Comedian,  Jessica Fostekew – Actor, stand-up comedian,  Lee Ridley (Lost Voice Guy) – Stand-up comedian,  Lemn Sissay OBE – Official poet of the 2012 London Olympics, TV presenter

The letter was sent to the health minister Steve Barclay as well as the health spokespeople for Labour, Liberal Democrats, SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Greens.

Some of them have booked in meetings with We Own It, others have ignored the open letter.

So now these health spokespeople need to hear the message from their parties – from your MPs – to make them pay attention.

Can you take just 2 minutes now to send our email to your MP with the campaign’s demands?

Ask them to ask their party to:

**Invest in NHS capacity (not private profits) to deal with the crisis,

**Insource contracts, bringing them back into the NHS,

**Restore the NHS to its original purpose by reinstating the government’s duty to provide care to everyone in the UK.

CLICK OUR ACTION PAGE HERE

for more information

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Sunday 9th July 2023 – “Threads of Survival” touring Exhibition due to arrive in the NE

This touring exhibition will be arriving in the North East next week, and then all set for the Exhibition opening day on Saturday 15th July 2023 at the Bridge Gallery, Tynemouth. NOT TO BE MISSED!!

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Saturday 8th July 2023  – Durham Miners Gala 2023

Hosted by the Durham Miners Association (DMA) since 1871, the Gala is the world’s greatest celebration of community and international solidarity. A huge sense of history, and a unique and inspiring spectacle, it is always great to be present, and today was no exception. Wonderful to play a small part in this 137th Durham ‘Big Meeting’….

…. And a very positive response from all present – lots of interest and conversations, sign ups to the KONPNE email list, hundreds of “Health Campaign Together” newspapers distributed and, similarly, hundreds of “We Own It” NHS birthday cards signed to go direct to lobby MPs across the country. Also wonderful to meet up with  friends and  health campaigners locally and special thanks to those who have travelled from across the country –  including support from Mike Forster (Chair of Health Campaigns Together),  Keith Venables (Health Campaigns Together), Dr John Puntis (Co-Chair of national KONP), and Gilda Peterson (Campaign to End Social Care Disgrace / Leeds KONP).

In the speeches from the main stage out on the field – many references to the NHS and the 75th anniversary, and the need to fight for a return to the founding principles. Huge support from all present in Durham!

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Friday 7th July 2023 – Socialist Health Association  in Durham

Top keynote speakers tonight in Durham Old Town Hall covering the NHS, health Inequalities & the importance of the Trade Union Movement in shaping a corporate-free future.

Mary Kelly Foy MP, City of Durham: “All NHS workers need our full, unconditional support and solidarity. You are striking for all of us – to keep the NHS public. We have the power to change. Keep up this mighty upsurge of Trade Unionism – if we do that, then we will win”

Alex Gordon, President, RMT: “On the 75th anniversary of the NHS, the need for active solidarity has never been greater. We need a united front of Trade Unionism to give a united voice.  Opinion polls record sustained public support for the strikes”

Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor: “There is no better expression of unity and solidarity than our NHS. I sense a change – people have had enough of broken promises – people are looking for hope”

Allyson Pollock, Professor of Public Health, Newcastle University: “A lot of laws have been passed which dismantle, fragment, and destroy our NHS. A key issue is that the duty on the Secretary of State for Health to provide universal healthcare throughout England has been abolished in 2012, and that has allowed the break-up of the NHS and more privatisation. We can’t get our NHS back unless we reinstate it, and that will mean a major Act of Parliament. If we get a Labour government, then that must be their first commitment – to reinstate and restore the NHS”

Jude Letham – Co-ordinator, Keep Our NHS Public North East: “We must return to a fully-funded, universal, publicly-owned and publicly-provided NHS, which is free at the point of use”

Many thanks to Lesley and Steve and all friends at the Socialist Health Association for organising and hosting this event – the SHA is open to all to join. 

Click here: Socialist Health Association and https://www.facebook.com/SHANorthEast/

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Thursday 6th July 2023 – KONP Campaign Meeting

As always – a busy meeting!    Much happening in relation to NHS @ 75, and excellent that so many events are being held across the NE region.

CLICK HERE

for notes from the meeting- these are open and available to all to read

….and come along to our next meeting!!

Always the first Thursday of the month at 7pm via Zoom = Thursday 3rd August. Click here for joining info for Zoom.

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Wednesday 5th July 2023 – KONP Sunderland: NHS @ 75

Great to be with our friends at Sunderland KONP to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the NHS. The heart on the beach says it all, really.

We celebrate the 75 years of NHS advances and innovation in healthcare and we thank all NHS staff for their dedication and commitment – and we also protest the many cuts, closures and downgrading of departments brought about by this Government, we oppose the continued privatisation of services and we demand that all NHS staff be paid a fair wage.

The speeches at Seaburn beach this afternoon made this situation very clear. Happy Birthday NHS – thank you, and may you return to be a publicly-provided and national healthcare system. We stand by you all the way.

Chronicle: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/health/gallery/nhs-75-birthday-pictures-hearts-27264761

Sunderland Echo: https://www.sunderlandecho.com/health/giant-love-heart-created-on-seaburn-beach-to-celebrate-75th-birthday-of-the-nhs-4208482

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Sunday 2nd July 2023 – dates now confirmed for “Threads of Survival” Touring Exhibition in North East

The Bridge Gallery, Tynemouth Metro Station, North Tyneside

15th July – 31st August 2023 , free admission

Keep Our NHS Public North East are delighted to announce that we will be hosting the “Threads of Survival” Exhibition in Tynemouth this summer.  “Threads of Survival” continues the proud tradition of documenting important historical events and protest in quilts and textiles.
This powerful exhibition, initiated by the campaign group 999 Call for the NHS, documents the personal experiences of over 160 people during the Covid Pandemic.  The collection now stands at almost 30 items, from cot quilts to king size.
Read more here.
See “Threads of Survival” between 15th July – 31st August at The Bridge Gallery, Tynemouth Metro Station. The Gallery is located on the pedestrian bridge, linking the two platforms at the station. Free admission.

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Saturday 1st July 2023 – Patients Not Passports

Dr Helen Groom (retired GP, Keep Our NHS Public North East, Patients Not Passports) speaking at the Northern March for the NHS, Leeds, 1st July 2023. 

“In 2012, the year the Health and Social Care Act was passed, the Government also passed one of many migrant bills. This brought in the system whereby Trusts now do identity checks; they have the ability to work out for every single patient what your care costs, and if you’re of migrant status then they have to legally charge you, and if you can’t pay then they send the debt collectors after you. They have to share this information with the Home Office, which stops many migrants from seeking the care that they are entitled to”.

Click the link below to listen to Helen’s speech to find out what you can do to oppose this. We need to ensure that OUR NHS is available to all.

Many thanks to Leeds KONP for organising the NHS@75 rally; we celebrate 75 years of healthcare in the UK, and also protest the underfunding, hospital closures, ongoing privatisation of services and low wages of NHS staff.

There is also a Patients Not Passports toolkit at https://www.patientsnotpassports.co.uk/

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Saturday 1st July 2023 – Northern March for the NHS 

*An end to the chronic underfunding of the NHS

*Safe staffing and pay justice for all health and care workers

*More beds

*Investment in the NHS not private health

*An end to social care disgrace

Great to be in Leeds today, sharing time with health campaigners from across the North, and getting a strong message across to people in the city centre – and with a very positive response.  This is an annual event we look forward to!  Thanks for the warm welcome, solidarity, inspiring speeches and superb music from the steel pan and samba bands.

Yes – We totally agree. OUR NHS is worth fighting for, and we’re in it for the duration.  Thankyou to @LeedsKONP, Yorkshire Health Campaigns Together and all of the organisers. With all good wishes from KONP North East.    

A strong voice in Leeds

Members of KONP North East in Yorkshire  /  Jude Letham, KONPNE Co-ordinator, addresses the rally

Great sounds!!  /  SOLIDARITY – Leeds KONP,  KONP North East, and Manchester KONP 

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Wednesday 28th June 2023 – The emotional demands of caring for others

A huge THANK YOU to Johannah Churchill

What a powerful Exhibition.

Thank you, Johannah, for so accurately portraying the emotional demands of caring for others – shown especially in your photographs taken at the time of Covid. Your beautiful and evocative work clearly demonstrates  that there is no more an important a job as looking after others at their time of need –  and workers in the  NHS do this, day in and day out. Thank you, also, for your spirit of generosity in setting up this extraordinary Exhibition in the first place, and in donating all proceeds to KONP locally.  We picked up, in many ways, a very special empathy and thoughtfulness from the NHS workers in the portraits and, also, the same qualities in yourself behind the camera and in planning and instigating this work.  Thank you from all at KONP North East.

Exhibition notes:

The show features a selection of Churchill’s powerful and emotive NHS worker portraits, exploring art and photography as a means of protest.  This pop-up exhibition was conceived as a public response to mounting concerns over the right to strike in the UK. Amongst the many images featured in the show is Churchill’s iconic portrait ‘Melanie March 2020’ (above) a haunting depiction of a nurse at the beginning of lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Exhibition is located at Pop Recs, 172 – 175 High Street West, Sunderland, and the closing date has been extended to (at least) Saturday 1st July.  Pop Recs states that it proudly stands in solidarity with NHS workers.

Two recent reviews:

https://www.culturednortheast.co.uk/2023/06/20/people-not-profit-exhibition-at-pop-recs/

https://www.sunderlandecho.com/whats-on/things-to-do/exhibition-featuring-iconic-images-of-nhs-pandemic-workers-extends-run-at-sunderlands-pop-recs-4197152

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Tuesday 13th June – Life’s a tightrope walk, You don’t want a hole in your safety net

No Profit in Pain – Gruff Rhys

Click here for the track No Profit in Pain – commissioned by National Theatre Wales five years ago, at the time of the NHS 70th Anniversary. It does, of course, and sadly, remain relevant today.  KONPNE can think of no better anthem for the NHS at the time of its 75th Anniversary…..

“Well I’m NHS born
And NHS bred
And when I die let me be NHS dead
Life’s a tightrope walk,
You don’t want a hole in your safety net”

http://bit.ly/NoProfitInPain

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Friday 9th June 2023 – Coming Soon!!!   “Threads of Survival” exhibition, North Tyneside 

Curated by 999 Call for the NHS and hosted by KONP North East, all will be unveiled very soon!!!   Watch this space for more information about this exciting development taking place over July and August 2023….

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Monday 5th June 2023 – Newcastle Debates: The Future of the NHS 

How can we balance increasing costs with delivering a quality service? And what can we do to better support NHS staff?

Hosted by Newcastle University, an evening of debate and discussion about the future of the NHS was promised, with panellists comprising Professor Clare Bambra (Professor of Public Health, Newcastle University), Dr Guy Pilkington (GP and Chair of the Prevention Board for the North East and North Cumbria ICS), Dr Benjamin Ajibade (Assistant Professor, Nursing, Midwifery & Health, Northumbria University) and James Duncan (CNTW NHS Trust). The panel was chaired by Jane Robinson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Engagement and Place, Newcastle University.  

Sadly, reality overshadowed promise and, to me at least, the evening was typified by 75% lack lustre and unremarkable comment. What could have been a springboard to searching and frank questioning and debate was, in fact, very different.  In addition to one or two surprising comments (one panellist outlined his support for the use of the private sector in tackling the waiting list, but without acknowledging any associated compromising issues with this, and another panellist advocated the primary need for the NHS to look to ways of actually saving money, but without acknowledging the savage financial cuts to some services…), there were a number of unsubstantiated  platitudes. One or two panellists made nebulous commitments to the future of “Our NHS” but, given that the NHS is on the back foot, it would have been good to hear what they were actually doing about it (although, in fairness,  it was a debate rather than a hustings or campaign meeting or political rally).

The nitty gritty was clearly pinned down by one panellist in extra time. The elephant (aka NHS privatisation) remained in the lecture hall, unacknowledged, until sanity was preserved by Professor Clare Bambra, who specified her view that, as far as the Government and the future of the NHS is concerned, it is clear that all is on the table (ref: recent trade agreements – readers will remember The Trade Act 2021 which makes provision for the implementation of international trade agreements, in effect opening up the NHS to further large-scale takeovers from international corporations) and that the NHS is at a potential turning point (re significant further privatisation and contracting out). Thank you, Professor Bambra, we agree whole heartedly. We all know that, over the past decade, Government policy has placed the NHS in a precarious and dangerous position, now moreso than ever, and this fact and reality needs to be spelled out and placed centre-stage in all conversations and discussions – and debates.

The Newcastle University video of the debate may be viewed here.

Members of KONPNE were in the audience, two of our questions were received by the panel, these were tackled but lack of time negated full responses from the panel. We repeat these here – for further repeating and placing centre-stage.

“Labour Party policy appears to advocate the use of the independent sector to bring down waiting lists. This involves using NHS-trained doctors and nurses, and has an impact on staffing in the NHS. Your thoughts?”

“I am a member of Keep Our NHS Public North East – campaigning against the privatisation of our NHS, We’ve been present in the North East for the past twelve years. Quite rightly, there has been much talk tonight about the prevention of ill health, people taking their own responsibility for health, an aging population, the care sector, better financial management by services. All of these are important – but, with respect to the panel, we are ignoring the elephant in the room.  Does the panel agree that the issue is mainly politically driven, and reflects political ideals, a corrupt “chumocracy”, and a drive to a two-tier health system, underpinned by health insurance and shareholders creaming off profit. Does the panel agree that what we are seeing is a strategic, planned, long-term, politically-driven, intentional run-down of a publicly-provided and publicly-funded healthcare system to enable a growth in the private sector. THAT is the main issue”.

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Sunday 4th June 2023 – Thank you for your financial support

Many, many thanks to all contributors, past and present, for your financial support.

We have a range of financial outgoings for a number of Campaign items and costs such as leaflets, posters, printing costs, banners, badges, room hire, Zoom, display materials, annual membership of national KONP, and domain / website hire. After 12 years with a handheld megaphone, our big purchase last year was a portable PA system (our voice will be heard even louder), and we have exciting Campaign plans for this summer which will involve some financial outlay.

We are especially grateful at this challenging and stressful time, when we know that many people are struggling financially, and are having to make very hard decisions about weekly budgets and financial outgoings. Many, many thanks for your support and commitment.

In addition to donations from individuals, we are also very grateful to both Unite (Newcastle Hospitals Branch) and Unite Community (Northumberland and Tyne and Wear) who have made recent donations to KONPNE.  This is very much appreciated.

If you feel that you are able to make a financial donation, please click here for more information.  Thank you.

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Thursday 1st June 2023 – KONPNE speaks

A busy Campaign meeting tonight – much to discuss and plan in the run up to NHS @ 75.

CLICK HERE

for notes from the meeting – these are open to all to read.

Details relating to our next meeting (6th July 2023) are here

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Monday 15th May 2023 – Disregard in West Yorkshire

Further to our post below (9th May) regarding the very poor response from NENC Integrated Care Board to a public question, it appears that West Yorkshire ICB have read the same operational manual……  Collaboration and transparency, where are you??…..

Click here to read about the public questions and  (lack of) response in Yorkshire ….

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Tuesday 9th May 2023 – Poor response from new “Integrated Care Board” in North East

“North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System” (NENC ICS) has been responsible for commissioning all health care in the region since July 2022. There are, of course, major difficulties with this organisational system, and these are identified on our webpage here.

The Board of the ICS meets every two months and, on reading the Agenda and papers for 28th March 2023 Board meeting, members of KONPNE were shocked to see the number of services in the region which, following CQC inspections, “require improvement” and, also, the required overall “efficiency” target of £48.4 million – all evidence of underfunding and the Governments strategic run down of NHS provision. Click here for the “Integrated Delivery Report” – scroll to item 8:1 on page 96

>> OUR QUESTION: With regard to this important issue, we submitted the following question to the March 2023 ICS Board meeting:

“Keep Our NHS Public North East (KONPNE) is a group of people who strongly believe that the NHS should remain a public service.

Members of KONPNE are very concerned to read in the North East North Cumbria ICB: Integrated Delivery Report February 2023 (Agenda Item 8.1) that a number of services within the ICS are inadequate, according to the CQC. We are aware that the Board have noted this. 

Please detail, specifically, what the Board’s plans are for addressing this situation, given the requirement for the ICB to meet an overall efficiency target of £48.4 million”

>> THE VERBAL FEEDBACK to our question at the meeting was astonishing in both content and brevity. The person who made the response (we remain unsure who it was, as no surname or role was provided) seemed keen to assure that there was nothing to see here, as follows:

No services were rated as OVER-ALL inadequate; North East Ambulance Service was rated inadequate in part and a support package has been put together to look at elements of that (yes – but our question asked for specific details, which  we need to know about)

There is a need for Enhanced Surveillance of some services (yes….details…?)

KONPNE notes that CQC rated a number of other services as “requires improvement” (this issue wasn’t developed in the response – it would have been a good opportunity to update on the actions regarding these services, instead of closing the question down)

Apparently the requirement to bank £48.4million in efficiency savings (flowery name – we know this as BUDGET CUTS) won’t affect the budgets of the services which require improvement (- so end of subject there, apparently no need to expand on that point….)

And the so-called “efficiency savings” / cuts will be made on “prescribing and CSE packages of care” (information about the effects of this and action plan regarding these services would have been useful). 

Thus, in short, we feel this to be a minimal and superficial reply to an important issue, deserving of a considered and respectful verbal  response. Click here to watch the video of the verbal response (click on the image for 28th March, go to 3:28 on the timer slide at the bottom of the video, and don’t blink), and click here to read the Minutes of the meeting (go to page 23).

>> As for the WRITTEN FEEDBACK to our question…. o dear, o dear….  the following, ….err….exceptionally brief written response was received from the ICB on April 23rd 2023, three weeks after the meeting….. what can we say…..:

“Thank you for your question. 

None of the 11 provider organisations in the ICB are rated as inadequate overall. In North East Ambulance Service’s (NEAS) recent inspection, they were rated as inadequate for Well Led but overall as requires improvement. NEAS are being supported by the ICB to work through the actions identified by the CQC.”

>> KONPNE: Obviously, “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board” need to do better regarding public involvement. We read on the ICB website that “The ICB is committed to providing clear and accessible public information to build understanding and trust….. The ICB will provide good quality accessible information that meets the needs of all people in our communities”.  There’s some way to go, then.  We will, of course, be writing to the ICB regarding their paucity of response and  seeking more information about these issues.

>> PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT: And while we’re about it – some issues for the Board to develop around the PROCESS of public accessibility to the Board meeting…. that is, if true public involvement is to be welcomed….

1) We need to know who is speaking? Important for all verbal reports, but especially for the response to the public question!  2) The time period between the publication of the Agenda and the cut off date for the receipt of questions to the Board was NIL for both the November 2022 and January 2023 Board meetings and ONE DAY for the March 2023 meeting.  Given that the Board meets every two months, this window for submitting a question is either non-existant or ridiculously small and is an indisputable barrier to involvement  3) We query why a question from the public to the Board must be based on the Boards’ Agenda?  We require an openness and willingness to engage with the patient agenda regarding Board activity   4) Placing questions from the public at the very end of the meeting gives a message of reduced importance and can, furthermore, add another barrier to engagement for people with certain health or attentional difficulties. It is useful to note that questions from the public are at the start of the local full Council meetings.   5) An option to ask the question in person and a right to reply would be welcomed  6) Space is required on the agenda for receipt of petitions. 

We will be contacting the ICB about these issues as a matter of priority.

UPDATE 15.5.23: 

– We have contacted all seven Healthwatch organisations in the NE, so that they are aware of our concerns.

– NENC ICS have been in touch to offer a meeting to discuss our concerns – this is a positive development, we intend to accept this offer and will keep you updated.

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Friday 5th May 2023 – Transport to the Northern March for the NHS

We have been invited by Leeds KONP and Yorkshire Health Campaigns Together to join a Northern March for the NHS on Saturday 1st July 11am at Leeds Town Hall.  A steel pan band will play outside the Town Hall from 11-12 and there will be craft activities for children.  A samba band will lead the march off at 12 to return at 1pm for a rally.
If you would like to attend, please email us (this weekend)  at konpnortheast@gmail.com and we can include you in our travel plans (train or car shares, depending on numbers).  All welcome!
Leeds KONP website: https://leedskeepournhspublic.wordpress.com/

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Thursday 4th May 2023 – Health campaigning over the summer

Good discussions at the monthly KONPNE meeting this evening, and great to see our Campaign plans shaping up for the next few months; the Agenda included an 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” regarding private contracts, planning for the “Threads of Survival” art installation in the North East in July and August 2023, feedback on our questions to the “Integrated Care Board”, updates on liaison with North East Councillors, info re the North March and Rally for the NHS, and our stall at the Durham Miners Gala, updates on national events and petitions, and much more….  

CLICK HERE

to read the notes from the meeting (these are open, and available for all to read)

Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 1st June at 7pm via Zoom – Please add the date to your diary – ALL WELCOME.  Zoom joining details and more info is here

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Saturday 29th April 2023 – Tyne and Wear May Day March and Rally

Solidarity from all at KONPNE.  May Day reminds us of the importance of collective action – crucial in the past and crucial in 2023 when people are struggling day to day as a result of the cost of living crisis and at a time of savage public sector cuts and pay injustice.

We stand in solidarity with all staff working in the NHS who are striking for fair pay, safe staffing levels and for the future of our NHS.

Angela Robinson, retired nurse, addressed the rally in Newcastle city centre on behalf of KONPNE – many thanks to the May Day Committee for inviting us to speak and for organising.

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Sunday 23rd April 2023 – Privatised eye surgery?

Following discussion at this months KONPNE meeting, it was agreed that we find out more about pathways into eye surgery – there appears to be a recent growth in private organisations taking referals (and making money) from eye surgery.

A “Freedom of Information” request has been sent off today – we will keep you updated:

Dear Sir/Madam

We have recently been discussing the role of large private companies in the provision of cataract surgery for NHS patients.  It has come to our attention that opticians can make referrals for surgery, often bypassing local NHS Ophthalmology Departments and seemingly using different criteria for referral.

Would you please address the following questions as a Freedom of Information request?

– What criteria are there for NHS patients qualifying for cataract surgery?  

– Are all relevant professionals required to work to the same cataract surgery qualifying criteria?

– Do opticians receive a fee for making a referral for cataract surgery?

Thank you for your assistance.      (signed)   Co-ordinator         Keep Our NHS Public North East

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Sunday 23rd April 2023 – Private beds in NHS hospitals

Part of that slippery slope…..and privatisation by the FRONT door.

Whilst, for a long time, private patients have been treated in NHS hospitals, we are concerned by recent reports that NHS Trusts are increasingly promoting expensive private healthcare at their hospitals – effectively offering patients the chance to jump NHS waiting lists. Take Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust, for example. On their private treatment website NorthumbriaHealth, they blatantly outline that “as we move forward we aim to position ourselves in the market more strategically as a provider of private healthcare for those living in Northumberland, North Tyneside and beyond.”    https://www.northumbria-health.co.uk/vision-values/

Earlier this year, Margaret Greenwood MP put forward an Early Day Motion (EDM 805) calling on the government to put an end to NHS facilities being used to provide services to private patients, referencing the provision in the Health and Social Care Act 2012 for NHS Foundation Trust Hospitals to make up to 49% of their money out of treating private patients. We will see how this progresses – but probably not very far, given the current Government.

In the interim, we needed to sample the temperature about this issue locally, and have sent off “Freedom of Information” requests to three prominent North East NHS Trusts – Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, and South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust. We will keep you updated.

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Our FOI – NB: the three FOIs were slightly different to match with the circumstances of the individual Trusts:

Dear xxx NHS Trust

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST

Signed    xxx    Keep Our NHS Public North East

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More information is on our website page here

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Friday 14th April 2023 – Huge support for North East Doctors strike demo

No doubt about it – today, as always, the City of Newcastle shows a huge support, good wishes, thanks and solidarity to our North East medics. And some puzzling questions – Where IS Steve Barclay? What IS the Government doing to resolve the pay dispute?  Where is the workforce plan?  Why aren’t they at the negotiating table?  And a clear message to our medics – we are proud of you and we stand alongside you. We stand with all NHS staff who are fighting not only for fair pay, but for the safety of us all and for the future of our NHS. We send solidarity from KONPNE to all public sector workers. 

Click here to go to the Workforce page 

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Thursday 6th April 2023 – Campaign discussion and planning

Monthly Campaign meeting this evening (always the first Thursday at 7pm, via Zoom) and a packed agenda and constructive discussions and planning…. 

CLICK HERE

to read the notes from the meeting – these are open for all to read

and please join us at the next KONPNE meeting in May…. Thursday 4th May (this time at 7.30pm as a one-off change to the time, due to it being election day….)  The meeting is open to ALL supporters of the NHS.  Log on details are here.

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Saturday 25th March 2023 – Tynedale Transformed / Hexham Debates

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Wednesday 22nd March 2023 – Question to the Integrated Care Board

“North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System” (NENC ICS) has been responsible for commissioning all health care in the region since July 2022. There are, of course, major difficulties with this organisational system, and these are identified on our webpage here.

The Board of the ICS meets every two months, the next meeting being on Tuesday 28th March 2023 – the Agenda and associated papers are published beforehand and are available on the web (click here). On reading the Agenda and papers for the forthcoming meeting, members of KONPNE were shocked to see the number of services in the region which, following CQC inspections, “require improvement” and, also, the required overall “efficiency” target of £48.4 million – all evidence of underfunding and the Governments strategic run down of NHS provision. 

Members of the public are invited to submit questions to the ICS Board meeting, and the following question was submitted to the Board meeting by KONPNE. We will feedback.

“Keep Our NHS Public North East (KONPNE) is a group of people who strongly believe that the NHS should remain a public service.

Members of KONPNE are very concerned to read in the North East North Cumbria ICB: Integrated Delivery Report February 2023 (Agenda Item 8.1) that a number of services within the ICS are inadequate, according to the CQC. We are aware that the Board have noted this. 

Please detail, specifically, what the Board’s plans are for addressing this situation, given the requirement for the ICB to meet an overall efficiency target of £48.4 million.”

Thank you

(signed)

Co-ordinator, Keep Our NHS Public North East

No cuts or cash-driven closures  |  Fair pay for all NHS staff  |  A fully-funded, universal, publicly owned and publicly provided National Health Service 

www.konpnortheast.com    facebook.com/NHSPublicNorthEast  twitter.com/KONPNorthEast  konpnortheast@gmail.com

Email sent to NENC ICS Corporate Services 22nd March 2023

CLICK HERE

for the “Integrated Delivery Report”, described above – scroll to item 8:1 on page 96

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Tuesday 21st March 2023 – Allelujah

Introducing “Allelujah”,  the newly-released Alan Bennett film about healthcare for older people and  the future of a NHS hospital, starring Jennifer Saunders, Judi Dench and Russell Tovey – 24 screenings at Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and also shown at other venues throughout the North East throughout March and April

….. plus tonights post-screening panel discussion with Jude Letham (KONPNE Co-ordinator) and North East health specialists Prof Claire Nally, Prof Louise Robinson and Dr Ellie Bond provided an insightful end to the evening. The panel discussion focused around death, aging, care of elderly people and NHS cuts and closures. Many thanks to Tyneside Cinema, Andy Jones of the Dead Good Film Club, and all panellists for an intriguing film (with a twist….. we won’t do a spoiler!) and a thoughtful discussion. It was good to be involved.

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Saturday 11th March 2023 – SOS NHS National Rally, London

SOS NHS DEMONSTRATION – END THE NHS CRISIS – SUPPORT THE STRIKES
On Saturday 11 March thousands marched through the streets of London to show their support for the NHS and striking workers.

Great delegation from our friends at Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign – wonderful that you were able to represent the North East. 

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Thursday 2nd March 2023 – KONPNE speaks

Much discussed and planned at tonights Campaign meeting

CLICK HERE

for notes from the meeting – these are open for all to read

But we need more assistance – and if we had more people involved we could do even more….

CLICK HERE

for over twenty actions you could get involved in, for details of our next Campaign meeting (6th April 2023 at 7pm) and for a video of our 2022 Campaign.

Don’t be shy!!

CLICK HERE

for information about our next meeting 

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Saturday 25th February 2023 – NHS Privatisation Kills

Members of KONPNE remember the 557 people who have died because of NHS privatisation, Parliament Square, 25th February 2023

We Own It organised todays action to highlight the disastrous effects of privatisation on our NHS. The action was inspired by a recent University of Oxford study which estimated that outsourcing (the provision of NHS services by private providers) led to 557 avoidable deaths between 2014 and 2020.  557 campaigners assembled on Parliament Square, each representing an avoidable death. Every demonstrator held a single white rose. After speeches from UNISON’s Vice-President Amerit Rait and the study’s author, Ben Goodair, we marched to the Department of Health and Social Care to hand deliver 557 letters to the Health Secretary, Steve Barclay, warning the Health Secretary of the dangers of privatisation.

CLICK HERE

to read the We Own It report on the Feb 2023 action in Parliament Square

CLICK HERE

for the We Own It video of the day

and

CLICK HERE

to read the research (Goodair and Reeves, 2022) which links preventable deaths with outsourcing (scroll to the “We Own It” section)

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.  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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Saturday 18th February 2023 – One Clear Message

Defend the Right to Strike: Newcastle march and rally

Called by Newcastle upon Tyne TUC and Peoples Assembly North East – an impressive range of speakers…..and one clear message

Liz Blackshaw, TUC Northern Regional Secretary: “Defending the right to strike is critical. This Government is not listening – we need a Government that makes sure working people are not sacked for asserting their rights”

Mark Hugall, CWU Newcastle Amalgamated Branch Secretary: “Today we stand together to make a better future for everyone”

Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor: “Nurses are taking action for the first time in one hundred years…..they say the public doesn’t support the strikes – but it is the public who are on strike….”

Sarah Dodsworth, Regional Director, RCN Northern, Yorkshire and Humber: “We need to defend the right to strike – we need to make things better for our children and our childrens children”

Miles Elliott, Unison, Ambulance Workers: “Going on strike is a difficult decision as there is an acute staffing crisis and the staff who remain are under more pressure – but the Government response is dereliction of duty”

Simon Elliott, PCS Regional Secretary: “There is a crisis in the civil service. In a survey of members, 40,000 members are using food banks”

Adam Hansen, UCU Northumbria Branch Chair: “Thousands of staff are on zero hour contracts, and many staff work extra hours. Enough is enough……it is important to stand up for our rights, including the right to strike. Stand up, stand proud, stand together”

Alex Snowdon, NEU Regional Chair:  “Together we are stronger – when we co-ordinate our actions we are a powerful force” 

Jan Shortt, General Secretary, NPC:  “We offer our solidarity and support for as long as you need it”

Karen Lockney, North East Peoples Assembly:  “We need to fight inequality and hate – the Government are running scared of working people and we will not be silenced. Our ancestors won these rights and they cannot be taken away now”

Jude Letham, Co-ordinator, Keep Our NHS Public North East:  “We stand with all NHS staff who are fighting not only for fair pay, but for the safety of us all and for the future of our NHS. It is clear that if you want a NHS, you will need to become a NHS activist. We send solidarity from KONP North East to all public sector workers, and we’ll see you on a picket line soon”

Martin Levy, Tyne and Wear Association of Trades Councils:  “One very clear message is given today – we continue to join together to defend our right to strike”

CLICK HERE

to go to our Workforce page for info about local NHS strikes and resources

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Friday 17th February 2023 – Your help is needed

Please help us to develop our Campaign activity further over the coming months.

All of our supporters give freely of their time and expertise; no-one is paid. Expenses such as transport costs and parking charges are also paid willingly by the person concerned, and all this will continue.

We do, however, have a range of financial outgoings for a number of Campaign items and costs such as leaflets, posters, printing costs, banners, badges, room hire, Zoom, display materials, copies of the Health Campaigns Together newspaper (distributed free), annual membership of national KONP, and domain / website hire. After 12 years with a handheld megaphone, our big purchase in 2022 was a portable PA system (our voice will be heard even louder), and we have exciting Campaign plans for 2023 which will involve some financial outlay.

Click here to see our activity over the past year 2022!

And we could do more!!

If you are in a position to help financially with either a one-off donation or a monthly standing order, then this would be a HUGE help. All contributions are very gratefully received, however small. 

Please  CLICK HERE

to go to our DONATE page

All help is greatly appreciated, and every penny is used wisely in our campaign to Keep Our NHS Public.

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Saturday 11th February 2023 – More than an AGM

Good to be at the national KONP AGM today – a mammoth 5 hr session, but the time flew by…. the pace was good, full involvement of members and some very interesting speakers. Events like this enable a sharing of experiences,  help to set a sense of direction and provide a space to meet up with the wider Health Campaign community – thus much more than a dry business-orientated AGM….

The event was attended by reps from many Campaign groups from all over the country – and we were pleased that KONPNE were invited to do a 2 – 3 minute resume of our campaigning activity. This was presented by John Whalley

CLICK HERE

to read this brief presentation.

We will post links to the AGM minutes, when these become available 

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Monday 6th February 2023 – Picket line of strength at Newcastle RVI

A picket line of strength…..and absolutely no doubt that the public are also standing strong and supporting striking nurses at the RVI this morning.  Cars, buses, taxi horns a plenty, and many thanks for the sustenance provided by passers by (it was calm, sunny….but damn chilly) and especially to the very kind member of public who parked opposite, set up a trestle table, and invited all to come over for a hot tea / coffee / cuppa soup throughout the day – his one comment: “Nurses were there when I needed you – this is the very least I can do…..” 

John Whalley (KONPNE) and Rehana Azam (RCN National Officer) at the RVI Newcastle upon Tyne

Members of KONPNE were proud to stand with the RCN and we remember: NHS staff are striking for fairness regarding pay, our health, and the future of #OURNHS

Also great to meet up with long-time KONPNE supporter and fellow activist Rehana Azam, now a national officer with RCN. Rehana: “All of our members here today don’t want to be on a picket line. They are brilliant at their jobs and want to be back on the wards….but we need the Government to listen to what our members are saying. It is not safe on the wards. We need is the Government to invest in the NHS and in the nursing profession.”

We remember Rehana from the Darlo Mums organisation of the 999 Peoples March for the NHS – walking from Jarrow to Parliament in 2014… with music from Billy Bragg in London….

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Thursday 2nd February 2023 – An active year ahead

Much discussed and planned at tonights Campaign meeting – and we still finished on time!  Excellent chairing from Jude!  Its looking like an active year ahead….

CLICK HERE

for notes from the meeting – these are open for all to read

But we need more assistance – and if we had more people involved we could do even more….

CLICK HERE

for twenty actions you could get involved in, for details of our next Campaign meeting (2nd March at 7pm) and for a video of our 2022 Campaign.

Don’t be shy!!

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Wednesday 1st February 2023 – Protect the Right to Strike: TUC March and Rally, Newcastle upon Tyne

If you want a NHS, then you need to support the NHS Strike actions….and protect the right to strike.

Amazing scenes at Grey’s Monument today as thousands of people gathered in support of the right to strike – a HUGE march and rally – one of the biggest in Newcastle for a long, long time. Important to march together to show our teachers, firefighters, civil servants, rail workers, NHS workers and countless others that we support their action to defend pay, jobs and services. A clear message was sent to the government that we will not be ignored. 

KONPNE were proud to be there and we remember: NHS staff are striking for fairness regarding pay, our health, and the future of #OURNHS

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28th January 2023 – National Day of Action: The NHS Crisis is a Crisis of Government – Grey’s Monument, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 

The Tory Government are quick to blame everyone and everything but themselves for the current crisis they have created in our NHS. Health Secretary, Steve Barclay told already exhausted NHS staff to work even harder if they want a pay rise. We believe it is Steve Barclay and the Conservative Government who should be working harder to fix the current NHS crisis that is now costing lives at an unprecedented rate.  The NHS Crisis is a Crisis of Government,

A great turn out today at the SOS NHS event at the Monument in Newcastle upon Tyne – much assistance from members of KONP North East, Unite Community and North East Peoples Assembly – all demanding an end to the crisis and showing support for striking NHS staff…. and much support from people in the town centre!!  Many sign ups on the information stall, hundreds of leaflets distributed and many conversations. 

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15th January 2023 – John Kennedy

It is with huge sadness that we inform you that our friend and colleague John Kennedy died on 11th January 2023.

John served as a valued member of the KONPNE Steering Group and health campaigner for a number of years and, to the end, he was pushing for a better health and social care system and for better pay and terms and conditions for workers within it.  In his final weeks, John’s hospice room was a hub for debates with nursing staff, visitors, and volunteers on the importance of keeping the NHS public, the importance of strikes and the need for Unions.

At KONPNE, we remember John’s indomitable spirit, his energy and his wry sense of humour and he is hugely missed. Our sincere and deepest condolences and thoughts are with Ann and his family at this time.

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5th January 2023 – …..And into the New Year

A very constructive meeting this evening – planning the Campaign for the New Year and beyond, with a range of national, regional and individual actions.  If YOU care about the future of our NHS, there is an action for you to get involved in…

CLICK HERE

for notes from tonights planning meeting – these are open notes, and available for all to read

CLICK HERE

for details of current actions. This link also provides details of our next meeting via Zoom on Thursday 2nd February 2023 – ALL WELCOME

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31st December 2022 – 2022 VIDEO….That was the year that was…..

Longsands, Tynemouth, 2022 

New Year Good Wishes from all at KONPNE !!

CLICK HERE

to watch a short video log of the NHS Campaign in the NE throughout 2022….

and THIS IS YOUR INVITATION to join in with us in 2023!!!!!!!

We give our sincere thanks to all NHS staff, and we also thank all KONPNE supporters for persistence in fighting for a publicly funded, publicly provided and publicly accountable NHS, which is available to all.

We’ll be back in the New Year to join forces and to continue the fight. See you then – and wishing all a very happy and healthy New Year

x KONPNE

25th December 2022 – Christmas Day card deliveries to Keyworkers 

KONPNE outside the Freeman Hospital on Christmas Day – MANY MANY THANKS to all NHS Staff 

We all know it – but perhaps we don’t think about it….? 

NHS staff provide comprehensive, expert healthcare and support 24 / 7 x 365 cover.   All days and all nights, Christmas Day included.    Surely THAT  is worth saving??   

We need to halt the steady erosion of our NHS.  Join us with the Campaign in the North East….click here for details of the January meeting.….and, between now and then, wishing you a happy and healthy time at Christmas 

KONPNE x

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23rd December 2022 – Card deliveries to GP surgeries across the region

Our thanks go to the many health professionals working at GP surgeries across the NE. You are, more often than not, the first port of call and have the superhuman task of managing an ever-increasing patient list and ever-increasing demands at a time of service cuts, closures, staff shortages and slashed funding. We delivered our Thank You cards to a representative number of practices and, to EVERYONE in Primary Care across the region, we offer an unreserved and sincere THANK YOU.  

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21st December 2022 – Sincere thanks to NHS staff in Sunderland

A busy lunchtime – with the team at KONP Sunderland and District meeting, greeting and providing seasonal Thank You cards to nurses, receptionists, cleaners, physios and emergency response staff at Sunderland Royal. The NHS staff working in Sunderland make an impressive team, and we give our sincere thanks.

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20th December 2022 – Clear statement to this “Government”

KONPNE solidarity with @RCNNorthern @theRCN picket at Newcastle RVI and North Tyneside General on the second day of the RCN Strike.

#FairPayforNursing      KONPNE and, indeed, the vast majority of people in the country stand with NHS Staff – it can’t be made any clearer than that.    More info is here

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18th December 2022 – Festive KONPNE at North Tyneside General 

This won’t shorten the waiting list, or improve working conditions, or put money in the wage packet – but our KONPNE Christmas Thank You cards for NHS staff are a small way of demonstrating a sincere Thank You, and were very well received by surprised North Tyneside General Hospital staff this morning. A sincere THANK YOU to all NHS staff in North Tyneside.

Final opportunity this year: Join us in giving out special edition KONP Christmas ThankYou Cards to NHS staff…. it’s the very least we can do……Wednesday 21st December at 12 noon at Sunderland Royal Hospital (meet at bus stop on Chester Road).  Your assistance is welcomed.

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17th December 2022 – North Shields Rally 2 for NHS Staff

Members of KONPNE were pleased to support the second in a sequence of two rallies in North Shields supporting the NHS strikes, hosted by the National Shop Stewards Network (NE). All trade unionists, patients & health workers were invited to speak on the open mic.

Craig Thompson, GMB North Tyneside, Assistant Branch Secretary: “This strike is not solely about wages. It is about safety, waiting lists, ambulances, shortage of doctors and nurses. This is a planned route to privatisation and must not happen”

Graeme Cansdale, RMT: “This demoralisation and underfunding is linked with the marketisation of our public services. Profit, the primary motive, is literally killing people”

John Hoare, Unite the Union Not for Profit branch: “The media vilifies anyone who stands up – not just political leaders, but also Union leaders. The National Shop Stewards Network brings together Trade Unionists from across the board, and that is what is now needed”

Caroline Cansdale, Unison North Tyneside: “Social care is an essential part of the picture. There is an need for additional funding”

Jude Letham, Co-ordinator, Keep Our NHS Public North East:  “One of the easiest ways to encourage privatisation in the NHS is to underpay and overwork NHS staff. We are standing alongside the nurses on the picket lines”

John Whalley, Keep Our NHS Public North East: “The NHS runs on the goodwill of staff – working longer hours to provide adequate cover, staying on late to write up notes, covering shifts at short notice, facing up to very significant personal risks throughout the recent pandemic. If we’re not careful, this goodwill will be lost forever”

William Jarrett, National Shop Stewards Network, North East: “The NSSN stands in complete solidarity with NHS workers and all workers engaged in industrial action. Our purpose is to link and unite their struggles and to coordinate wherever possible”

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17th December 2022 – 7am: frosty weather and a very warm response at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle

Frosty weather and a warm response – up at 7am to catch the early shift and the departing night shift…. our KONPNE Christmas Thank You cards were very well received by staff at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital.  Our sincere thanks go to you for all you have done over the past year.

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15th December 2022 – Pay Justice for NHS Staff

Proud to stand alongside nurses and supporters outside the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne this afternoon, and outside North Tyneside General Hospital this evening. The Royal College of Nursing are striking for pay justice AND ALSO for the integrity of our healthcare system and for the future of the NHS. We stand with NHS Staff.

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14th December 2022 – A huge Thank You to NHS staff in Durham

What can we say to our NHS staff at the end of the year that was? Or maybe, at times, actions speak louder than words? A Christmas card won’t shorten the waiting list, or improve working conditions, or put money in the wage packet – but it is a small way of demonstrating a sincere Thank You.

Join us in giving out our KONPNE Christmas ThankYou Cards to NHS staff over the next few days…. it’s the very least we can do……

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

….. and another action – we will be supporting the nurse picket lines in Newcastle and North Tyneside tomorrow – click here for info

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10th December 2022 – Inspiring speakers at North Shields rally in support of NHS strikes 

Dr Helen Groom (KONPNE) and Dr Pam Wortley (SHA and KONP)

An amazing @NSSN_AntiCuts North Shields #NHSStrikes rally! Speakers included Michelle Barrett-Ruecroft (RCN), Craig Toft (Unite), John Harrison (DPAC), Dr Pam Wortley (SHA), John Hoare (Unite) and Dr Helen Groom (KONPNE). Many thanks to William Jarrett (NSSN-NE) for organising and hosting.

Dr Helen Groom: 

“What horrifies me is that over the last few years, as a country, we seem to believe that there’s nothing we can do to stop the increased privatisation of the NHS. We can. We need to start giving our politician’s very clear and unambiguous messages. WE (and that should include you) DEMAND that the government:  1. Pay Nurses properly: without fair pay, staffing shortages will cost lives  2. Invest in a fully publicly owned NHS & guarantee free healthcare for future generations”

Dr Pam Wortley:

We need -emergency investment to rebuild #OurNHS    -deliver pay justice to all health and care workers @NHSStaffVoices    -end private interests in the NHS

….and we do it all again next Saturday, same place!  Saturday 17th December 2022, 1pm at Bedford Street, North Shields. Make sure that you show your support for NHS staff – this Rally is about supporting fair wages, the integrity of our healthcare and the future of the NHS.

Click here for event details

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1st December 2022 – Campaign dates arranged for the run up to Christmas

A lively discussion at the monthly KONPNE meeting this evening, together with updates about recent actions, and a number of Campaign dates in the diary for the run up to Christmas – information about the local Integrated Care System, dates arranged to deliver Christmas Thank You cards to hospital staff, our solidarity and support confirmed for the RCN Nurses Strike, discussions around hosting the national touring art exhibition in the summer of 2023, and our ongoing Campaign with We Own It against outsourcing in the NHS.

Click here for notes from the meeting – available for all to read.

Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 5th January 2023 at 7pm via Zoom – all are welcome, and information about this is here.

In the interim, there is much happening – look out for our emails, plus updates are posted here

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25th November 2022 – KONPNE responds to the draft strategy for the NHS in the North East

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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19th November 2022 – Brisk November Campaigning Walk…. 

Out and about for a brisk campaigning walk along the Whitley Bay > Cullercoats promenade, refuel at the wonderful Cullercoats Coffee (where else), and then on to North Shields town centre with the megaphone, plus many conversations in support of OUR NHS and NHS STAFF, plus great to have sign ups to the new WE OWN IT petition.

PLEASE SIGN THE NEW PETITION HERE – this goes to the leaders of local health services, highlighting the recent research from Oxford University which links NHS privatisation to 557 deaths – this outsourcing needs to STOP NOW.

CLICK HERE

to sign the petition

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12th November 2022 – SOS NHS

Powerful speeches at SOSNHS 2022 Conference today…..  over twenty speakers including

**Dr Tony O’Sullivan, Co-Chair @keepnhspublic:   “Nurses are striking for the safety of patients and the integrity of the NHS, as well as fair pay and conditions”

**Kate Osborne MP (Jarrow) @KateOsborneMP    “This year history has been made – 300K nurses have voted to strike. As always, I will join them on the picket line. We will ensure that they win”

**Rachel Bannister  @JustTreatment    “Anger creates energy. We need to fight to end the outsourcing of care to private profiteers”

Info: https://sosnhs.org/

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12th November 2022 – Response from Gateshead Council

Good to see the commitment of Gateshead Council in supporting a “free, universal, comprehensive NHS, based on clinical need” and the thorough response from Cllr Caffrey. KONPNE are aware that many Councillors in the North East are supportive and stand by the NHS. There are, however, a number of issues associated with the Councils response to our question which, we feel, require development. Read the question from KONPNE, the Council response and our comments here

11th November 2022 – Feedback needed asap to ICS re draft Strategy

North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System has produced a draft strategy, and are inviting responses by Thursday 25th November 2022. Please view this document and email your comments.  There are a number of important issues to consider highlighting, 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  *commitment to nationally agreed pay and conditions for staff, and commitment to work alongside Unions. Click here (and scroll to part 2) to read more about our concerns.

It is crucial that your views are made clear to the ICS.

CLICK HERE

for links to the ICS Draft Strategy and ICS email address

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9th November 2022 – Mandate for strike action

5th November 2022 – Britain is Broken: Peoples Assembly National Demonstration, London

Remember, remember the 5th of November – this autumn the cost of living crisis has reached new peaks – raised food, heating, lighting, fuel and mortgage costs in the context of wage freezes, all brought about by an incapable Government lacking in strategic direction. Members of KONPNE were proud to join with Peoples Assembly North East at the national march and rally in London to make it clear to the Government that we won’t pay for their actions. The message is straightforward and clear: Wages up, bills down, Tories out.

Thousands join with the North East contingent to ensure a straightforward and clear message: Tories Out

Dr Andrew Mayerson, A & E doctor:

“I love the NHS and we are in deep, deep trouble right now.

I come from the States, the land of private healthcare, where you have to use your credit card to pay for healthcare, where medical care is routinely denied because the insurance company just says no – and that is the direction that the Tories are marching our NHS. That is why I’m here fighting for it because I believe so firmly in the NHS as the best model of healthcare anywhere in the world.

Every generation must fight for the NHS and this is our time to fight back for it, to save it. It’s worth it and we need to do this”.

Click here to hear the full speech on video

#CostOfLivingCrisis
#WagesUpBillsDown

And many thanks to all at Peoples Assembly North East for arranging the coach and for the great company on the way down to London.  https://twitter.com/peepsassemblene

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3rd November 2022 – KONPNE meeting

KONPNE members say THANK YOU; Leeds conference, October 2022

Much discussed at tonights meeting, held via Zoom – including our recent questions to full Council meetings across the NE, joint work with “We Own It” regarding procurement, feedback from the conference in Leeds, information about the forthcoming Peoples Assembly march and rally in London, joining info re the SOS NHS conference, planning for the “Threads of Survival” exhibition and Christmas events. Notes from the meeting plus links etc are posted here – these are open, and for all to read. 

Our next meeting is on Thursday 1st December at 7pm via Zoom – please join us – there is a role for YOU. Zoom joining details are here

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22nd October 2022 – Northern Health Campaign Groups meet in Leeds

Many thanks to John, Gilda, Nick and all at Leeds KONP for organising todays event in Leeds –  a very warm welcome, excellent discussions and contacts made with other northern health campaign groups, and superb presentations from Dr Sally Ruane (Deputy Director of the Health and Social Policy Research Unit at De Montfort University, Leicester), Dr Colin Hutchinson (Chair of Doctors for the NHS and Calderdale Councillor), Felicity Dowling (Save Liverpool Womens Hospital Campaign), Rachael Tomlinson (Disabled People Against Cuts) and Adrian O’Malley (Unison). 

Dr Colin Hutchinson delivered a detailed presentation, highlighting that the ICS Board is required to provide core clinical services – any other service is dependent on money left over, hence the further development of a postcode lottery. He further clarified his position that current cuts to funding will impact on patients and staff, probably both, with fewer treatments, patients travelling further, reduced access to treatments aby increased eligibility criteria and waiting lists, coupled with the possible ditching of national agreements on staff pay and conditions.

Dr Colin Hutchinson speaking, together with conference chair Dr John Puntis

Strong images from the Leeds Conference – October 2022

Five KONPNE members attended – a very useful day indeed. Updates from the day will be provided at the November KONPNE meeting. Thanks once again to all at Leeds KONP.

North East in Yorkshire

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20th October 2022 – “We Own It” launch new petition against NHS privatisation

An impressive “We Own It” petition launch, with over 300 participants….and the action and underlying rationale for the petition is crystal clear – we need you to sign the petition to demand that local NHS leaders commit to end NHS outsourcing BECAUSE 557 deaths are 557 too many.

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 this evening: “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

and 

CLICK HERE

to receive leaflets to distribute to houses on your street

Thank you for everything you do to protect our NHS from privatisation. 

…..and read about the findings of the Goodair and Reeves research study (University of Oxford):

LSE British Politics and Policy    (3rd August 2022)    Areas of England with increased outsourcing of NHS services have more deaths of people with treatable conditions

The Lancet    (July 2022)     Outsourcing health-care services to the private sector and treatable mortality rates in England, 2013–20: an observational study of NHS privatisation

OpenDemocracy     (29th June 2022)    NHS privatisation linked to 557 ‘treatable’ deaths in five years

The Mirror     (29th June 2022)    ‘Treatable deaths’ rise under privatised NHS services, study finds

The Guardian     (29th June 2022)     NHS privatisation drive linked to rise in avoidable deaths, study suggests

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13th October 2022 – Public Question Time at Gateshead Council

NHS campaigners in the North East are putting formal questions to seven North East councils to determine their stance on the new “Integrated Care System” – 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.

Health campaigners have already questioned five local Councils, and today was the turn of Gateshead Council. Our thanks go to Tony Dowling, KONPNE supporter and chair of North East Peoples Assembly for presenting the following question:

I speak on behalf of “Keep Our NHS Public North East”.

Further to the deeply flawed Health and Care Act 2022, you will be aware that “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System” is now responsible for commissioning all healthcare for Gateshead from 1st July this year.

There are potentially a number of problematic areas associated with the new Integrated Care System, and some of these difficulties may be addressed and remedied locally through attention to the wording of the Constitution of the new “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board”. 

Issues that need to be clearly stated within the Constitution include:

– the ICS commitment to maintain a comprehensive health service, free at the point of need, and accessible to all residing in the area

– the need to exclude representatives from private sector organisations on any ICS board or committee; this issue is noted in the Constitution, but there is a “let-out” clause which allows private sector involvement

– a commitment that NHS providers are the default providers of health services

– vigorous scrutiny, transparency and accountability with all new contracts

– a commitment that anyone who needs emergency care while present in Gateshead will receive the necessary treatment, whether or not they are registered with a GP in the county

– a commitment that the Integrated Care Board will include a Councillor from each local authority; the current Constitution identifies one elected member to represent 14 local authorities covering a population of 3 million. Locally, three additional Council officers are identified for the Board, but these are not elected members.  There also need to be representatives from the range of health professionals and patient groups. This presence will uphold local democracy and transparency 

– a commitment to hold all meetings of Boards and Committees in public, making papers available, and welcoming questions from the public

– the requirement for the full assessment of health and care needs, and availability of social supports, prior to a patients discharge from hospital

– the need for all NHS providers within the area to adhere to nationally agreed pay, terms and conditions, as negotiated with NHS staff Unions

I would be grateful if you would please outline what Gateshead Council is doing with regard to each of these issues when in contact with officers of the Integrated Care System, and please confirm the Council’s stance is to support the principle that the NHS must be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of use and based on the clinical needs of patients – not on the new Integrated Care Boards’ financial considerations.

Councillor Lynne Caffrey responded to the question, and this response will be posted here shortly. 

The Council agenda and draft minutes are here: https://gateshead.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=140&MId=3195

How does your Council shape up…….?  Click here to read about our questions to seven full Council meetings across the region this year….

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13th October 2022 – North East and North Cumbria ICS replies

We have, at last, received a response from the local ICS regarding our concerns. 

CLICK HERE

to read our initial email (26th June 2022)

&

CLICK HERE

for the response from NENC ICS (13th October 2022)

We are grateful for the detail in this response, although remain very concerned about much of the content. We will be considering this further and, of course, discussing with supporters.

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6th October 2022 – Planning the Autumn and Winter campaigns

An energising discussion, creative thinking, and lots of action planned at tonights KONPNE meeting – always the first Thursday at 7pm via Zoom. All are welcome.

There’s a lot going on. To find out more about the “Enough is Enough” rally, interventions by Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign, our formal questions to seven NE full Council meetings, our joint work with “We Own It” regarding the local Integrated Care System, the “Threads of Survival” exhibition, the forthcoming Peoples Assembly march and rally, and the Leeds and SOS NHS conferences…. then click here to read the notes from the meeting and/or BETTER STILL !!!!!….. join us at the next monthly KONPNE meeting on Thursday 3rd November 2022 at 7pm – information is here, and there is a role for YOU

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1st October 2022 – Enough is Enough in the North East

…. and Hairy Biker demands that we Keep Our NHS Public

Great to join North East Peoples Assembly and the Enough is Enough campaign for the Day of Action rally this afternoon at Grey’s Monument, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.  A huge attendance, huge support, and a clear message from speakers representing a range of Unions, plus Ian Lavery (MP), Jamie Driscoll (North of Tyne Mayor), Tony Dowling (Peoples Assembly), Stand Up To Racism, Tom Pickard (North East poet) and Si King (Hairy Bikers TV chef and presenter)….

North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll said: “Enough is Enough. People are asking for is a pay rise that stops them from losing money. It is not even a real pay rise, it is just keeping up with inflation. I don’t think its too much to ask that for the people we clapped for on a Thursday night, the people that keep this country running, the people that keep us safe, the people that put food in the shops, for them to be able to pay their bills.” 

Hairy Biker supports Keep Our NHS Public NE

HAIRY BIKER Si King joins with KONPNE (and 1,500 others!) at todays Rally

Speaking to KONPNE after the rally, Hairy Biker Si King commented “Many of my family and friends work in the NHS here in the North East. We need to be calm, be informed, go into the community and tell it like it is. Truth will prevail”.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: We demand ** a real pay rise  ** slash energy bills  ** end food poverty  ** decent homes for all  ** tax the rich

Click here to read the report in the Chronicle 

INFO: click here for the Enough is Enough website

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30th September 2022 – We Own It, KONPNE and Unite

Thank you to Unite Community (Tyne & Wear and Northumberland Branch) for the invitation to speak at todays Branch meeting – there was an opportunity to outline the current demands facing the NHS, present major concerns about the new “Integrated Care System” (click here for info) and describe the forthcoming NHS anti-privatisation Campaign hosted by the national Campaign group “We Own It”. This specific Campaign will comprise a number of actions throughout the coming 12 months; KONPNE are joining with North East “We Own It” members and now, after this afternoons vote, to be joined also by Unite Community (Tyne & Wear and Northumberland). Great to have you on board!

Other groups in the North East have also expressed an interest in joining in with this specific unified Campaign as equal collaborators. Please rest assured that we will be passing all contacts and expressions of interest to the staff at “We Own It”, who will be arranging a virtual meeting and discussion with all interested individuals and groups in the North East and North Cumbria regions. Watch this space – we will be in touch with further details.

If you, or your group, would like to find out more or would like a speaker to address your meeting, please contact “We Own It” at info@weownit.org.uk or “Keep Our NHS Public North East” at konpnortheast@gmail.com

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21st September 2022 – Questions in Northumberland

NHS campaigners in the North East are putting formal questions to seven North East councils to determine their stance on the new “Integrated Care System” – 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.

Scroll down on this page for our contacts with Durham, Sunderland, and Newcastle Councils, and to read about a DISGRACEFUL response from North Tyneside Council.

Today, though, we faced Northumberland County Council in a…. pre-meeting meeting??   Unusually, Public Question Time for Northumberland County Council takes place immediately before the full Council meeting – it is not part of the formal full County Council meeting AND, unlike the full County Council meeting, there is no live stream…. It will be interesting to learn from the Council as to why they have decided to manage public questions in this way as it does appear to minimise the importance of public questions, reduces accessibility and accountability, and may serve to decrease local democracy. We feel that Northumberland County Council would do well to follow the example of the other six city / borough / county Councils in the North East by scheduling questions from the public as an integral part of the full Council meeting.  

Moving on to our question at this rather random “pre-meeting meeting”…..Many thanks to KONPNE supporter Ed Bober from Morpeth, who put the following question to the Council:

“What is Northumberland County Council doing to promote local participation and scrutiny of decision-making by Integrated Care Systems and to ensure that the Integrated Care Systems do not permit private sector representatives to participate in decision making on its board, committees, or other bodies with delegated powers?”

Given that it was a pre-meeting meeting, there is no official video record from Northumberland County Council and, unless we have missed it, there appears to be no link to public questions and responses on the Council website…..  the record of the proceedings is all….. very… vague.  Rest assured that our question did definitely happen!! …and there was definitely a response!!  We have asked for a written copy of the Council response, and also details as to where public questions and responses may be viewed.  Fortunately, a KONPNE supporter in the public gallery made a video, and this is posted here.

Read our commentary on the Northumberland meeting PLUS…… How does your Council shape up…….?  Click here to read about our questions to seven full Council meetings across the region this year….

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Ist September 2022 – KONPNE speaks

Our monthly meeting tonight – and much discussed; click here to read the notes from the meeting.

Meetings always take place on the first Thursday of the month at 7pm via Zoom – please join us on 6th October. Everyone is welcome. More information about the meeting and the Zoom link is here.

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31st August 2022 – 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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4th August 2022 – Monthly KONPNE meeting

Another lively Campaign discussion and planning meeting this evening – notes from the meeting are here – these are open and available for all to read.

Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 1st September 2022 – always the first Thursday of the month at 7pm . All are welcome, and more information is here

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3rd August 2022 – Email to Chair of Health and Wellbeing Board, North Tyneside Council

Given the three shameful “responses” (if you can call them that) from North Tyneside Council (see 22nd July 2022, below), KONPNE has today emailed Cllr Karen Clark, Chair of North Tyneside Health and Wellbeing Board, regarding our original question which, to date, has remained unanswered. We have also copied in all North Tyneside Councillors, and have provided details about our concerns. We will update all of our supporters when a reply is received. 

Our email to Cllr Clark is here, and the information sheet which spells out our concerns is here

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22nd July 2022 – Three unsatisfactory responses from North Tyneside Council – KONPNE members are following this up

North Tyneside Council, democracy and the NHS – is there anyone at home? Or is it all smoke and mirrors?

On 11th July 2022, KONPNE submitted a question to North Tyneside Council, for their response at the full Council meeting scheduled for 21st July 2022. This followed Council protocols around transparency and accountability. Our question to the Council centred around the new “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System”, which is now responsible for making decisions about treatments and commissioning health services in this geographical area – there are huge concerns about the ICS and the impact on local democracy and the further privatisation of the NHS.

NOT ONLY (1) have North Tyneside Council seen fit to disallow, without reason, our question at the July 2022 Council Meeting (see below, scroll to 14th July), AND (2) have totally ignored our subsequent request that this decision be reconsidered (click here – we are still awaiting a reply) …. BUT ALSO (3) they have now followed this up with a totally inadequate and disturbing written response.

Whilst we expected a considered reply to our question about the Integrated Care System (ICS) from a Councillor, one of our elected representatives, instead we have received an anonymous “response” from the NT Council HQ at Silverlink. Forwarded to us by a Personal Assistant to the Director of Children’s and Adult Services, it would be good to know who actually wrote this response, as it does appear to reflect a copy and paste job from the ICS website, coupled with a reluctance to respond to (or attempt to side-step) our actual questions, and ending with what appears to be a very disturbing total disregard for the future of our NHS.

There are only 4 Local Authority representatives on the Integrated Care Board (ICB), despite the ICS covering 14 Local Authorities across North Cumbria and the North East – and 3 of these reps are unelected Council Officers…..so much for democracy?  The response received from North Tyneside Council gives the impression that there is absolutely nothing amiss. We believe that representation at this level is important, as the ICB has ultimate authority regarding all future health contracts across the region, and sets the tone and direction of travel. It is also important to note that the ICB comprises people appointed by the Chair (who is, himself, appointed by NHS England) and, so, our one Councillor is the one and only elected representative of 3 million people across North Cumbria and the North East – we hope that s/he factors in some time for sleep at night. Obviously, tokenism springs to mind.  We believe that the ICB should include a Councillor from each Local Authority, not just one representative covering all 14 Local Authorities. 

And, of course, our fundamental concern is around the ongoing insidious privatisation of our NHS. It is totally unacceptable to read the dismissive statement in the final paragraph from North Tyneside Council that it will “continue to use its influence to ensure that contracts are awarded to providers who will deliver the best services to the residents of the borough”. There is NOTHING in the NT Council response to confirm the Councils commitment to a publicly-funded and publicly provided NHS. The North East and North Cumbria ICS Constitution should include a clear commitment that NHS providers be the default providers of health services, care and treatment and, as contracts with private sector companies come up for renewal, the default position is that they be awarded to NHS providers. We believe that our Councils and Councillors need to be clear in their support for this stance.

Our original questions remain unanswered by North Tyneside Council: 

What is North Tyneside Council doing to promote local participation and scrutiny of decision-making by the ICS and to ensure that the ICS does not permit private sector representatives to participate in decision making on its board, committees, or other bodies with delegated powers?

What will North Tyneside Council do to encourage the ICS to end the outsourcing and privatisation of NHS services?

Our original statement and question to North Tyneside Council is here and the North Tyneside Council response is here. We believe that the Councils response is shameful and we are, of course, following this up. We will keep you informed.

More information about “Integrated Care Systems”, private sector involvement, the composition of the Board, our Campaign so far, and about “North East and North Cumbria ICS” in particular is here.   

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18th July 2022 – Message received – loud and clear 

We need the new “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System” signed up to the pledge – no private companies on ICS Boards. Members of KONPNE were pleased to join in with the “We Own It” initiative and, in total,  a HUGE 1,562 people (1,501 by electronic letter and 61 in writing) across the NE and Cumbria contacted the Chair of the new Board to demand the pledge: NO PRIVATE COMPANIES ON ICS BOARDS. 

The message was received loud and clear by Sir Liam Donaldson, Chair of the Board, who recently left a message on their new ICS website – click here 

The message makes interesting reading, but no absolute assurance – there is a “let-out clause”….

CLICK HERE

and scroll to Part 10 to read more about our huge concerns about the composition of the ICS Board, and specifically about the let out clause. This is a fundamental issue, and a principle is at stake – the ICS is now responsible for commissioning all healthcare in our region.

A start has been made. A huge number of people in the North East and Cumbria now know about this issue, hundreds have contacted the ICS about it, and NENC ICS know that we are closely scrutinising their operational structures and decision-making processes. There is absolutely no place for private sector healthcare on ICS Boards and Committees.  

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14th July 2022 – North Tyneside Councillors in hiding??

Given all the difficulties associated with the “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System”,  we submitted a question on 12th July 2022 for the North Tyneside Council meeting scheduled for 21st July – but received an email response from the Council on 13th July 2022, stating that our question was not accepted for the Council meeting and will be referred to Council officers for a response.

“The Chair of Council considered your question for the Council meeting 21 July 2022 and decided that it be referred to officers to respond to you directly.  Your question will NOT be considered at the meeting next week”.

Strange…. but true.  Of course, we have immediately emailed the Council on 14th July for more information about this decision. We feel that it is our democratic right to put questions to our elected representatives at a full Council meeting, and we await their response. We will keep you updated.

In the interim, click here to read our VERY REASONABLE and APPROPRIATE question to North Tyneside Council, and click here for information about ICSs. BTW, North Tyneside Council please note: Durham, Sunderland and Newcastle Councils have all provided responses to our questions…. scroll down to 6th July and 22nd June.

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11th July 2022 – NHS; Rain AND shine

A message to poet Harry Gallagher and musician JohnE Thornton: A person at the “Keep Our NHS Public” rally at the Monument in Newcastle upon Tyne on Sat 2nd July says that you were both superb. Unfortunately she couldn’t shelter in a shop doorway when the heavens opened during the poetry set BUT, out of respect, she just stood there and got soaked. She said when she walked away her clothes were slapping against her. She was meeting her daughter in a café for lunch and, before that, she needed to go and buy £50 worth of new DRY clothes.    Fandom can be expensive!!

KONPNE:  To the person at the Rally – it is GREAT that you were there…..and stayed!! KEEP IN TOUCH – We need to KEEP OUR NHS PUBLIC, rain AND shine….

Harry and JohnE – as always – THANKYOU

FULL REPORT on the Rally??  Scroll down to 2nd July!!

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9th July 2022 – Durham Miners Gala

The Durham Miners Gala returned after a two-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2022 Gala was dedicated to all key workers – carers and bus drivers, delivery workers and nurses, shop staff and teachers, everyone who had risked (and still are risking) their lives to keep society functioning throughout the pandemic and beyond.

Over the past five Gala’s, supporters of KONPNE have distributed KONP leaflets and Health Campaigns Together newspapers across the site and helped at the Health Campaigns Together stall, and this year was no exception. Although it was baking hot in the marquee, one of the happy perks of campaigning by the side of the stall was that it proved to be a focal point for all our NHS friends and supporters – local and from across the country – and also a place to make connections with people who, we know, we will work together with in the future…. here’s to the future….!

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7th July 2022 – KONPNE meeting

Monthly campaign meeting for KONPNE – always the first Thursday of the month @ 7pm….

The notes from this meeting are here – these are open, and available for all to read!!

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 4th August at 7pm – ALL WELCOME!
Further information and Zoom codes are here

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6th July 2022 – Formal question at full City Council meeting – Newcastle

Further to our report below (22nd June 2022), NHS campaigner and Newcastle resident Clare Bethell continued KONPNE’s planned sequence of putting formal questions to seven Councils in the North East. The aim is to determine each Councils stance on the new North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System (NENC ICS), which is responsible for commissioning all health care in the region, as from 1st July 2022. We have massive concerns about this new system – see our webpage here.

Clare put the following question to Newcastle City Council at tonights full council meeting:

“I speak on behalf of “Keep Our NHS Public North East”.

Further to the deeply flawed Health and Care Act 2022, “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System” is responsible for commissioning all healthcare for the City of Newcastle upon Tyne from 1st July this year. There are potentially a number of problematic areas associated with the new Integrated Care System, and some of these difficulties may be addressed and remedied locally through attention to the wording of the Constitution of the new ” North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board”. 

Issues that need to be clearly stated within the Constitution include 

– the ICS commitment to maintain a comprehensive health service, free at the point of need, and accessible to all residing in the area

– the need to exclude representatives from private sector organisations on any ICS board or committee

– a commitment that NHS providers are the default providers of health services

– vigorous scrutiny, transparency and accountability with all new contracts

– a commitment that anyone who needs emergency care while present in Newcastle will receive the necessary treatment, whether or not they are registered with a GP in the area

– a commitment that the Integrated Care Board will include a Councillor from each local authority and representatives from the range of health professionals and patient groups; this will uphold local democracy and transparency

– a commitment to hold all meetings of Boards and Committees in public, making papers available, and welcoming questions from the public

– the requirement for the full assessment of health and care needs, and availability of social supports, prior to a patients discharge from hospital

– the need for all NHS providers within the area to adhere to nationally agreed pay, terms and conditions, as negotiated with NHS staff Unions

I would be grateful if you would please outline what Newcastle City Council is doing to promote these issues when in contact with officers of the Integrated Care System, and please confirm that Newcastle City Council upholds the principle that the NHS must be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of use and based on the clinical needs of patients – not on the new Integrated Care Boards financial considerations.”

Councillor Karen Kilgour, Deputy Leader of the Council, replied on behalf of Newcastle City Council. Councillor Kilgour confirmed that the Council has a role to play regarding the ICS, but no power to set commitments on behalf of the ICS. She confirmed that Newcastle City Council does have some influence as to how the ICS evolves, and have suggested amendments to the Constitution of the new ICS. She confirmed opposition to any privatisation of the NHS and charging of any form, and confirmed that the move to the ICS won’t change peoples right to treatment in the city – people in the city who need emergency treatment will be able to access it, regardless of address. Councillor Kilgour stated how she has raised many issues and concerns regarding the ICS via the Local Government Association, and will continue to do so.

Clare Bethell, KONPNE campaigner, concluded her question with the following statement:

“We are aware that plans from NHS England outline a much-reduced Councillor and public involvement in decision-making regarding our future health services. This is a huge cause of concern as this does, of course, lead to a direct reduction in local democracy. This situation is both appalling and a disgrace. Please know that we, as Newcastle residents, want a publicly-funded and publicly-provided NHS, and that we support and expect our Councillors to stand up, to ask awkward questions, and to fight to protect our NHS. As from yesterday, we have all benefitted from 74 years of public healthcare – and we need our Councillors, now, to play your part in ensuring that the NHS remains for future generations. Thank you.”

KONPNE awaits Councillor Kilgours above response in writing, and will link her response in full here. The meeting was livestreamed, and this may be viewed on Youtube here  (go to minute 18.16 in the bottom right hand corner of the Youtube screen). To reiterate: “KONPNE supports and expects our Councillors to stand up, to ask awkward questions, and to fight to protect our NHS.”  

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2nd July 2022 – Morpeth celebrates and protests

Excellent joint work by KONP / Morpeth and Pegswood Labour Party Branch –  a great joint team action, out and about in Morpeth to celebrate 74 years of NHS healthcare – and to protest some of the key features of the new “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System” (NENC ICS). This new body is now responsible for all health commissioning in the region and, yes, not many people had heard about it….
There was an excellent response from the Morpeth public – all leaflets went, the NHS birthday card was covered in messages, and many people scanned the poster/board’s QR codes and sent emails on the spot to the Chair of the new NENC ICS. Unsurprisingly, many people were outraged. It’s OUR NHS. It is not, as yet, totally privatised – but this new ICS holds many dangers.

For info about “Integrated Care Systems” – go to our ICS page here

Does your party or group want to get involved / need a speaker at your Zoom / require more information??? Contact KONPNE at konpnortheast@gmail.com

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2nd July 2022 – The Integrated (?) Care (?) System (?) commences in the North East and Cumbria

Yesterday saw the start of the deeply flawed and curiously named “Integrated Care System” – it is a sad day that we now no longer have a “National Health Service” but, instead, 42 localised and stand-alone “health systems”….. together with their much baggage and many, many problems – see here

North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System is now responsible for commissioning all healthcare across the region – a “development” which is hugely significant but one which is not widely known nor reported on. 

So…to inform and enlighten…health campaigners and community organisations took it upon themselves and were out in force in Newcastle-upon-Tyne city centre, to get across HUGE concerns. Hosted by “Keep Our NHS Public North East”, we thank speakers from a wide range of community organisations – Dr Helen Groom (Patients Not Passports), John Harrison (Disabled People Against Cuts), Sean Fahey (North East Pensioners Association), Angela Robinson (NHS Nurse – retired), Caitlin Southern (North East Peoples Assembly), Dr Gerard Reissmann (Newcastle GP – retired), Jan Shortt (General Secretary, National Pensioners Convention) and Jude Letham (Keep Our NHS Public North East). Watch this space and our social media for quotations and resumes of the speeches. Many thanks, one and all.

North East Poet Harry Gallagher was, of course, greeted very warmly. His book “Northern Lights” is a love letter to the people of the North, a region often buffeted and battered by stormy conditions – this new “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System” being no exception. Harry Gallagher, the People’s Poet, engaged the crowd with his dry humour, brutal honesty, and passionate conviction...and, starting and ending the rally, we were also very fortunate to welcome musician JohnE Thornton. JohnE has worked in the NHS for 10 years, and is now well-known on the Newcastle and coastal scene for the music gigs he hosts and plays in. Many, many thanks to both Harry and JohnE. 

We mustn’t forget that Tuesday next week marks 74 years of healthcare from our NHS. There is no celebratory gateau this year…we reckon 42 separately baked, cut-price cupcakes would be a more accurate motif….but that menu can be changed. Please sign the petition, email the Chair of the ICS, liaise with your local Councillor, contact your MP, link up with your Healthwatch, get involved in our actions and speak up – we need to fight to reinstate our NHS.

….and, so, it is now over to all people living and working in the NE to get involved with the Campaign and to continue the fight in this region. Click here for details of the Integrated Care System….and please be active – click here to find details about our forthcoming Campaigns.

If you want an NHS, you need to be an NHS activist.  

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26th June 2022 – HUGE CONCERNS: KONPNE contacts Chair of NE Integrated Care System

There are, of course, HUGE concerns regarding the curiously-named “Integrated Care System” – a misnomer, if ever there was one.

It is a sad day indeed that there is no longer a unified national health service but, rather, a collection of 42 separate health divisions across England, each responsible for making decisions about treatments and commissioning services for their geographical area. “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System” (NENC ICS) is now responsible, as from 1st July this year, for the healthcare in the North East.

CLICK HERE

to read todays email from Jude Letham (KONPNE Co-ordinator) to Sir Liam Donaldson (Chair of NENC ICS), with cc to Sam Allen (Chief Exec, NENC ICS)

and

CLICK HERE

for our ICS webpage. It is crucial that we all stand up for the NHS regarding this.

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22nd June 2022 – Formal questions to two full Council meetings – Durham and Sunderland

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18th June 2022 – Who’s NHS?   OUR NHS

KONPNE and thousands make it clear to Johnson et al…   It’s OUR NHS and we NEED to keep it PUBLIC.   Proud to support the TUC Demo in London yesterday 

The Guardian   (18th June 2022)   Thousands march in London over cost of living crisis

The Guardian    (18th June 2022)   ‘It’s awful actually’: voices from the cost of living protest in London

Royal College of Midwives     (17th June 2022)   Midwives rally to the cause and demand better for workers in mass London protest

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11th June 2022 – Campaigning by Metro

PROUD TO STAND UP FOR THE NHS on the WE OWN IT day of action on Saturday. IT IS OUR NHS – not big business / American corporations / multinationals with shareholders….. Tyneside campaigners travelled the Metro with stops at Whitley Bay, North Shields and Byker….and gaining many more signatures for the email to the Chair of “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System” (the body now responsible for health contracts in the NE). We need to keep private corporations away from NHS Boards.

HAVE YOU SIGNED?????? NOT TOO LATE – CLICK ON OUR “INTEGRATED CARE SYSTEM” PAGE HERE AND SCROLL TO ACTION 2 ….. IT WILL TAKE YOU 2 MINUTES!!!!

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6th June 2022 – Demanding Better; Join the Fightback

Many thanks to Peoples Assembly North East for inviting KONPNE to speak at the public meeting this evening. alongside John Harrison (Disabled people Against Cuts), Fran Heathcote (Public and Commercial Services Union) and John Woodhouse (Communication Workers Union).

Solidarity. NO to cuts and privatisation.

Peoples Assembly is one of our longstanding campaign partners, and does a great job in encouraging joint actions amongst organisations in the North East.

INFO: https://www.facebook.com/PANorthEast/

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2nd June 2022 – KONPNE meeting

Monthly campaign meeting for KONPNE – always the first Thursday of the month @ 7pm….

Please click here for the notes from this meeting – these are open, and available for all to read.

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 7th July at 7pm – ALL WELCOME!
Further information and Zoom codes are here

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14th May 2022 – Shut Hassockfield Down

It’s time we made the UK a welcoming, supportive and kind place that welcomes those who are forcibly displaced, no matter where they come from. No one chooses to be a refugee. The health needs of refugees can be considerable, given recent trauma, displacement and separation, and places such as Hassockfield serve to intensify symptoms. It is time the Government abolishes its hostile policies, and closing immigration prisons like these is the first step in doing so.

It was important for supporters of KONPNE to be present today and to stand in solidarity with many other groups and individuals against this abhorrent facility. 

Mary Kelly Foy, MP for the City of Durham: “I am fundamentally opposed to the detention of vulnerable refugees. Instead of this dehumanising process, I echo the call of human rights activists that asylum claims should be resolved in the community without the trauma of detention.”

Agnes Tanoh, “Women for Refugee Women”, started a petition against the new detention centre that has now been signed by over 16,700 people. She said: “I know how detention destroys a woman, because I was locked up for over three months at Yarl’s Wood detention centre, before the Government accepted that I am a refugee. I witnessed the suffering of vulnerable women while I was there. The Government promised to reduce its use of detention because of the harm it causes, but they broke this promise by opening Derwentside detention centre – the first one to open in over seven years. Protest is an act of solidarity. Together we have one strong and loud voice”.

CLICK HERE for the No to Hassockfield Campaign, HERE for the report in the Northern Echo, HERE for the video from Rochelle, and HERE for our NHS and Migration website page  

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12th May 2022 – KONPNE speaks

It is always good to catch up with like-minded people at our monthly KONPNE campaign meeting. The agenda tonight comprised information and planning around a huge range of NHS-related issues. One thing is for sure – we are never stuck for issues to talk about. Please click here for the notes from our meeting – including updates on Hassockfield protest, Durham Gala, TUC march and rally, local groups, petitions, questions to local councils, Integrated Care Systems, and more….

Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 2nd June – all welcome, and please click here for details.

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23rd April 2022 – Three questions to put to candidates in the forthcoming Council elections

Knock knock….

At this time of the year, we can guess who’s there….

Here’s three key questions to put to prospective Councillors – or, indeed, all Councillors even if they are not facing an election this year….and if there is no knock on the door, please click here for email addresses of current Councillors….

WE NEED COUNCILLORS WHO ARE ACTIVE IN PROTECTING OUR NHS!!

a) What will you do to encourage local NHS commissioning services to keep healthcare within the NHS? (Over the last decade, £96 billion has been paid to private companies for NHS services – privatisation puts profits before patients).

b) How will you work to increase democracy in local health structures?  (The Health and Care Bill reduces the contributions of councillors and local people on NHS decision-making bodies)

c) What are you doing to fight for fair pay for all NHS staff?  (The current pay offer of 3% is derisory and unacceptable. It is not surprising that there are 100,000 vacancies in the NHS – an average nurse in the UK has lost 20% of income over the past 10 years)

….and please let us know responses at konpnortheast@gmail.com – thank you!

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20th April 2022 – Order NOW!! 

𝐍𝐇𝐒 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐄𝐆𝐄 The fight to save it in the age of Covid – Edited by John Lister (Health Campaigns Together) and Jacky Davis (KONP), with a foreword by Michael Rosen….

Published 19 May 2022 and PRE-ORDER NOW from https://merlinpress.co.uk

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14th April 2022 – “Rebuild Our NHS” Campaign – out and about in Wallsend and Tynemouth

Further to the KONPNE Campaign meeting last week, today saw our first leafletting session of the “Rebuild Our NHS” campaign. We made a very good start in Wallsend town centre and in Tynemouth – and the challenge now is for much further distribution, far and wide. We need your help.

Please click here to order free leaflets from “We Own It” – these will be posted to your address, for you to deliver to houses in your street or locality, or for you to distribute via an organisational street stall, etc.

You can read up on the background to ICSs on our website here  and remember: If we don’t fight to protect our NHS, we will always lose. But if we fight we have a chance of winning.

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14th April 2022 – Socialist Health Association

Great to be invited to speak at tonights SHA North East meeting, alongside Coral Jones from London. Much discussion and many ideas generated regarding possible ways forward, especially with regard to challenging some of the issues associated with the proposed Integrated Care System. It will be great to carry out further Campaign work together in the future.

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7th April 2022 – Monthly KONPNE campaign meeting

Discussions and planning regarding the “We Own It” Rebuild Our NHS campaign, Integrated Care Systems, asking questions at forthcoming Full Council meetings, Livi, digital access to health, Hassockfield and TUC demonstrations, and the start of a KONPNE activists WhatsApp group =  a busy meeting. The notes from this meeting are here – these are open and available for all to read. 

Our next monthly meeting will take place on Thursday 12th May at 7pm via Zoom – this is a week later than usual due to the local elections. Please join with us – all welcome. Further information about this meeting and details for joining via Zoom is here.

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2nd April 2022 – Cost of Living March and Rally, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Today’s Cost of Living Crisis demonstrations is the fourth in a series of protests organised by the People’s Assembly, and supported by trade unions, community, and campaign groups, including KONPNE. As the Tories’ cost of living crisis continues, we continue to protest.

We must not let the Tory government make us pay for their Cost Of Living Crisis – collectively we must continue to fight back and force the changes we need.
Crucial that we join forces to keep up the pressure on the government.

Many thanks to North East Peoples Assembly for organising. Contact:  peoplesassemblyne@gmail.com

Read the report in the Chronicle here

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24th March 2022 – Rebuild Our NHS; Get Private Profiteers Out

Great that John Whalley, KONPNE Steering Group member, was invited to speak as one of the panellists at the national  launch of the new “We Own It” Campaign. Rebuild our NHS is one of the most ambitious campaigns ever launched by WOI, and will enable unprecedented pressure to be placed on local NHS leaders to kick private companies out of local NHS bodies and put local people first.

Locally, this Campaign will involve supporting people in the North East and North Cumbria to send 3000 emails to the chair of the “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System” (ICS) + leafletting + newspaper and radio coverage. The same actions will also take place, regionally, with regard to the other 41 ICSs across England.

At the national launch rally this evening, NHS campaigners from across the country spoke about why action on the local level is effective. Pamela Sloan who helped stop the closure of a local A&E in Chorley reminded us: “mosquitoes are tiny, but together they can run a mighty buffalo mad”. Len Hockey, a Unite workplace rep, spoke about how they won their fight to get Serco-employed hospital workers in London insourced into the NHS just last month. Mike Forster and Louise Irvine spoke about how they won fights in Huddersfield (West Yorkshire) and in Lewisham (South East London) respectively, to save their local hospitals. Speaking about health campaigning in the North East, John Whalley highlighted the recent successful “SOS NHS” day of action; the event, at Longsands, Tynemouth, centred around raising public awareness and engagement, and involved speakers, local musicians, poets and public participation in a “sand sculpture” – this beach event was a “first” for KONPNE….

KONPNE will be prioritising the Rebuild Our NHS Campaign over the next few weeks. To get involved immediately, please use this link https://weownit.org.uk/find-my-nhs  then add your postcode and send the prepared email to the ICS chair….and please share this link with your family, friends, colleagues and contacts on your social media too. KONPNE will also be arranging some local events to get this message out to the public – we will let you know places and times.

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9th March 2022 – Surfing in North Tyneside?

Moving away from Longsands to a very different kind of surfing….North Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group has recently commissioned Northumbria University to carry out a survey relating to residents access to digital technology. The researchers comment that “we want to gather as much information on digital technology use to inform a digital plan for North Tyneside. This information will also be used to help to shape how people access future services. When referring to digital technology, we mean the devices used to access the internet, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktop computers, smart speakers, etc.”

Whilst there is a place for digital technology in public services, it is crucial that quality of healthcare is not undermined. The prolonged underfunding of the NHS, staff shortages, and the ongoing cuts to services, coupled with the Covid pandemic, have all impacted on the NHS, and the increased use of digital technology must not be used as an inadequate quick-fix. Nor must it be used as a backdoor for increased NHS privatisation. We are aware that, in early 2020, the very same North Tyneside CCG awarded the private company “Livi” an initial contract to carry out virtual consultations in Primary Care. This company has very recently been given a 5 year contract, and all is undoubtedly part of a very slippery privatisation slope: Livi claims to be Europe’s largest digital healthcare provider – see here.

So, North Tyneside residents, please fill out the survey at the following link: https://northumbria.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/resident-survey     

Question 34 is freetext, and supporters of KONPNE have recorded their huge concern about the health inequalities that may be heightened through increased digital technology (some patients can’t use such technology, or can’t afford to use it), the decreased continuity of care brought about through virtual consultations with private health companies, and the misdiagnoses (symptoms are more accurately assessed at a face-to-face consultation). And, of course, the reality that many digital healthcare platforms are underpinned by finance from private companies, all eager to placate the shareholder…  Other supporters may wish to highlight these and other important issues.

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5th March 2022 – We Won’t Pay for the Crisis

Many thanks to North East Peoples Assembly for inviting KONPNE to speak at today’s Cost of Living Crisis Rally in Newcastle – inflation and rising prices are squeezing wages with no pay rise in sight for healthcare staff, all working tirelessly within services which face relentless cuts or privatisation. This Government does not care.

Speakers included Matt Perry (UCU), Steve Swainston (PCS NEC),Tay Pitman (Green Party), Bill Corcoran (NUFC Fans Food Bank), Tony Dowling (People’s Assembly) and Jude Letham (KONPNE).

Jude Letham, KONPNE Co-ordinator, Cost of Living Crisis Rally in Newcastle, 5th March 2022: “Please do not leave campaigning for the NHS to someone else. If you want an NHS, you must become an NHS campaigner. Start this week: sign the SOS NHS petition, follow KONPNE on social media and talk to family and friends about what is happening to the NHS”

Click here for the news coverage and video from The Chronicle

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4th March 2022 – Some excellent news….

KONPNE sends huge congratulations to the striking workers at Barts Hospital who have now won their long fight to be brought back in house. Hundreds of cleaners, porters, security guards and domestic staff are to benefit from NHS pay, terms and conditions – these staff will be transferred across to join the existing Barts Health staff as NHS employees under the Agenda for Change (AfC) conditions – click here for info.

Outsourced workers at St George’s Hospital have also won sick pay alongside their NHS colleagues after prolonged pressure from the GMB union too. 

The truth is that campaigning works, Government’s and organisations can and often are forced to make U-Turns and are occasionally even pushed from office. Public consciousness can and does frequently shift and arguments are won.

Never give up the fight…. 

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3rd March 2022 – KONPNE speaks

Wide-ranging discussions and planning at tonights meeting – feedback on the “SOS NHS” campaign and actions of last Saturday, updates on the Health and Care Bill and a possible refocus away from the Parliamentary process and onto local “Integrated care Systems”, North Tyneside CCG survey, Patients Not Passports update, discussion around campaign funds, and dates for future speakers and rallies. It’s looking like a busy Spring and Summer ahead!  The notes from this meeting are here – open for all to read.

Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 7th April at 7pm via Zoom – please join with us – all welcome. Further information about this meeting and details for joining via Zoom is here.

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Congratulations to all at the KONP Sunderland and District group for the absolutely amazing piece of artwork!!

Created as part of the SOS NHS national Day of Action, the heart art took residents and visitors to Seaburn by surprise, and led to many conversations.

Whose NHS?

#OURNHS

CLICK HERE

to read the article in the Shields Gazette

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TO #OURNHS, with from Tynemouth

All Photos with kind permission of Mark Husmann

Part of the SOS NHS national Day of Action (click here for details), 

WE DEMAND:

(1) Approve emergency funding of £20 billion to save lives this winter

(2) Invest in a fully publicly owned NHS & guarantee free healthcare for future generations

(3) Pay staff properly: without fair pay, staffing shortages will cost lives

Organised and supported by local residents and by “Keep Our NHS Public North East”, the beach event at Tynemouth was a first for KONPNE!!

A celebration of #OURNHS, but with a very serious message relayed through a mix of superb music, poetry, speeches and a HUGE human sculpture in the sand for #OURNHS….all buffeted by a gentle wind, much sun (especially early on) and a little chill (especially towards the end). Many thanks to all who turned up to make the event so successful…..

Speeches:

**Dr Helen Groom (Retired GP, NHS campaigner and member of the “No to Hassockfield Campaign”)  **Julia Charlton (Retired Nurse Tutor / Academic)  **message from Gail Ward (Disabled People Against Cuts / Protect Tynedale NHS)  **Joe Kirwin (Councillor and chair of North Tyneside health scrutiny committee)  **William Jarrett (Unite, Newcastle Hospitals Branch)  **message from a GP  **Tony Dowling (North East Peoples Assembly)  **Sean Fahey (North East Pensioners Association)  **Jude Letham (Keep Our NHS Public North East)

Poetry:

**Harry Gallagher – Cullercoats poet. His book “Northern Lights” is a love letter to the people of the North, a region often buffeted and battered by stormy conditions but which in the end always prevails

**Joan Hewitt (Award-winning Tynemouth poet. Joan read a poem by Michael Rosen, whose treatment during a Covid- induced coma and long recovery left him with enormous gratitude to NHS staff.

fantastic acoustic sets:

**Pete Shaw – Artist and singer songwriter, Pete has appeared at the Cambridge Folk Festival, Brampton Live, WOMAD and many other festivals and venues across the UK. He is locally loved for his brilliant guitar- playing , warmth and cheeky humour

**Jimmy Ince – well-known and loved on the northeast music scene for his acoustic versions of standards, recents and rap, all delivered with a highly-individual twist.

and special thanks to:

**Mark Husmann – photographer extraordinaire

**Joan Hewitt – for boundless energy in event planning and organisation

CLICK HERE

to read the report from Chronicle Online

WE DEMAND:

(1) Approve emergency funding of £20 billion to save lives this winter

(2) Invest in a fully publicly owned NHS & guarantee free healthcare for future generations

(3) Pay staff properly: without fair pay, staffing shortages will cost lives

The details of local North East events planned by KONPNE will be posted here (if your group or organisation is also planning an event for the Day of Action, please let us know, and we will be pleased to publicise)

Kill The Bill National Day of Action – Rally at the Monument, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Is there anything more deserving of protest than a plan to infringe the right to protest?

Voting on the Police and Crime Bill takes place in the Lords next week and THIS BILL MUST BE STOPPED.   KONPNE were proud to speak at the Kill The Bill Rally in Newcastle today, and many thanks to North East Peoples Assembly, Stand Up to Racism North East, Resist Ncl and Extinction Rebellion North East for organising the event. A great turn out – and, now, we expect our representatives in London to do the right thing by voting to uphold democracy and human rights.

Jude Letham, Co-ordinator, spoke on behalf of KONPNE.  Click here  to watch (most of) the speech on video, and click here for a written version

Click here for more info about the Police and Crime Bill

KONPNE Co-ordinator Jude Letham speaks at the Kill the Bill Rally, 15th January 2022

Monthly meeting this evening – but much shortened (30 mins) and at an earlier time, so that supporters may attend the national KONP online rally. A brief discussion on plans to support the forthcoming climate change march and rally in Newcastle, plus updates on the campaigns re Livi and the Health and Care Bill.

Notes from the KONPNE meeting this evening are here

A link to the national KONP rally is here – some powerful speeches. Rally hosted by “Keep Our NHS Public”, “NHS Workers Say No” and “NHS Staff Voices”

All are welcome at the 2nd December KONPNE meeting – next month at the usual time of 7pm, and lasting for 1 hr 30mins – log in details are here. We meet on the first Thursday of every month.

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This morning, KONPNE were proud to support the Newcastle group of “Patients Not Passports” in campaigning against the charging of asylum seekers and refugees for NHS services.

Pictured outside the iconic Whitley Bay Dome, Clare Bethell from the “Patients Not Passports” group said: “My work with asylum seekers with Care for Calais has shown me that migrants and asylum seekers in need of health care will not use the NHS for mental health issues, pregnancy or infectious diseases care because they know that they will be sent a bill for thousands of pounds. When they don’t pay, our hospital trusts send the debt collectors after them. When they try and register with GPs they are often asked for a myriad of documents to prove who they are and where they live, which they don’t have. They then become more unwell and need more care than they would have done. We must stop patient charging in the NHS and return to an NHS with no Borders.”

#patientsnotpassports #medact #nobordersinthenhs #refugeeswelcomehere #setherfree #migrantsorganise #careforcalais #NEAR

More information about the “Patients Not Passports” week of action is here  and information about the Hostile Environment is on our webpage here

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We will be taking part in the ‘We Own It’  Day of Action to oppose the “Health & Care Bill” (or “NHS Corporate Takeover Bill”, as it is more accurately known).

Find out more about the ‘We Own It’ Day of Action here

On Saturday 30th October, campaigners are asked to take a selfie (wearing a Richard Branson mask or vampire teeth) at a local landmark, alongside a message about private health companies sucking the life out of the NHS, and then to post it on social media with tags to ourselves.

….. or, alternatively, members of KONP North East Steering Group will be briefly visiting Blyth (10.30am), Consett (12.30pm) and Bishop Auckland (2pm) – please join us for a group photo  – more details plus addresses (for photos) are on our events page here. 

Find out more about the Bill on our website here

Photo: KONPNE action last year: Blood-sucking private companies at Grey’s Monument, Newcastle October 2020

Much discussed at tonights meeting, including further Campaign plans to fight against the provisions of the Health and Care Bill, and an update on Livi –  the privatisation in North Tyneside Primary Care.

The notes from this meeting are here, and are open to all to read.

Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 4th November (always the first Thursday of the month) – details are here

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Forming part of the national Day of Action called by the campaign group “We Own It”, members of “KONP North East” and “KONP Sunderland” met in a very hot and sunny Newcastle city centre, rolled up their sleeves, and demonstrated how the government’s new NHS legislation (The Health and Care Bill 2021) is a tug of war between private companies and our NHS in England.  The usual suspects were represented – Centene, Virgin, Serco – plus the local newcomer, Livi, which is a private healthcare company offering virtual appointments in GP practices in North Tyneside….for info, Livi claims to be Europe’s largest digital healthcare provider….currently with a one-year contract in North Tyneside primary care…. This must be stopped.

Johnson was also at the Monument, attempting to appease NHS staff with a miserly 1%, and even HRH couldn’t help with the George medal; the medal was appreciated – but it doesn’t pay the bills…..

And our message was, obviously, well-received in the North East today.  Huge thanks to people in Newcastle who jumped at the opportunity to join in and clearly knew which tug of war team to join. It is crucial that we continue to join forces to bring an end to the lucrative contracts to healthcare companies which, of course, involves a cut of the cash going to the pockets of shareholders. And, it is also crucial that the professionals who work in our NHS receive a fair wage – the 1% offer is, in short, an insult.

Some street theatre, but with a very serious message. Back in Parliament, the government is pushing ahead with its Health and Care Bill. The NHS needs us more than ever: this legislation includes so many dangerous changes….like letting PRIVATE COMPANIES sit on NHS boards, where they’ll have a say on people’s care and how NHS money is spent ?!?!   Unbelievable – but true.

The NHS has just turned 73 – and if you want it to be with us for another 73 years, then this Bill must be amended. Write to your MP now, sign the petitions, download and share the leaflets: all at https://konpnortheast.com/ics/

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Our SINCERE THANKS go to ALL staff at hospitals, health centres, clinics and surgeries throughout the North East. Wherever you are based, we offer a sincere THANK YOU for your care and commitment throughout 2020 from all at Keep Our NHS Public North East. 

December 2020: Outside Hexham General Hospital | opposite Freeman Hospital | at Sunderland Royal Hospital | outside Sunderland Minster | entrance to Queen Elizabeths Hospital, Gateshead | entrance at Blyth Community Hospital / Health Centre | opposite the RVI, Newcastle upon Tyne | Adjacent to the Health Centre, Whitley Bay | opposite the entrance to James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough | near Richardson Community Hospital, Barnard Castle | on Rake Lane, outside North Tyneside General Hospital | South Tyneside General Hospital | main entrance, University Hospital of North Durham | outside Wansbeck General Hospital, Ashington 

Please click the following links to see the thank you video on youtube, on facebook and on twitter  …..and please share and retweet!!  It’s the very least we can all do.

(Video music: www.bensound.com  track: Inspire)

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14th December 2020 – Christmas message for Dehenna Davison MP (Bishop Auckland) ….and all North East MPs

Constituents are expecting ALL 22 North East MPs, from Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle up to Berwick-upon-Tweed, to vote in favour of the Amendments to the Trade Bill which will protect our NHS. MPs may rest assured that constituents are following the situation very closely….

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8th December 2020 – House of Lords backs the NHS

Some good news this morning – the Lords have voted in favour of an Amendment that would block any trade deal that undermines the NHS’s ability to provide free services or control drug prices. The amendment states there could be no trade deal which “in any way undermines or restricts” the ability of authorities to “provide a comprehensive publicly funded health service free at the point of delivery,” or “regulate and control the pricing and reimbursement systems for the purchase of medicines or medical devices”.

Baroness Thornton stated: “These are national assets which must not be put in jeopardy or squandered in whatever the future holds for UK trade with the world. While the Government have repeatedly pledged that the NHS is not on the table in trade negotiations, we know that there have been detailed conversations between UK and US negotiators, revealing that health services have been discussed.  The US is probing the UK’s health insurance system and has made clear its desire for the UK to change its drug pricing mechanism.”

It is now CRUCIAL that all MPs now vote in favour of these Amendments when the vote returns to the Commons in early 2021. When this Bill was discussed in the Commons in July 2020, SIX North East MPs voted AGAINST amendments which would have provided some degree of protection to the NHS – this is not acceptable and, this time round, all MPs must do the right thing.

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED WITH THE CAMPAIGN – click here

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7th December 2020 – with “We Own It” in Blyth

Great to be part of the “We Own It” initiative in Blyth this morning – delivering a Christmas card to the local MP…

DEAR IAN LEVY MP – ALL WE WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS FOR YOU TO PROTECT OUR NHS FROM TRADE DEALS BY VOTING FOR THE SCRUTINY AND NHS PROTECTION AMENDMENTS IN THE TRADE BILL

Important to note that, when the Trade Bill was voted on in the Commons in July this year, Mr Levy was one of six North East MP who, indeed, voted AGAINST Amendments which would have provided some degree of protection to our NHS. The vote will be returning to the Commons again early in the New Year 2021 and we trust that, on this occasion, Mr Levy will be doing the right thing  for the people of Blyth and for the future of the NHS. MPs need to ensure that this Bill does not open up the NHS to further sell-offs and take-overs by multinationals…

…and as for this “Boris Johnson” this morning – he’s giving a clue to his preferred direction of travel? Blyth constituents are watching the situation very closely.

More info is here

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3rd December 2020 – KONPNE speaks

Much discussion and plans made, as we approach the Christmas period: a focus on the Trade Bill continues, with our lobby now shifting from the Lords to the Commons (see here), much good work is ongoing regarding challenging the unjust NHS charges to migrants (here) and, in the wake of the moves to privatisation in Primary Care in North Tyneside (Livi), we are still asking questions at Full Council meetings and alerting local Councillors to appalling privatisation developments (here), plus our installation of end of year THANKYOU BANNERS outside hospitals throughout the North East region ….and some dates for the 2021 diary: we are aiming to have KONPNE meetings on the first Thursday of every month at 7pm, currently via Zoom….Book it in now!!

Our next meeting will take place on 7th January 2021 (here). All are welcome.

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KONPNE member John Whalley put the following question to the full meeting of North Tyneside Council, at the full Council meeting on 26th November 2020. The question focused on North Tyneside CCG commissioning the private firm “Livi” to provide virtual GP appointments on a one year pilot basis.

Question to NT Council – Nov 2020 revised

Councillor Margaret Hall responded on behalf of the Council, and her response is recorded here, at part 9: https://democracy.northtyneside.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=2144

The video of the meeting is here (go to 38:40 mins): https://youtu.be/f5mh4pcZ9VE

In response to the question, Councillor Hall made the North Tyneside Council position very clear in stating that “North Tyneside Council is 100% opposed to any privatisation of the NHS and as long as Labour remain in control of North Tyneside Council it shall remain opposed to any privatisation of our precious NHS”.

Regarding Livi, Councillor Hall went on to say that “The evaluation of the pilot will be under the full scrutiny of all committee members. We agree that North Tyneside CCG should not be putting healthcare into the hands of profit-making companies. They also know that new and changed services in our local NHS always get the close attention of North Tyneside Council. This has been demonstrated by the Adult Social Care, Health and Wellbeing Sub Committee calling in the CCG’s Livi pilot for scrutiny. We’ve seen this year exploitation of the NHS by private businesses for huge profits by friends of government. A great example of how not to trust commercial arrangements”.

KONPNE: Councillor Hall has made the position of North Tyneside Council very clear regarding Livi. The Livi contract will be up for evaluation in the early part of 2021, representatives of North Tyneside Council are on the evaluation group, and we expect these people to stand up and be counted regarding this important matter

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20th November 2020 – NHS is already part-privatised

In todays Metro – more info here

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16th November 2020 – email to Healthwatch North Tyneside

As we are all too well aware, lucrative contracts are increasingly being awarded to private businesses and corporations for healthcare, with the subsequent erosion and rundown of the NHS. North Tyneside CCG is no stranger to this process, having recently handed over an undisclosed sum to “Livi”, an international digital healthcare company, to provide virtual GP appointments to patients in North Tyneside.

Livi? Livid, more like. KONPNE has emailed North Tyneside CCG, North Tyneside Council, and others….and Healthwatch North Tyneside is the latest organisation to be contacted by us to ascertain their views and to mobilise support – see our email here….

We need your support…. click here for information, to see the rest of our communications and to join in with the Campaign

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4th November 2020 – KONPNE questions Northumberland County Council

Northumberland resident Richard Spedding, on behalf of KONPNE, questioned Northumberland County Councillors about NHS privatisation at the full Council meeting today. Two questions were read out at the Council meeting, and Cllr Veronica Jones (Conservative, Councillor for Ponteland West, Cabinet member for Adult Wellbeing, and Health and Wellbeing Board member) provided responses. Click here for details:

Question, and response from Cllr Jones – Northumberland County Council 4.11.20

Needless to say, KONPNE will be communicating with Cllr Jones (cc rest of the Northumberland Council) regarding her inadequate response. There appear to exist inconsistencies between Cllr Jones overview of NHS funding and the Channel Four fact check (click here regarding the Tory claims of investing £33.9 billion) and we also need to remind Cllr Jones about the REAL direction of travel re Integrated Care Systems (very sadly, ICSs WILL MOST CERTAINLY shift the balance between public and private services – not this year, but fast forward to the time of large-scale takeovers by multinational corporations, made possible through the creation of this very same ICS system). We suggest that Cllr Jones reads our KONPNE briefing paper We Need To Be Worried about the NHS Long Term Plan, Integrated Care Systems and Primary Care Networks

Members of KONPNE are active in putting similar questions to the six other Councils in the North East – click here for details 

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12th November 2020 – In North West Durham

Great to take part in discussions this evening about campaigning for a publicly provided NHS. NW Durham CLP arranged this event, and friends from the Socialist Health Association also spoke. A very lively evening, many questions and much interest.

Please contact us at konpnortheast@gmail.com if you would like a speaker (plus optional slide presentation) – all can be done via Zoom – and we will do our very best to assist. See here for details.

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3rd November 2020 – Tomorrow: our question to Northumberland County Council

Prompted by the recent growth in “outsourcing” (aka NHS privatisation) by North Tyneside CCG, members of KONPNE are putting questions to local North East Councils about NHS privatisation in their area. Next up is Northumberland County Council, with a question put to the full Council by KONPNE member Richard Spedding. This will be read out and responded to by a Council officer. Read the question here. The meeting will take place online on Wednesday 4th November – public questions are scheduled for 2.45pm, immediately before the full Council meeting. You can follow the question live at this link.

A question was also submitted to Newcastle City Council for consideration at the Newcastle full Council meeting on the same day, but our question was declined, as they felt it to be similar to a question asked by us at the Newcastle full Council meeting in March this year – we disagree, and will be following up on this with a view to putting our question to Newcastle in November or the New Year.

See here  (towards the bottom of the page) for the questions already presented to Gateshead and Sunderland Councils at their full Council meetings in September, plus their responses, and see also the emails to North Tyneside, South Tyneside and County Durham Councils.

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30th October 2020 – The Vampires are Out

KEEP OUR NHS PUBLIC NORTH EAST show a true horror story at Grey’s Monument, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Halloween 2020. The Vampires are out – sucking the lifeblood from our NHS……

Click here

to see the KONPNE Halloween video – but be warned….this is a REAL horror story

24th October 2020 – Nightmare at the Monument

Click on photos to enlarge

SUCKING THE LIFEBLOOD FROM OUR NHS – Private multinational companies such as Serco, Sital and Deloitte are gaining increasing numbers of contracts to try to carry out health-related work. It is clear that the sudden onset of Covid 19 has provided the cover for many such contracts to be handed over by the Government, often without scrutiny or competition. We should be expanding our NHS to undertake additional health related work and not continually running to the private sector who have shown time and time again that they do not have the expertise.

WANT TO HEAR A DOUBLE HORROR STORY? – At the same time, Johnson and Trump are keen to work out a trade deal, discussions are well in progress and, in the Trade Bill which is currently going through Parliament, the NHS is NOT excluded. This paves the way for large-scale take overs by by US private companies, reduced access to medication, the harvesting of our UK patient data by US firms and the lowering of standards in medication, technology, and the numbers / skills / pay and conditions of staff.

NHS R.I.P? TIME IS RUNNING SHORT – Click here for information about what YOU can do now.

This morning, as part of the National Day of Action against the US Trade Deal, KONPNE dressed in Halloween costume on Saturday to get the point across – but this really is now a matter of huge concern, and your assistance is needed.

23rd October 2020 – Remote Rebels 3

Great Remote Rebels 3 gig this weekend from Peoples Assembly North East. Many thanks David McAllister, Alix Alixandra and Bethany Elan for fantastic singing, Theresa Easton for the campaign update and Tony Dowling for hosting.

Many thanks also for inviting KONPNE to speak – KONPNE Steering Group member John Whalley describes the Tory negligence regarding the NHS and Covid 19 at 1:23…  click here to watch

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22nd October 2020 – KONPNE Press release

17th October 2020 – No to Serco Newcastle

KONPNE joined with Peoples Assembly North East outside SERCO offices in Newcastle to demand: “Scrap Serco – Hands Off Our NHS”

btw….Serco’s CEO is the brother of a former Tory MP.  His partner is a Tory Party donor. And Serco’s former spin doctor is the Tory Minister for Health…. 

Parliament recently voted on Test and Trace going to local public health teams, not Serco. The Tories voted it down.

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15th October 2020 – KONPNE Zooms

Great to meet up with everyone tonight for the October KONPNE meeting. Feedback on the range of actions re the “LIVI” privatisation in North Tyneside and also the Trade Bill – and plans made for further (socially-distanced and safe) actions over the next month. Feedback also from our friends in the neighbouring Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign. Notes from this meeting are here

There is much happening in the North East – click here for details. Details regarding the November KONPNE meeting will also be posted in the same place.

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13th October 2020 – “Not about profit….”

Great range of speakers in tonights webinar, including Jude Letham (Co-ordinator, KONPNE), Martin Gannon (Leader, Gateshead Council), Keir Howe (GMB Northern Region NHS lead), Stacey Richardson (NHS Staff Nurse) and Dr George Rae (North Tyneside GP and BMA Chair).

All speakers confirmed the need to keep our NHS public and to stop the outsourcing – it is clear that Covid-19 has thrown a light on the ongoing underfunding and privatisation by stealth of our NHS.

“The NHS is about service and caring, and is NOT about profit. We never ever want to lose that value”    Dr George Rae, North Tyneside GP and BMA Chair

The link to the event is here. Many thanks to Tony and Peoples Assembly North East for organising tonights very lively event.

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7th October 2020 – GP speaks out against privatisation in North Tyneside

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1st October 2020 – Morpeth

Great to meet up with members of Morpeth and Pegswood Branch Labour Party, and to have the opportunity to share the KONPNE powerpoint regarding NHS privatisation. Many thanks for inviting us and for a very interesting discussion. Participants spoke of their own experiences – one person spoke of a sense of shock at the extent of privatisation within our health services, and another person described his experience as a Type 1 diabetic where he now needs to pay £250 per month for an insulin pump as it did not meet the NHS funding criteria, despite the pump being recommended by medical staff…

Members of KONPNE are willing to present the powerpoint and lead a discussion via zoom with all North East groups – political, social, religious, leisure…all welcome. Let us know at konpnortheast@gmail.com and we will do our best to assist.

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25th September 2020 – Hiding behind a logo…..

Letter in todays Metro – We need to fix test and trace. Local public health teams and our NHS must be put back in charge of testing and contact tracing…and a clear message from KONP North East and @keepnhspublic and @We_OwnIt: You’re hiding behind a logo @MattHancock

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24th September 2020 – North Tyneside privatisation reported by national media

Sharon Barbour, BBC, reports on the privatisation currently taking place within North Tyneside GP surgeries, as commissioned by North Tyneside CCG: see here

and the issue is also reported in the Health Campaigns Together news bulletin here (page 4) 

….and we keep coming back to the fundamental question – why is the funding provided to this private company not being invested in local, existing primary care services? It is clearly a cost-cutting exercise, increasing macro privatisation and undermining localised provision….

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23rd September 2020 – Sunderland respond

Question: What is Sunderland Council doing to prevent the steady and insidious NHS privatisation process and how will you ensure that the local “Integrated Care System” involves changes based on health and social need, rather than being driven by financial considerations that lead to further outsourcing to the private sector?

Cllr Geoff Walker responded to this question about NHS privatisation put to the the Council by KONP Sunderland this evening. He confirmed that Sunderland City Council does not support the systematic privatisation of the NHS, is committed to an internal commissioning of services, and referred to a number of initiatives that the Council is involved in. He stated “I think our involvement in integrated health  and social care clearly  demonstrates our commitment to an agenda of collaboration and co-operation aimed at avoiding wealth extraction by the private sector”.

A transcription of Cllr Walkers response is here:  Answer to KONP question from Sunderland City Council 23 09 2020 and we have no doubt that KONP Sunderland will be following up Cllr Walkers response in some detail.

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20th September 2020 – Sunderland City Council

Prompted by “Livi” and the recent growth in “outsourcing” (aka NHS privatisation) in North Tyneside – see posts below –  members of KONPNE are putting questions to local North East Councils about privatisation in their area.

Sunderland KONP’s Laura Murrell and Dr Pam Wortley have presented the following question and information sheet, and a response is expected from Sunderland Council at the full Council meeting on Wednesday 23rd September 2020 at 4pm.

Live streamed here: https://youtu.be/X9R-j-J3o4U

Question to Sunderland City Council from KONP Sunderland and District

Question to Sunderland Council additional information 23 09 2020

Plus more to follow – Newcastle City Council (7th October), Northumberland County Council (4th November) and information to key Councillors in North Tyneside, South Tyneside and County Durham – links to follow…

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17th September 2020 – KONPNE at Gateshead Council

Prompted by growing NHS privatisation across the region, members of KONPNE are currently in the process of putting questions to Councillors at full council meetings across the North East. First up was Gateshead Council this afternoon when Tony Dowling, KONPNE member and Gateshead resident, addressed the Council regarding the escalating privatisation within the NHS and then asked the following question:

What is the council doing to prevent the steady and insidious NHS privatisation process as mentioned, and what will Gateshead Council do to ensure that the local “Integrated Care System” involves changes based on health and social need, rather than being driven by financial considerations that lead to further outsourcing to the private sector. 

Tony also asked:

“The local “Integrated Care System” can be made to look good on paper – no one would argue with phrases such as “greater collaboration” and “patient-centred care” – but some risks only become apparent when the “Integrated Care System” is seen within the context of the planned, strategic dismantling of the healthcare system. Does Gateshead Council commission risk assessments regarding service changes in health provision – and do these risk assessments relate to privatisation? Members of KONPNE are keen that our Council representatives see the over-all picture and ask difficult questions, so that the NHS remains for all constituents and for future generations”.  

A full response was provided by Councillor Lynne Caffrey, Chair of Gateshead Health and Wellbeing Board, which KONPNE looks forward to considering further in detail. As part of her verbal response, Cllr Caffrey commented that Gateshead Council is doing lots to guard against privatisation and, verbally and in writing, she stated that “Gateshead Council is fully committed to the NHS as a public service”. Regarding the alarming news that North Tyneside CCG have commissioned a private company, Livi, to provide virtual appointments across primary care in North Tyneside, Cllr Caffrey confirmed that “the local strategy is to introduce the option for Gateshead patients to consult with GPs via video if they choose to, but that video consultation will be with a local practice and a local practitioner as part of the primary care service that is already commissioned. We have no plans to commission any outside services”.

Our statement and questions are here: Question to Gateshead Council Sept 2020

Cllr Caffreys response is here: Question Response By Councillor Caffrey, Gateshead

KONPNE will now consider Cllr Caffreys response in detail, and we intend to reply with copies to Gateshead Councillors.

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15th September 2020 – KONPNE questions full Council meeting

Prompted by the recent growth in “outsourcing” (aka NHS privatisation), members of KONPNE are putting questions to local North East Councils about privatisation in their area.

Follow our question and Council responses live, as Tony Dowling, KONPNE member and Gateshead resident, puts a question to the full council meeting of Gateshead Council on Thursday 17th September at 2.30pm.

Follow live on youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYDGr1rlFmM&ab_channel=GatesheadMBC

Plus more to follow – Dr Pam Wortley and the team at Keep Our NHS Public Sunderland have prepared a question for the full Sunderland City Council meeting on Wednesday 23rd September – links to follow…

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14th September 2020 – NHS privatisation in North Tyneside primary care – “Livi”

KONPNE has now written to both North Tyneside MPs, checked out the times for formal questions to be put to the seven NE Councils (the first question will be put to Gateshead Council at the full council meeting on Thursday this week – more info to follow), has written to the Chronicle, Journal and local papers, and is in the process of getting more information from North Tyneside CCG via a “Freedom of Information” request….what can you do -> please click here for information about ways of getting involved.

The letter to local papers:

I am writing on behalf of the local campaign group, ‘Keep Our NHS Public – North East’.

I am very concerned about the creeping privatisation of the NHS which is occurring at this present time. Recently, North Tyneside residents received letters inviting them to sign up to an app from a private Swedish company, Livi, working in partnership with North Tyneside CCG. This would enable GP patients to get video appointments provided they had a Smart phone or laptop with the correct software. All of this happened without consultation with the North Tyneside councillors, our local representatives. Unless stopped, this pilot development in North Tyneside may well spread to other parts of the North East. Further information concerning this situation can be accessed from our website https://konpnortheast.com/privatisation/primary-care/. 

In taking out a contract with this private company the taxes from our hard earned money are being misused, without our knowledge, to pay private companies to make a profit from our misfortune and ill-health. If this service became the norm then those people without access to technology or who are unable to use it would potentially be denied access to some GP services.

The service from Livi is currently ‘free’ and optional for N. Tyneside residents, but for how long? There is a cost though, as our taxes are benefitting this company. One hundred percent of the monies allocated to the NHS should go directly to the NHS to provide much needed healthcare and not to profit companies overseas. During the COVID pandemic we have been witnessing the NHS struggle to provide a full healthcare service. Many people have seen their operations and treatments postponed. Meanwhile the Government is funding private companies rather than invest in our British NHS, pay our NHS workers a decent wage and provide them with adequate PPE for safe working.

Telephone and video appointments can be a helpful way of having a first contact with your GP for some but not all clinical situations during our current COVID pandemic and many of our NHS GPs have been able to provide this service without payment to private companies. When we can return to ‘normal’ most people will want to be able to have that valuable contact with their own GP at the surgery where they feel comfortable and can have a full consultation.
Now is the time to stand up and stop this privatisation which we neither need nor want.

Yours faithfully
(KONPNE member)
Keep Our NHS Public North East

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3rd September 2020 – Livid…

A very active KONPNE meeting this evening, with much discussion and campaign planning centring around * Trade Bill (see here)  *the private company “Livi” contracted to provide GP consultations in North Tyneside (much happening – social media and website posts to be added shortly) *access to A+E  *powerpoint presentation on privatisation  *forthcoming events

The notes from the meeting are here: 3.9.20 – KONPNE notes of meeting

Your help is needed – please contact konpnortheast@gmail.com to get involved in the campaign

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28th August 2020 – 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.

KONPNE strongly objects to this insidious privatisation of the NHS. Apart from the central fact that North Tyneside CCG should not be wasting taxpayers money by contracting out to private, profit making companies with shareholders, a number of key issues need to be answered as a matter of urgency – click here to find out more, plus ways of helping.

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26th August 2020 – NE Councillors & Public Health express concern about restructure

Health and Wellbeing Board Chairs from across the region have come together to express concern at the Government’s decision to restructure Public Health England and to hand over key responsibilities to a new body with no clear idea of what it will do or how it will be governed.

“The National Institute for Health Protection appears to be an organisation set outside of the NHS but with a crucial role to play in the health of our communities,” said Cllr Lynne Caffrey, Chair of the Gateshead Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB), who coordinated a letter to both the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock.

The letter from 10 of the region’s 12 HWB Chairs from across political parties, expressed their surprise at the changes being proposed in the middle of a pandemic. It also asks for the expertise of local councils in dealing with many aspects of public health, including infectious disease outbreaks, to be recognised and for any new structures or systems to be set up to be co-designed with local authorities. Cllr Caffrey, said: “We believe we need to focus on maintaining the local capability, capacity and skills, to keep the effective working relationships already established and for us to have a system in place that is best able to protect the communities we represent.”

This view is shared by Directors of Public Health (DsPH) across the region and, as leaders of local systems they have experienced at first-hand the vital role that regional Public Health England (PHE) teams play in protecting the health and wellbeing of local communities and that they do not wish to lose this regional expertise. Amanda Healy, Durham’s Director of Public Health and chair of the North East Association of Directors of Public Health, said: “Our regional PHE colleagues have played a critical role in our local response to Covid-19. As such, any proposal to dismantle these arrangements now, particularly ahead of winter, present a real risk to protecting the health and wellbeing of our community. It is also vital that people understand the breadth of remit that PHE has across healthcare public health, health improvement and health inequalities. We would strongly recommend that any restructuring protects these functions which have a central role across Local Government and the NHS. We have all be involved with many re-organisations over the years and while, at times, there have been benefits, we also understand the immense upheaval and disruption they create. Given the pressure we are all currently under we, as Directors of Public Health across the North East, are extremely concerned that this disruption may adversely affect our ability to protect our communities from Covid and indeed other infectious diseases as we come towards the winter months.”

Read the Chronicle article here

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18th August 2020 – Scrap the contracts for Serco and Sitel

Privatised track and trace has been a 2020 disaster that is costing lives. It’s now 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.

Speaking outside Newcastle Civic Centre on the “We Own It” national day of action on Track and Trace Contracts, Dr Helen Groom, GP and member of KONP North East, stated: 

“Don’t be fooled – the Tories are now beginning to overtly privatise our NHS. Public Health England is now being merged with the failed Serco / Sitel. £528 million of your money is being given to this company which couldn’t even run track and trace properly in the first place” 

David McAllister, North East Peoples Assembly, stated:

“We stand against all privatisation and cuts to public services – the NHS is a major part of that.We are here supporting health workers who are standing in the way of private companies making a killing out of our public services”

….and now watch the youtube video from Newcastle upon Tyne today:  https://youtu.be/WCTDa-FC1fw

It is clear that 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.

Couldn’t make the Newcastle event today? Then it’s crucial that you sign the “Save Lives, Scrap Serco” petition here….and please pass it on to all of your contacts….. https://weownit.org.uk/save-lives-scrap-serco-now

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9th August 2020 – Sedgefield MP fails to support Amendment that would protect the NHS

9th August 2020 – Blyth MP fails to support Amendment that would protect the NHS

8th August 2020 – Pay justice for health care workers

Crucial for KONPNE to be at the socially-distanced march and rally in Newcastle today, in support of pay justice for health service workers. Poor rates of pay have contributed to the recruitment and retention crisis in the NHS, and workers shouldn’t have to wait until April 2021 for a pay review. Clapping on a Thursday night does not put food on the table. A great turnout at the march, speeches from health care workers, and also our first post-lockdown opportunity for a brief catch up with friends at Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign and Sunderland KONP.

A Chronicle report, pictures and video is here

5th August 2020 – KONPNE at Cullercoats Branch Labour Party

Many thanks to Cullercoats Branch Labour Party for the invitation to meet up with members tonight via Zoom – we were asked to present our new powerpoint on NHS privatisation in the North East, and this was followed by questions and discussion. It is great to have your support, and the support of other political parties in the North East.

KONPNE does not align itself to any one political party – we have members from most political parties (or none), and it remains very important for us to welcome all people who support a publicly funded and publicly provided NHS. Very recently, we have developed powerpoint images and text to accompany our presentations – we have found that this makes the presentation more engaging and interesting. If your group (be that political, social, educational, or religious….most gatherings, in fact!) would like a speaker / presentation to describe NHS privatisation in the North East, then please get in touch at konpnortheast@gmail.com , and we will do our best to assist.

4th August 2020 – KONPNE on Zoom

Our agenda included an update from the Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign, information about the forthcoming NHS Workers Pay Protest on Saturday (information here), an overview of the Campaign work so far regarding NHS charges to migrants (see here) and details about the recently updated KONPNE presentations on NHS privatisation in the North East. Most of the agenda and discussion centred around the Trade Bill and possible campaign initiatives (here), including lobbying the Lords and maintaining a focus on contacting local MPs….following our meeting tonight, we have updated our campaign strategy regarding this – please watch out for the details.

3rd August 2020 – NHS privatisation in the North East

KONPNE has devised a 30 minute Powerpoint presentation summarising the privatisation of the NHS in the North East, which can be delivered via Zoom. The presentation has been trialled successfully with several groups and has been followed by questions and answers. If you know of any groups that would like to book this presentation for a meeting: political, social, religious or any other interested group, please contact us at konpnortheast@gmail.com. Thank you

Please click here for further details

31st July 2020 – KONPNE and Unite Community Branch

Great to be invited to a Zoom meet up with members of the NE Unite Community Branch, for an overview of the Campaign and discussion. Together we are stronger, and it is good to have your support.

This meeting saw the third trip out for our newly updated powerpoint presentation on NHS Privatisation in the North East. This presentation is available to other groups and organisations, and KONPNE members are invited to present it, at the moment via Zoom. If you are not an attender at our meetings, please get in touch with us at konpnortheast@gmail.com, and we will do our very best to arrange a speaker.

20th July 2020 – Trade Bill now at the Lords

Further to the appalling voting at the Commons today, we are now reviewing the Campaign, with a focus on the Lords. Check out the page here for specific details about the passage of the Bill so far through Parliament, and actions to take. We are considering all options re the Lords, and will update supporters when we clarify and agree our way forward. Thank you. 

8th July 2020 – 2 min Trade Bill video now published by KONPNE

URGENT: Please watch – then share or tweet this video to all of your contacts….The Trade Bill will be debated in Parliament in July 2020, and it is CRUCIAL that we contact our MPs NOW

youtube: https://youtu.be/lgKa7IShjeI

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NHSPublicNorthEast

twitter: https://twitter.com/KONPNorthEast 

Accompanying track Rumble is from www.bensound.com

6th July 2020 – North East Bylines

Excellent article from Giuseppe Bignardi in North East Bylines re Saturday action in Newcastle.
Thanks, Giuseppe.

Please click here:     https://northeastbylines.co.uk/troubled-birthday-4-the-nhs/

5th July 2020 – Across the North East….

5th July 2020 – 72yrs young

Today we CELEBRATE but we also PROTECT.

We need to KEEP OUR NHS PUBLIC – or we will lose it. 

Dr. Helen Groom (GP) said;-   “The things that have worked during the COVID 19 pandemic have been the ones organised by the NHS – our hospitals have’t closed, and we have, so far, had enough ITU beds. The things that haven’t, PPE procurement, testing, contact tracing and most tragically our care homes, are all contracted out to private companies. We call
on the government to SAVE the NHS from current trade bill and privatisation discussions, FUND the NHS to 11% of GDP, bringing us to average and not below average as we are currently, and to STOP migrant charging. This weekend we ask every member of the public not only to clap or take the knee but to write/email/tweet their
MP, Matt Hancock and Boris Johnson with those 3 messages”

Jude Letham co-ordinator of Keep Our NHS Public North East said;-  “We have a state-of-the-art pathology lab in Gateshead but tests from IKEA 5 miles away were sent to Milton Keynes and often didn’t return. Big multinational private companies such as SODEXA, Capita, PWC and Deloitte and have been given £1.7 billion pounds worth of contracts in the last 3 months 1 . Serco got £49 million for call centres, PESTFIX £109 million for supply and delivery of PPE. Keep our NHS Public say give this PUBLIC tax payer’s money to the NHS. We need to act now to remove the NHS from the current trade talks and prevent the US companies from taking more of those contracts and implementing US style health care.”

Tony Dowling People’s Assembly said;-   “Mental health and care services have been devastated by cuts in funding and contracting out to private companies where share holders count, not patients. It’s essential that the NHS is saved from the current trade talks, that privatisation stops, and that we stop migrant charging which prevents ill people from seeking treatment. We’re asking all members of the public to do their bit and to write, email, tweet their MP, especially Conservative ones, to say SAVE, FUND, STOP. A tsunami of public opinion reaching all of our politicians is what the NHS and care services need this weekend.”

4th July 2020 –  Full report and video from Chronicle Live

Please click here

4th July 2020 – Celebrations on the Toon

HAPPY 72nd BIRTHDAY NHS!! AND MANY MANY HAPPY RETURNS!!!
Today we CELEBRATE – but we also need to PROTECT against cuts, outsourcing, the Trade Bill, and the hostile environment.
72 years ago, the NHS was established in a war-ravaged Britain – now, 72 years later, we need to rebuild and restore the founding vision of the NHS.
But, for today, it’s birthday celebrations on the Toon – KONPNE and Peoples Assembly NE have (socially distanced, and numbers strictly limited!) celebrations at the Millenium Bridge, The Monument and outside the RVI.
And massive thanks to Wendy, Alizon and Theresa for huge assistance with artwork!!! 😃😃😃

Click on any image to enlarge

Great coverage in Chronicle Live – click here

4th July 2020 –  NHS-on-Tyne:  today we CELEBRATE….but we also need to PROTECT

Click here for the two minute video from the Millenium Bridge on Tyneside…..

30th June 2020 – KONPNE Zooms

Wide ranging discussions, detailed campaign planning and a presentation about privatisation in the North East = another busy KONPNE meeting….

On the agenda this month – update from Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign, report back on the local work completed so far regarding removing NHS charges to migrants, planning regarding the action in Newcastle city centre on Saturday 4th July and the online rally on Sunday 5th July (both to celebrate the NHS 72nd birthday, and to highlight the ongoing privatisation of the NHS), update on the NHS Trade Bill and the campaign to date, and finally a presentation of our draft powerpoint about NHS privatisation, soon to be available to all local health campaigners in contact with political, social, religious, educational and family groups across the NE.

The notes of our meeting will be available shortly, and details of our next meeting are here. All welcome!!

26th June 2020 – NO to current Trade Bill

KONP SUNDERLAND AND DISTRICT shout a resounding NO to the current Trade Bill passing through Parliament. It is CRUCIAL that our North East MPs vote for Amendments in order to protect our NHS.
For info / action plan / NE photo gallery see www.konpnortheast.com/events

Sunderland KONP: https://www.facebook.com/KONPSD

24th June 2020 – more replies from NE MPs re Trade Bill

Photos: June 2020 – RVI, Newcastle | City Hall, Newcastle | Quayside and Tyne Bridge, Newcastle

21st June 2020 – KONPNE contacts Tory members on Trade Bill Committee

Trade Bill 2020 now at the Committee Stage, and KONPNE Co-ordinator Jude Letham contacts all nine Tory Committee members – this is a team effort, please click here to find out what you can do now

Dear 

Re. Amendment to the Trade Bill to protect the NHS

The Conservative manifesto 2019 made the following pledges:

“When we are negotiating trade deals, the NHS will not be on the table. The price the NHS pays for drugs will not be on the table. The services the NHS provides will not be on the table.”

However the Trade Bill, as it stands, does not give the NHS this protection.  We urge you to support the amendment put forward by Stewart Hosie, to protect the NHS for us all.

Regards Jude Letham (Co-ordinator) Keep Our NHS Public North East

20th June 2020 – Message received loud and clear in North Tyneside and Northumberland

Photos: June 2020 – Hexham Abbey | North Shields | Promenade, Whitley Bay | Market Place, Bishop Auckland

17th June 2020 – We’re observing voting patterns very closely

**** URGENT ****
Our MPs must vote for the relevant AMENDMENTS to the current Trade Bill – or we will lose our NHS. The NHS is DEFINITELY “on the table” in Trade talks.
**** URGENT **** information about the campaign is here

Photos: June 2020 – Beach Huts, Blyth | Church Point, Newbiggin | Clock Tower, Morpeth | Spirit of the Staithes, Blyth

16th June 2020: North East Birthday event organised

15th June 2020 – Urgent

A member of KONPNE devised the following graphic. Many thanks – it spells things out loud and clear….now on our facebook and twitter – please share and tweet

www.konpnortheast.com/events

https://weownit.org.uk/act-now/protect-nhs-trade-deals

https://speakout.38degrees.org.uk/campaigns/protect-our-NHS-in-law-now

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/300019

15th June 2020 – KONPNE addresses North Tyneside Green Party

Many thanks to North Tyneside Green Party for the invitation to meet up with members tonight via Zoom – we presented a powerpoint on NHS privatisation in the North East, followed by questions and discussion. It is great to have your support, and the support of other political parties in the North East.

KONPNE does not align itself to any one political party – we have members from most political parties (or none), and it remains very important for us to welcome all people who support a publicly funded and publicly provided NHS. Very recently, we have developed powerpoint images and text to accompany our presentations – we have found that this makes the presentation more engaging and interesting. If your group (be that political, social, educational, or religious….most gatherings, in fact!) would like a speaker / presentation to describe NHS privatisation in the North East, then please get in touch at konpnortheast@gmail.com , and we will do our best to assist.

8th June 2020 – KONPNE Zooms large

Valuable discussions and time spent planning forthcoming Campaigns – including UK / USA Trade Bill, local and national action at the anniversary of the founding of the NHS (4th and 5th July 2020) and work on challenging the health charges imposed on migrants to the UK….also great to catch up with all supporters!!

The notes from the meeting will be posted here in the next few days and, as always, details of our next meeting and future actions will be circulated on our emails, plus website and social media.

Keep well and keep in touch

5th June 2020 – UK / USA Trade Bill: 5 North East MPs respond

It is now two weeks since we wrote to all 22 MPs in the North East regarding the Trade Bill which is currently going through Parliament (- see 18th May post below). Five MPs have responded, and their emails are copied below…we await feedback from the remaining 17 MPs. We realise that it is a busy time all round for MPs, but this matter is of the utmost importance and it is URGENT – next being presented to the House at the end of June, and it is crucial that our representatives support the amendment… for details of our Campaign, please see here

From Emma Lewell-Buck MP (South Shields):

Hi Jude

Hope you are all well, you might have seen I was due to speak in the Bill but then the House cut the debate short.  I posted my speech on my Facebook and Twitter

Best wishes to you all

Emma

Emma Lewell-Buck MP

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From Ian Mearns MP (Gateshead):

Dear Jude,

Thanks for your email to which Ian has asked me to reply.

While the Covid-19 has highlighted our vital our NHS is, particular to our more vulnerable communities; it has also exposed the effects of years of under investment and privatisation. We have seen reports over the last couple of months of depleted stockpiles of PPE, some of which many years out of date; staff shortages across the service and a lack of adequate facilities. It is admirable the way the staff in the NHS have met the challenge of responding to Covid-19, and is of no surprise. But it is important that it is noted that many other routine and essential appointments have been cancelled in order to retain the capacity required.

For a number of years Ian and his colleagues have shared deep concern of the way the conservatives view all aspects of trade, but in particular the NHS. It can not be right that private organisations are receiving vast sums of public money for delivering services which could and should be provided directly, and with little accountability. The discussions around the TTIP proposals some years ago around disputes panels/courts was frightening. 

Ian absolutely agrees that it is not enough for this government to make any pledges, given their track record of making misleading and often incorrect statements across a range of matters. Ian was delighted to support the Labour manifesto pledge at the last election stop and reverse NHS privatisation and continues to support your campaign locally and in parliament.

I trust this clarifies Ian’s position, however if there is anything further Ian can assist with please do get in touch.

Best wishes,

Kris  –  Office of Ian Mearns MP

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From Mary Glindon MP (North Tyneside):

Dear John

Mary asked me to thank you for your email. 

As Mary is the Opposition Whip for the Shadow International Trade Team, and as the 2^nd Reading of the Bill is returning to the House next Wednesday, she cannot comment.  She will, however, raise your concerns with the team.

Kind Regards

Christine Aird

PA to Mary Glindon MP

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From Bridget Phillipson MP (Houghton and Sunderland South):

Dear Jude

Thank you for your correspondence regarding the Trade Bill.

The NHS has deservedly seen an outpouring of support from across the nation in recent weeks. The fact remains that I do have serious concerns over the ability of the Conservative government to defend and protect the NHS, to ensure that it provides quality health services to the British people. I can assure you that I will oppose any threats to these principles.

On the issue of the Trade Bill more widely, I have no issue in principle with a Bill that provides the legal mechanisms to enable our transition from trading as a part of the EU bloc to return conventions and competence to the UK. I do also believe in a trade policy that is transparent and subject to full parliamentary scrutiny, and so would have welcomed a Trade Bill that ensures meaningful parliamentary scrutiny of all future UK trade and investment treaties. This Trade Bill represents a considerable missed opportunity, and sets the bar far too low when it comes to the level of transparency and parliamentary accountability that this and future legislation related to trade should meet. I therefore voted against the Bill at its Second Reading.

Labour tabled a reasoned amendment explaining why this Bill was unsuitable, stating ‘it fails to set out proper procedures for Parliamentary consultation, scrutiny, debate and approval of future international trade agreements, fails to protect the principle of Parliamentary sovereignty in respect of the implementation of international trade agreements previously negotiated by the European Union and in respect of changes to existing government procurement regulations arising from the UK’s or other countries’ accession to the Government Procurement Agreement, fails to establish sufficient scrutiny procedures to replace those that have pertained while the UK has been a member of the European Union, fails to guarantee that the UK’s current high standards and rights will be protected in future trade agreements, and fails to render the Trade Remedies Authority answerable to Parliament or representative of the full range of stakeholders who should be included in its membership.’

The Trade Bill did pass nevertheless, and is now being considered by a Public Bill Committee which will scrutinise each line of the Bill and is expected to report to the House by Thursday 25 June 2020. I can assure you I will continue to monitor the Trade Bill, and you can follow its progress via the following link: https://services.parliament.uk/bills/2019-21/trade.html.

In usual circumstances, I would write to the Government to forward your queries. However, as I am sure you can appreciate, MPs have now been advised that due to the existing pressures faced by ministers, we should only make representations for the most urgent coronavirus-related cases.

Thank you again for writing to me.

Yours sincerely,

Bridget Phillipson MP

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From Alan Campbell MP (Tynemouth)

Dear Jude Letham

Thankyou for contacting me about trade agreements and the NHS. 

I appreciate your concerns on this issue. I am not opposed in principle to free trade agreements, including a trade deal with the US. As the global economy seeks to recover from the coronavirus pandemic, we will need to agree new trade deals that will benefit UK workers and businesses of all sizes. However, these trade deals must serve our interests in the long term and protect our existing rights and standards. Crucially, as you highlight, they must not threaten our health service.

The US Governments negotiating objectives for a trade deal with the UK, published in February 2019, include UK commitments to provide access to service markets, with only “the narrowest possible exceptions with the least possible impact on US firms”. These exceptions, it says, should be “on a negative list basis” – where all services are included unless explicitly excluded. In addition, the US states that it will seek to ensure drug price regulations “provide full market access for US products”.

The UK Governments says the NHS and the price it pays for drugs will not be on the table in trade negotiations with the US. However, I worry that the Government’s urgent desire for any sort of deal could lead to an agreement designed for the benefit of the major corporations behind the American healthcare industry.

We must never let our health service be up for grabs in any trade negotiation. We must ensure that all parts of the NHS are fully protected under any international trade deals. For the Government to reassure NHS patients that this will be the case, it needs to make clear that it will ensure explicit wording rules out liberalisation measures from applying to our NHS. Importantly, it also needs to provide proper procedures for parliamentary consultation, scrutiny, debate and approval of future international trade agreements, so we can attempt to hold it to account on this. I am disappointed that its current Trade Bill does not do this, and I therefore opposed it at Second Reading.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this issue. I can assure you that I will continue to do all that I can to protect our NHS from any threats to it in future trade deals.

Yours sincerely

Alan Campbell MP

*********

….and we await the responses from the remaining 17 MPs

4th June 2020 – Response from North Tyneside Elected Mayor

Further to the post below and our emails to Norma Redfearn re the privatised 111 call centre in North Tyneside, please find below Norma’s response.  We would be interested in your views about this response – comments, please, to konpnortheast@gmail.com

Dear Mr Whalley

Thank you for your recent email.

I understand that the Council’s Public Protection Team were contacted with complaints about SITEL practice towards staff at the beginning of the period of “lockdown”.  Those complaints were investigated and found SITEL able to evidence the right practice in meeting the Public Health England guidance for teams who could not work at home.

NHS England confirmed NHS 111 is run by a mix of organisations including private, social enterprises and NHS Providers.  The current national Coronavirus Response Service is run on behalf of NHS 111 by private providers including SITEL.  This was done to respond to significantly increased demand following the outbreak and reliance on those private providers is already being reduced and is due to be phased out.

The call responders used, were trained specifically to deal with Coronavirus-related calls and were appropriately selected, screened and trained.  That training was developed by the same NHS clinical staff responsible for the core NHS111 service.  Pathways and guidance were designed in line with Public Health England material and clear governance was put in place to ensure transfer to a clinician for a full assessment when required.

NHS 111 in the North East is delivered by North East Ambulance Service Foundation Trust.  The call handling elements are not subcontracted and are judged as “Good” by CQC.  During the implementation of the national Coronavirus Response Service, callers were given a choice between the national response line and the local NHS111 service operated by NEAS.

Thank you once again for taking the time to contact me.

Kind Regards, Norma Redfearn CBE

Elected Mayor of North Tyneside

4th June 2020 – Second call for Norma Redfearn, NT Elected Mayor….

KONPNE remains concerned about the quality of service provided by the privatised 111 call centre located in North Tyneside and, after nil response to our email to Norma Redfearn sent one month ago, today we have written again – our two emails copied below are self-explanatory…

SENT MAY 3rd 2020:

Dear Mayor Redfearn

We hope you and your family are staying well through the current crisis.

We have received some concerning information about the way that Covid 19 is being dealt with in North Tyneside.  https://calderdaleandkirklees999callforthenhs.wordpress.com/2020/04/07/suspected-covid-19-patients-lives-are-in-the-hands-of-nhs-111-call-handlers-with-only-90-minutes-training/

In this article, it is alleged that call handlers for the 111 service employed by Sitel UK in North Tyneside have been receiving as little as 90 minutes training on a script to follow, when they are contacted by people with suspected Covid 19 symptoms, and there is thus significant concern about the quality of the service being provided.

According to our sources, Sitel is employing around 300 people to staff the Tyneside NHS 111 Covid 19 lines, about 90% of whom are new starters, many just 16-17yrs old.  We know of one young man working there who commented about the work, “It’s easy, you just tell them they can’t have an ambulance.”

We have contacted the two local MPs to ask them to investigate the 111 service being provided.

It will be of great concern to you as Mayor of North Tyneside Council, that the Council assisted Sitel UK (a subsidiary of the American owned company, Sitel) to set up their provision at Cobalt Business Park, through the Invest North Tyneside initiative.  https://investnorthtyneside.co.uk/?s=Sitel

We are already disgusted at the overturning of the Council motion made in 2018, which stated that they would not implement the delivery of healthcare via an Integrated Care System.  We believe that Integrated Care Systems will accelerate the privatisation of the NHS.  If the allegations against Sitel UK are true, they highlight the grave concerns that we have about the quality of service given by private companies and the lack of accountability for their actions.

The Steering Group of KONP North East, our members and National KONP, would be interested to hear your views on this matter.

Regards, Jude Letham – (Co-ordinator) on behalf of KONPNE Steering Group

…..AND SENT JUNE 4th 2020:

Dear Mayor Redfearn

I am a member of Keep Our NHS Public North East Steering Group and a resident of North Tyneside, and Jude Letham (KONPNE Co-ordinator) has asked me to get in touch with you.

Please find copied below an email which was sent to you over a month ago. Your response would be appreciated.

To my mind, issues regarding governance, training, quality of service and customer satisfaction need to be explored and fully examined. As part of this, it will be crucial to know how the service is being evaluated, and how the parameters for this have been set. I would be grateful for your views about this and any plan of action you intend to take. Thank you. I am sure you agree that it is crucial that this privatised health business located in North Tyneside is fit for purpose – this is important at the best of times, but doubly important given the extremely sensitive nature of the work involved at the current time.

I write this email to yourself on behalf of all KONPNE members. Myself and other members who live in North Tyneside are particularly concerned about this private business being on our doorstep. Details of these emails to yourself and your response are shared with all KONPNE members – at our (currently Zoom) meetings, and also communicated on our website and social media. I am also copying in North Tyneside Healthwatch, for information / action.

John Whalley

Steering Group member, Keep Our NHS Public North East

18th May 2020 – KONPNE contacts MPs in the North East (all 22 of them….)

We are urging everyone to write to their MP about the urgent need to support the amendments to the current Trade Bill. As part of this campaign, KONPNE co-ordinator Jude Letham has written to all 22 MPs on behalf of KONPNE, to put our views forward. The email is copied below – please follow this up by writing to your MP and/or arranging a Zoom meeting (many MPs are conducting Zoom surgeries with their constituents). Full information about the Campaign is on our events page here

Dear ……………

I hope you and your family are staying well through the current crisis.

Covid 19 has highlighted how precious our NHS is, but unfortunately, it is also very vulnerable as the current Trade Bill does not exclude the NHS.  We at ‘Keep Our NHS Public North East’ (including many of your constituents) have joined with ‘We Own It’ to argue for the Trade Bill to be amended, when it has its second reading on Wednesday 20th May.

I am sure you will agree that it is not enough to hear the Prime Minister and Liz Truss say that the NHS is not for sale: we need a legally binding commitment in the form of an amendment to the Trade Bill.  ‘We Own It’ have identified five things that the Trade Bill needs to include if the NHS is to be properly protected:

1. Specific carve-out for the NHS, all health-relevant services and regulation: it should be illegal for the government to conclude a trade agreement which alters the way NHS services are provided, liberalises healthcare further, or opens up parts of the NHS to foreign investment. 

2. No use of negative listing: these clauses require that all industries are liberalised in trade agreements unless there are specific carve-outs. It is not always easy to define what services count as health services: for instance, digital services may seem irrelevant to health, but NHS data management and GP appointments are increasingly digitised. Negative lists therefore make it harder for governments to regulate and provide health services. 

3. No standstill clauses or ratchet clauses: these provisions mean that, after the trade deal has been signed, parties are not allowed to reduce the level of liberalisation beyond what it was at the point of signature. This can make it difficult to reverse NHS privatisation.

4. No ISDS: Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) clauses in trade agreements allow private investors to challenge governments over changes to domestic legislation. We need to be able to control our own laws. 

5. No changes to drugs pricing mechanism: the US administration has publicly stated that they wish to use a trade deal to challenge the NHS’s drugs purchasing model, which keeps prices low. Medicines are vital to our health – there must not be any concessions on this in trade talks.

I hope you will argue for strong protections for our NHS and drug prices, and/or support Caroline Lucas’s ‘reasoned amendment’ that the Bill should not pass because of lack of scrutiny.

I look forward to hearing how you have supported our NHS and will report your response in our next newsletter.

Regards

Jude Letham   (Co-ordinator)    Keep Our NHS Public North East    

11th May 2020 – KONPNE discussion night via Zoom

Two inspiring video clips from recent on-line meetings provided an introduction to tonights informal discussion.  Julie Hesmondhalgh (actor and chair of Manchester Peoples Assembly, taking part in a People’s Assembly meeting) spoke of the current context and the need for change and John Lister (Health Campaigns Together, featuring in a Q&A session by Curzon Cinema) spoke of possible ways forward.

…and, of course, our discussion highlighted a resounding consensus about the importance of campaigning in the North East on both local and national issues. Due to the current social restrictions brought about by the coronavirus, we need to review the way we work and adapt accordingly, and some excellent proposals were put forward regarding the future. These will all be picked up and developed at our next KONPNE meeting on Monday 8th June. All  welcome – details here

 

10th May 2020 – and spotted on Whitley Bay promenade this morning – we like your style!!

It is time for change. Members of the public are, literally, getting the word out on the streets…..

3rd May 2020 – Huge concerns about privatised COVID 19 call centre in North Tyneside

We have received some concerning information about the way that Covid 19 is being dealt with in North Tyneside – please see the following report from our colleagues in the health campaign group “999 Call for the NHS”: https://calderdaleandkirklees999callforthenhs.wordpress.com/2020/04/07/suspected-covid-19-patients-lives-are-in-the-hands-of-nhs-111-call-handlers-with-only-90-minutes-training/

In this article, it is alleged that call handlers for the 111 service employed by the private company Sitel UK in North Tyneside have been receiving as little as 90 minutes training on a script to follow, when they are contacted by people with suspected Covid 19 symptoms – there is a very significant concern about the quality of the service being provided.

Today, we have written to both Mary Glindon MP and Alan Campbell MP (North Tyneside MPs), North Tyneside Councillors, and Norma Redfearn (Mayor of North Tyneside) – and we await responses…

But the water is murky. An associated issue is that it was, indeed, North Tyneside Council who originally assisted Sitel UK (a subsidiary of the American owned company, Sitel) to set up their call centre at Cobalt Business Park, through the Invest North Tyneside initiative….doesn’t sit comfortably with the Councils response to the KONPNE formal question about health privatisation at the full North Tyneside Council meeting just two months previously (scroll down to 4th March 2020) when Councillor Karen Kilgour attempted to assure that “there is no risk of a privatised health system in the current structure”.

Lets be clear – a blanket one-off privatisation of our healthcare will not happen overnight – it is an incremental process, with an ever-decreasing NHS presence and a corresponding increase in contracting to private business. We have the skills in our NHS workforce – and we need to ensure that they remain there….and, indeed, we all have a part to play in ensuring that happens….

28th April 2020 – Huge respect and gratitude

With huge respect and gratitude from all at KONPNE on International Workers Memorial Day, Today we remember the sacrifice of the health workers and key workers who have died caring for us during the crisis, here and across the world.
Please observe a minute’s silence at 11.00am

7th April 2020 – KONPNE and Zoom campaigning

Our first online meeting using Zoom – obviously not as engaging as meeting together and we are very aware that some people aren’t online…   But maybe there are also a few positives?? Some people have commented that zoom saves travelling time and, indeed, may be more accessible for those who live in outlying or rural areas, or where transport or mobility may be challenging. Anyway – we continue to try to utilise all means of communication open to us at any one time…in addition to zoom meetings, we have this website, our regular Campaign email updates, and very active facebook and twitter postings AND, most importantly, we rely on all supporters to spread the word….and we will be back to face-to-face meetings (and maybe also keeping some zoom gatherings??) as soon as we can.

The first meeting this evening went well, with 17 participants – our thanks to Jude for organising and chairing. Discussions and presentations centred around accessing PPE locally, the national KONP perspective on the Coronavirus Pandemic, and the range of activities which we can get involved in now (see here) .  The notes from the meeting are posted here: 27-04-20 KONPNE Meeting Notes

A heads up re two dates:

>>>> Monday 11th May @ 7pm – KONPNE online event – possibly video and online discussion….watch this space for information

>>>> Monday 8th June @ 7pm – next KONPNE online meeting via zoom – please log in at 7pm for introductory notices

More info about these two events, plus a users guide to zoom, are located here

26th April 2020 – Patient Care Not Company Profits

Hear Jude Letham, Co-ordinator of “Keep Our NHS Public North East”, outline the issues associated with the ongoing privatisation of the NHS.

24th April 2020 – Video briefing from Keep Our NHS Public (national office) Co-Chair Dr Tony O’Sullivan

Tony examines the lessons that can be learned from the Coronavirus Pandemic and outlines what we must now demand

22nd April 2020 – New video from singer/songwriter Bethany Elen

Great new track from North East musician / songwriter Bethany Elen.

To buy the track, please click here https://bethany-elen.bandcamp.com/track/song-for-the-nhs

Bethany Elen has supported the campaign for many years, and we are grateful for her ongoing support.

16th April 2020 – UK / US trade deals and the North East

KONPNE support the great campaigning initative from “We Own It” regarding the current UK / US trade deals.  As long as NHS services are provided by private companies, our NHS is still on the table –  no matter what the politicians say.

John Whalley, a member of the KONPNE steering group has contacted his constituency MP to ask her to support amendments to the Trade Bill – Mary Glindon MP (North Tyneside) received the following email today, and the attachment is also linked below 

Dear Mary, 

We will keep you updated on Marys response – but this is just the start and we now call upon all KONPNE supporters to join in with the Campaign. We ask that you contact your MP (email addresses for all North East MPs are here), and for as many people as possible to write (it would be great if a MP is contacted by a number of constituents). Full info and guidance is currently on our website “events” page here….your assistance would be greatly appreciated. It is CRUCIAL that the amendment is fully discussed and agreed.

Members of KONPNE work closely with “We Own It”. It is a highly regarded national organisation which campaigns for public ownership of public services – more information about their work is found here: https://weownit.org.uk/public-ownership/nhs

April 2020 – Coronavirus – GUIDANCE FROM THE NHS

For advice from the NHS about Coronavirus (Covid 19) incl symptoms, preventative actions, high risk groups, social distancing and self isolation, then please click here: 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

and HUGE RESPECT to all healthcare workers from people across the country….

7th April 2020 – In Exhibition Park this morning…”Are YOU there to look after the NHS?”

This message was spotted on a banner in the bandstand, amidst the spring flowers, birdsong and sunlight this morning – Our NHS has been there for us for the past seventy years, and is fighting for us big style today. HUGE RESPECT to all healthworkers and keyworkers who are facing very significant personal risks in looking after us and helping us to get through these very difficult days…

Thought for the day is: Are you there to look after the NHS?  We need to restore the responsibility of the Secretary of State to provide a comprehensive, integrated, publicly owned NHS free at the point of need.

Check out the petition at https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/300019

28th March 2020 – Buy “Song for the NHS” by Newcastle singer/songwriter Bethany Elen Coyle

SONG FOR THE NHS by Bethany Elen Coyle

Written by Bethany Elen Coyle, and first performed by Bethany Elen and Ron Brown at the KONPNE / Peoples Assembly 2017 NHS Rally in Newcastle, Bethany is donating all proceeds from future sales to groups who are supporting NHS workers dealing with the current coronavirus outbreak.

Download plus unlimited streaming – £1.50 or more

https://bethany-elen.bandcamp.com/track/song-for-the-nhs

26th March 2020 – Blue Sky, Blue Tyne Bridge, Lots Of Noise and HUGE respect

No black and white in sight in the toon tonight….blue all the way, plus cheers, clapping, lots of noise and HUGE RESPECT to our NHS workers fighting the Coronavirus pandemic

25th March 2020 – Open letter to Matt Hancock on the Private Healthcare announcement

             

25 March 2020

Dear Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health & Social Care,

Thank you for bringing private healthcare capacity into public control to tackle the coronavirus crisis. This was exactly what needed to be done. This vital boost to beds, staff and intensive care equipment will save more lives, plain and simple. 

We’re happy to hear you recognise that no one should be profiting off our collective illness. We’ve seen reports that ‘no profit will be made’ by companies, but now we need to see the deal. 

That’s why we’re demanding that this ‘deal’ be made public, every dot and comma of it. You have stated that it will be done with “Open book” accounting, and external auditors verifying the public money being used. But we deserve to see what is being contracted to private companies here, including staffing arrangements. As Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs offer their hotels to NHS staff for free, we repeat no profit should be made in this arrangement. 

Over 17,000 NHS beds have gone since 2010, meaning patients were already being sent to private hospitals for treatment, channeling cash and vital NHS staff to private companies. NHS capacity must be expanded to serve our communities: it is not there to prop up private companies.

This experience has taught us that we are all in this together, and that our NHS is a vital life saving organ looking after our health together, no matter whether you can pay. 

To keep our NHS intact at the end of this, we ask that you pledge:

• That this ‘deal’ be made public, every dot and comma of it. 

• To end all of these contracts after this crisis. We know that private companies are hungry for long term NHS contracts. This means chunks out of the NHS budget are given to companies who in turn take profits, wasting money and fragmenting our health service. We do not want privatisation by stealth. 

• Reinstate our NHS by ending all privatisation across the service as soon as this is over. 

• That the NHS gets adequate funding and capacity to guarantee proper staffing and the beds required to treat people, so that the long term crisis in our health can end. 

This crisis, that grips our families and friends every day, has shown that the NHS needed more capacity to deal with this in the first place. We hope to work with you to do this in the coming years.

Co-signed by:

We Own It, Keep Our NHS Public, Health Campaigns Together, Momentum, Doctors for the NHS, Our NHS, GMB, Medact

23rd March 2020 – KONP calls for immediate lockdown

Health Campaigners call for an immediate lockdown
Press release on behalf of Keep Our NHS Public – for Immediate use
23 March 2020

National NHS campaigning organisation Keep Our NHS Public, in solidarity with an increasing amount of healthcare staff around the country, is calling on the government to impose an immediate lockdown.

See: https://keepournhspublic.com/about-us/press/health-campaigners-immediate-lockdown

22nd March 2020 – Blue Angel of the North tonight for our NHS

What can we say?

Superb installation tonight from the Arts Collective “Come Together North East”. They write on facebook:

We would like to show our love, gratitude and solidarity to all NHS workers that are showing that they are the true heroes in our society, and always. All the best always, and thank you for everything you do, from the North East. 👏