News

This page contains a photo gallery, a collection of campaign updates and media articles and an archive of previous events….

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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

 

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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…..

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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….

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29th April 2020 – spotted in Fenham, Newcastle, this morning….

This is very true. Every day, thousands of NHS staff, social care staff, and other keyworkers are literally putting their lives at risk when they go into work….and where is the back up from our politicians? Be sure about it – this Government will be called to account.

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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.
We are grateful to Gilda at Leeds KONP for artwork.

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27th 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

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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.

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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

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22nd April 2020 – New video from singer/songwriter Bethany Elen

See North East musician / songwriter Bethany Elens new NHS video here:

and 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.

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21st April 2020 – Hear Dr Gerard Reissmann

Dr Gerard Reissmann, Newcastle GP and KONPNE steering group member, talks about Coronavirus and the desperate situation in nursing homes

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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

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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….

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7th April 2020 – In Exhibition Park this morning…are YOU there to look after the NHS?

Spotted 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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. 👏

12th March 2020 – KONPNE meetings

All of our regular monthly meetings are now cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Please keep in touch via our website and social media, or by contacting us at konpnortheast@gmail.com
As the NHS is likely to be overwhelmed in the next few weeks, the best thing we can all do – for our own welfare, for the health of others, and to help health workers meet the crisis – is to personally avoid contracting Coronavirus as far as possible by self isolating (especially those people who are in the ‘at risk’ groups) or social distancing, and also to support friends and neighbours as far as we can.
Massive respect to all health workers.
Take lots of care and keep in touch – all at KONPNE xx

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9th March 2020 – Coronavirus Covid-19

KONPNE have decided to postpone the march and rally in Newcastle, which was going to be held in April before the local elections.  We will be planning email campaigning instead.
National KONP have released a statement about the potential impact of Covid-19 on the NHS https://keepournhspublic.com/covid-19-statement/ 
There is also an Interview with KONP Co-Chair, Tony O’ Sullivan on Talk Radio
at https://talkradio.co.uk/radio/listen-again/1583661600 –  go to the 11.30 – 12.00 time slot.

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4th March 2020 – Statement from National KONP re coronavirus pandemic

Keep Our NHS Public believes that the damaging impact on the NHS of failed policies for the last ten years is a damning indictment of the decade of Conservative Government. This has undermined the ability of the NHS to respond to COVID-19 at the threshold of pandemic. A return to the founding principles of an NHS for all – embodied in the vision laid out by Nye Bevan in ‘In Place of Fear’ – would immediately strengthen our response to the COVID-19 threat.

Read the full statement here:   https://keepournhspublic.com/covid-19-statement/

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4th March 2020 – Formal question to Newcastle City Council

At tonights full Newcastle City Council meeting, and supported by KONPNE members in the public gallery, Dr Gerard Reissmann (Newcastle GP and KONPNE member) addressed Councillors and then posed two key questions. The full address is in the post immediately below, and the two specific questions relating to the highly suspect Integrated Care System comprise:

1) What are you doing to ensure that the local “Integrated care System” plan involves changes based on health and social need, rather than being primarily driven by financial considerations? We would appreciate details of your actions so far, as well as future plans.

2) What specific risk assessments have been carried out independently by Newcastle City Council with regards to the “Integrated Care System” and the possibility of it developing into a private health system underpinned by private health insurance? We would appreciate details of your actions so far, as well as future plans. 

The response from Councillor Karen Kilgour, on behalf of Newcastle Council, was “interesting” to say the least – firstly stating that the Council had “concerns regarding governance” (we absolutely agree with that….), she then seemed to go on to describe how the Council feels there to be “no risk of a privatised health system in the current structure”…(errr…no….considerable NHS privatisation has already happened, and is happening….)

KONPNE have emailed Councillor Kilgour today to request a transcript of her response, which we will consider and with whom we will, no doubt, be in further communication in the very near future…..watch this space

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2nd March 2020 – Date now confirmed for formal address and question to Newcastle City Council

KONPNE has scheduled a formal question to Newcastle City Council about their involvement with the CCGs “Integrated Care System” – a health system which potentially sets the course for the large scale privatisation of the NHS in the North East. On Wednesday 4th March, Dr Gerard Reissmann, Newcastle GP and KONPNE Steering Group member will formally address and question the full meeting of Newcastle City Council on behalf of our Group – please be there to offer your support.

Meet outside Newcastle Civic Centre (underneath the mushroom shaped extension at the front) at 5.40pm for photo opportunity, and then proceed to the public observers gallery of the Council Chamber (access door is to the left of the mushroom extension) to show your support for Gerard at the meeting which starts at 6pm. All KONPNE supporters are welcome – you do not need to be a resident of Newcastle.

The address and question: 

I work as a GP based in Cruddas Park and Kenton, and I represent the local group of “Keep Our NHS Public North East”.

As you are no doubt aware, the “NHS Long Term Plan 2019” makes provision for sweeping changes in the NHS, and the “North East Integrated Care System Five Year Plan” is the local response to this.  Although formulated by the local CCG, Newcastle City Council are identified as strategic partners with the CCG, and thus bear a significant responsibility for this plan.

We feel that there are many difficulties inherent in the “Integrated Care System” or “ICS” model. 

– it fails to really address the problems of NHS disintegration caused by the 2012 Health and Social Care Act and the market economy.

– it fails to address why true integration can’t happen – for example, lack of funding, the staffing crisis, privatisation of social care, charges for social care… and much more…

– there is a lack of research – indeed, a study published earlier this year questions whether developments such as those contained in the ICS do actually lead to reduced hospital admissions ((For our info – abstract attached))

– the “Integrated Care System” allows private corporations in by the back door even more

– the developments in the plan will be cash limited, and lead to even greater postcode lotteries

– the plan further reduces local democratic say and accountability in healthcare planning and decision-making

– and, last but not least, the long term threat is that this new mega “Integrated care System” which spans from Cumbria across to the North East and down to Whitby may ultimately require the involvement of multinational corporations. There are very few UK commercial enterprises with the expertise to manage huge Integrated Care budgets covering many services across vast regions but, in the United States, private “Accountable Care Organisations” have extensive experience of doing just that. They also have a track record of systematically curtailing patients’ access to certain treatments in order to preserve a profit. As a GP I find this deeply troubling. It is these multi-billion pound contracts that will interest the US. This is where the opportunity to gain control of the NHS budget actually lies – and this is where the profit motive will finish off the NHS’ public service ethos for good. Is the NHS “off the table” as far as trade deals are concerned? We feel it would be naive to think so – this specific plan is part and parcel of long term plans for NHS privatisation.

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 when considered in a broader context of a planned, strategic dismantling of the healthcare system the risks become more apparent. There are no longer any checks or safeguards regarding privatisation as there were in the past. We are talking about a massive reconfiguration of health and social care which will have far-reaching implications for the future.

Whilst the officers of the CCG no doubt have a very difficult job, at the end of the day they are paid to carry out the instructions of NHS England. However, it is you, the elected members of Newcastle City Council who are jointly responsible for this plan alongside Newcastle Gateshead CCG.  All Councillors in this room, especially those sitting on the “Wellbeing for Life Board” and the “Health Scrutiny Committee”, provide the only democratic accountability within the local ICS, and we ask you not to collude with the political decision to dismantle our NHS. 

In October 2019, “Keep Our NHS Public North East”, which has many members resident in Newcastle, emailed all Councillors with our concerns and we provided these two briefing papers to you.

The two specific questions we would like to put to this meeting are as follows:

1) What are you doing to ensure that the local “Integrated care System” plan involves changes based on health and social need, rather than being primarily driven by financial considerations? We would appreciate details of your actions so far, as well as future plans.

2) What specific risk assessments have been carried out independently by Newcastle City Council with regards to the “Integrated Care System” and the possibility of it developing into a private health system underpinned by private health insurance? We would appreciate details of your actions so far, as well as future plans. 

Thank you

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2nd March 2020 – Press release

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20th February 2020 – campaign plans take shape

Lively discussions and positive campaign plans at tonights meeting in Newcastle – feedback on the recent Day of Action, and plans made for the formal question to Newcastle City Council, campaigning and research in Blyth, and possible NHS march and rally in April….watch this space….or, even better, join us at our next meeting on Thursday 19th March…details are here!!

The agenda for tonights meeting is here 20-02-20-konpne-agenda, and the notes from tonights meeting are here 20-02-20-konpne-meeting notes

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19th February 2020 – update from Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign

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15th February 2020 – Murky day, clear message

Yesterday was Valentines Day – and it’s very clear that we need to show a bit more love and respect for a health service and staff that look after us day in, day out, and save millions of lives every year.

Great to join together with North East Peoples Assembly in the national “NHS Winter Crisis Day of Action”. This afternoon, a clear message was given to all in Newcastle city centre – despite the relative media quiet this is currently the worst winter crisis on record. No A&E department in the country has met its 4-hour wait target and even the best A&Es in the country are struggling to see more than 85% of their patients within this time. WE NEED TO GUARD AGAINST ACCEPTING AND NORMALISING THIS SITUATION. It is far from acceptable.

Many thanks to the fourteen campaigners who wrapped up warm and joined us throughout this event in getting the message out…. we are certain that this was received loud and clear in the toon!!….and great to meet some new supporters, and also thanks to the many who signed up onto our circulation list.

Today we joined up with North East Peoples Assembly. Similar events occurred throughout England, including events organised by our colleagues in South Tyneside and Sunderland, and with the many health campaign groups throughout England. The NHS Winter Day of Action was a national event, and KONPNE were proud to play our part in Newcastle. It is crucial to remain aware – Trump and Johnson are keen to work out a trade deal, and our NHS is “on the table”, no matter what they say. As long as NHS services are provided by private companies, our NHS is at risk.

Revealing the truth

As we move through February and the cold weather take hold, A&E staff around the country are bracing themselves; A&E departments are recording their worst statistics ever….and the Government has dropped the 4 hr wait target to cover their tracks. But this photo reveals the truth. Our hard working NHS staff are going the extra mile, as always….

Have no doubt about it – this issue is a strategic political issue which revolves around systemic cuts, closures and staffing shortfalls brought about by prolonged inadequate funding from central government.

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29th January 2020 – Provisional date now identified for formal question to Newcastle City Council

Please add Wednesday 4th March 2020 to your diary as a provisional (but probable) date….KONPNE is scheduling a formal question to Newcastle City Council about their involvement with the CCGs “Integrated Care System” – a health system which potentially sets the course for the large scale privatisation of the NHS in the North East. We are planning for a KONPNE member to formally put a very relevant question to the full meeting of Newcastle City Council on Wednesday 4th March on behalf of our Group – please be there to offer your support.

Meet outside Newcastle Civic Centre at 5.40pm for photo opportunity, and then proceed to the public observers gallery of the Council Chamber for the meeting which starts at 6pm. All KONPNE supporters are welcome – you do not need to be a resident of Newcastle.

NB – date to be confirmed – watch this space for further details

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27th January 2020 – that deja vu feeling – KONPNE repeats the questions to North Tyneside Councillors

Following the surprising response from Cllr Hall to our questions raised at the most recent Full Council Meeting at North Tyneside (see 16th January 2020 post, below), please find below the follow up email to Cllr Hall (with copies to all members of North Tyneside Council) from KONPNE Steering Group member Dr Helen Groom. We’ll let you know the response from the Council…unless, of course, it’s nonsensical….

Dear Cllr. Hall,

I am writing to you, members of the Health and Well-Being Board and all North Tyneside councillors to follow up on your response to the questions I asked at the council meeting on Thursday 16^th January 2020.

Whilst I totally agree that working in cooperation with all organisations in the North East responsible for providing and commissioning the NHS is essential, I was asking the questions I did because of the unique responsibility you, as our elected representatives, have within the developing Integrated Care System (ICS). Those working within the NHS, including senior figures such as Sir Jim Mackey, are employed and will lose their jobs if they speak out. Elected councillors will not and your role is to challenge and question, and when necessary, oppose decisions. This is not ‘nonsensical’ as you stated in your response to my question.

My supplementary question to the council was;-

“Given that North Tyneside Council appears to be an equal partnership with North Tyneside CCG on developing the Integrated Care System (ICS) what risk assessments have been carried out specifically by North Tyneside Council officers with regards to the ICS and the possibility of this developing into a private health system, which is underpinned by private insurance?”

I think that this is not only a very reasonable question to ask but should be something that North Tyneside Council, in particular the members on the Health and Well-Being Board and  Adult Social Care, Health and Wellbeing Sub-Committee should want to see occur. With another 5 years of a Conservative government the ICS will, in the next few years, provide one contract for all of our local NHS services. In the NHS Long Term Plan (2019) it clearly states that multi-national and commercial companies will be able to bid for ICS contracts. Elsewhere in England nearly 20% of NHS services are now run by private companies such as VIRGIN and United Health. Keep our NHS Public are asking you, as our elected representatives, to ensure that this doesn’t happen in the North East.

I and my colleagues, therefore ask if you could ensure that the risk assessments suggested could be carried out and reported back at a full council meeting. We would be happy to meet with you or any of the councillors to follow up on this discussion. I’ve attached the KONPNE briefing on the ACO/ICS for information.

 

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Helen Groom (retired GP), Keep Our NHS Public North East

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24th January 2020 – on perusing page 4 of this weeks Whitley Bay News Guardian….

An interesting use of the word “nonsensical” by Cllr Hall, Whitley Bay ward, North Tyneside.

Please see post below on 16th January….and, yes, we will be following this up with Cllr Hall as a matter of urgency…

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23rd January 2020 – Energy in the room

Great to meet up with fellow campaigners this evening at the first KONPNE meeting of the year…and superb also to welcome new people to the group. There was much energy in the room. Discussions and planning centred around **updates from Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign and news about the Save Rothbury Hospital Campaign  **feedback on attendance at Newcastle Council meetings, and joint Scrutiny meetings  **report on “Freedom of Information” requests to local CCGs regarding privatisation (we’ll keep you updated) **update on local CCGs 5 year plan regarding the NE Integrated Care System (see post below, 20th January)  **brief update on work in progress re fighting health charges for migrants  **feedback about our formal question to North Tyneside Full Council last week, press coverage and next steps  **discussions re campaigning strategy – tracking Council decision-making, further work on putting formal questions to other local Councils as a springboard to interventions  **news on the development of Northumberland KONP  **Planning regarding the February Winter Crisis Day of Action (see here)  **Additional campaigning ideas in Blyth

Lots happening!!  Please let us know how you can help: konpnortheast@gmail.com

The Agenda for this meeting is here and the notes from the meeting are here  – and please also click here for details of our next meeting – to take place on Thursday 20th February 2020. We will also provide dates for the subsequent KONPNE meetings up to the summer, so that we can plan ahead.

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20th January 2020 – CCG presents North East “Integrated Care System” plans to North East Councillors

Click here: NENC ICS Five Year Plan – 15.11.19 for the link to the “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System Strategic Five-Year Plan 2019″….a lengthy 223 page document….

This was presented to North East Councillors at the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee held at Gateshead today. KONPNE supports the need to work in an innovative and collaborative manner – but we are equally aware that these plans for a macro health system potentially open the floodgates to the large scale privatisation of our health services here in the North East – not tomorrow or next year, but maybe in four or five years time.  We await the minutes of the meeting to see how our Councillors responded to this – we know that many have strongly highlighted the same concerns and are unwilling to be complicit in dismantling our NHS.

Let us know your thoughts at konpnortheast@gmail.com

Click here for the Council agenda and papers

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16th January 2020 – Welcome to North Tyneside Council…the lights are on, but is there anyone at home?

Ever had that feeling that you’ve asked someone a crucially important question (one which means the difference between life and death), and you’ve been fobbed off with nebulous platitudes of empty nothingness? The response from Cllr Margaret Hall (Chair, North Tyneside Council Health and Wellbeing Board) to tonights formal question from Keep Our NHS Public North East was totally underwhelming.

Two years ago, in March 2018, North Tyneside Councillors unanimously and impressively passed the motion that “we agree to oppose any proposal to implement the delivery of healthcare in North Tyneside via an ACO / ICS, a project which in North Tyneside CCGs own report was stated to be high risk”. (1)

In North Tyneside, we clearly had a Council to be proud of; a positive force to be reckoned with in standing up against NHS England’s and local CCG’s plans to railroad through a health system which will ultimately lead to increased privatisation and the demise of the NHS. This system, originally known as “Accountable Care” and subsequently rebranded as “Integrated Care Systems”, is imported from the United States where healthcare is privatised, underpinned by health insurance, and is definitely NOT equitable, accountable, or available to all in need.

So, fastforwarding to 2020, where are we now? Sadly, it seems, in downward spiral. Over the intervening months, KONPNE became increasingly alarmed by a number of reports in Council minutes which, seemingly, indicated a softening of approach and a warming to the demands of NHS England and the local CCG.

At the full Council meeting on 16th January 2020 (2), Dr Helen Groom, retired GP, local resident and member of KONPNE formally asked the following two questions on behalf of Keep Our NHS Public North East:
Initial question: “What evidence does North Tyneside Council have that members have opposed or even raised objections to the ICS? In becoming part of the ICS, what safeguards have you obtained on behalf of North Tyneside residents to ensure services will not be privatised?”
Supplementary question: “Given that North Tyneside Council appear to be in equal partnership with North Tyneside CCG in developing the Integrated Care System in the borough, what risk assessments have been carried out specifically by North Tyneside officers with regards to the Integrated Care System and the possibility of this developing into a private health system which is underpinned by private health insurance?”

Given growing concerns about Council decision-making, KONPNE anticipated a certain amount of gloss, but the reply from Cllr Margaret Hall, on behalf of North Tyneside Council, was astonishing. In a prepared response, Cllr Hall stated publicly that “there is no need to oppose or object to the ICS, as there are no proposed changes to services” (not yet, Margaret, but there is an urgent need for you to do more reading around the subject to see where the ICS is heading…and, whilst you’re at it, also check out your own Labour Party’s policy: “We will stop Tory plans to further entrench the private sector delivery of health care under the cover of integration plans set out in the NHS Long Term Plan” (3)

Additionally, seemingly unfazed by her stance and in response to our second question, Cllr Hall went on to surprise the Chamber by stating “There is no way that North Tyneside Council would agree to privatisation in North Tyneside” (err, Margaret, just down the road at North Tyneside General Hospital, all of your “Urgent Care” and “Out of Hours” services are now privatised, and GPs throughout the Borough are scratching their heads and needing to discuss with patients private options following cuts to specific treatments that were up until recently available on the NHS).

We are unsure if this response by North Tyneside Council represents a head in the clouds (“don’t understand”) stance, or if it signifies a head in the sand (“don’t want to understand”) stance but, whichever, there is an acute need for the head to re-engage with reality.  Whilst, no doubt, some North Tyneside Councillors are still willing to stand up and be counted regarding our NHS, we suggest that others need to see the bigger picture and not be taken in by the lengthy documents, smoke, mirrors and gloss offered by senior CCG officers. There is no excuse for this seemingly lack of insight by Councillors – much has been discussed locally and nationally, both within and outwith political parties and, together with many academics, Professor Allyson Pollock (Newcastle University) has researched and reported widely on the methodology strategically employed by the Government regarding NHS privatisation. (4)

The building blocks are in place and now that we have a Tory government for at least 5 years, so they have the political means to complete the privatisation of the NHS. Unlike those working in the CCG who are paid to carry out policy as dictated by the Government, our elected representatives on local Councils are the only piece of democratic accountability in the CCGs “Integrated Care System”. As such, it is CRUCIAL that Councillors hold firm in fighting against the covert introduction of cuts and privatisation, and do not passively collude with the political decision to dismantle our NHS.  The people of the North East are placing our trust in our elected Councillors to continue to stand up for a fully funded, publicly owned and publicly provided National Health Service, which is available to all on the basis of need and NOT the ability to pay. 

Dr Groom said after the meeting: “It remains our great concern that North Tyneside Council appear to have done a U turn and ridden roughshod over a Council motion unanimously passed two years previously, and have become complicit in the CCGs plans. Members of KONPNE were astonished by the response from Cllr Hall on behalf of North Tyneside Council; we will, of course, be taking this further, as we still require full and respectful responses to our concerns”.

Jude Letham, Co-ordinator, “Keep Our NHS Public North East” said: “Our group has been in existence for over ten years, and is made up of members of the public, including doctors and nurses – many live and work in North Tyneside. We believe in a publicly provided health service, and also believe it to be the responsibility of EVERYONE to stand up for these ideals, using whatever ways and means we can. All Councillors bear this responsibility”.

From: John Whalley, Steering Group member

1 https://my.northtyneside.gov.uk/meeting/1959

2  https://democracy.northtyneside.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=136&MId=236&Ver=4

3 https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Real-Change-Labour-Manifesto-2019.pdf   (pg 33)
4 https://konpnortheast.com/stp-aco/

Click here to watch the video of the meeting – scroll to 8.10 for KONPNE question

The Council minutes are here

Double click PRESS RELEASE 20.1.20 KONPNE for associated Press Release 20.1.20

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14th January 2020 – Press release circulated this afternoon

Please also see post below, for additional information

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9th January 2020 –  date is set for question to North Tyneside Full Council Meeting: Thursday 16th JANUARY 2020

We need your support in the viewers gallery at North Tyneside Council on Thursday 16th January, when Dr Helen Groom (retired GP and KONPNE steering group member) will be formally putting a question to North Tyneside Councillors at the Full Council meeting – the question refers to the Councils involvement in the local Integrated Care System, despite a previous Council motion opposing this type of healthcare delivery. 

The Full Council meeting starts at 6pm, and is held in the Council Chambers on the ground floor. Please meet outside the building main entrance at 5.40pm for support photo. All supporters of KONPNE are welcome – you don’t need to be a resident of North Tyneside.

Please scroll down on this page to 13th November for the full question we have put to North Tyneside Council, and please click here for copies of the Briefing Papers we sent to all Councillors in the North East in October 2019.

Further joining details for the Council meeting on Thursday 16th January 2020 are on our events page here

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8th January 2020 – all ready for the NEW YEAR + 2019 VIDEO

Wishing everyone much happiness and GOOD HEALTH in 2020. Many, many thanks for all of your support over the last year and, if you have not yet attended our meetings, please put it at the top of the NY resolutions list!!

Importantly, grateful thanks are offered to the dedicated and hardworking NHS staff across the region, who go the extra mile for us, every day of the year – often in very difficult circumstances. We are behind you, all the way.

There is much to do throughout 2020, and your assistance would be much appreciated in our ongoing campaigns against the ongoing privatisation of our NHS, and against the cuts and closures of our NHS services here in the North East.

Information about our next meeting is here – but, first, lets take a moment to sit back and look back at our activities throughout 2019….much has taken place….

Click here for KONPNE 2019 VIDEO (5 minutes)

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12th December 2019 – for our future reference

Click below for the useful Chronicle article giving constituency voting results for every NE parliamentary seat, with interactive maps

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/north-east-general-election-results-17406192

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10th December 2019 – final pre-election leafleting in Blyth

Final leafleting session this morning, again in Blyth. Its now up to us all to #VoteNHS on Thursday. Many thanks to KONPNE supporters who have distributed leaflets over the past few days – much appreciated.

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7th December 2019 – Northumberland screenings

Great NHS campaigning from Northumberland residents, who contacted the producer of the “Under the Knife” NHS documentary, and independently arranged for four separate screenings of the recently released NHS film in Felton, Berwick upon Tweed, Newbiggin and Thropton. The film reveals the extent of the creeping privatisation of the NHS. The screenings were organised by Mr Richard Spedding (6th from left), who is keen to continue and further develop NHS campaigning in the Northumberland area. Please contact us at konpnortheast@gmail.com if you wish to work alongside Richard – we will be very happy to forward your email to him.

KONPNE were proud to support and be present at the Newbiggin screening this afternoon. Following the film, Jude Letham (KONPNE Co-ordinator) outlines the current situation

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5th December 2019 – #VoteNHS Roadshow arrives at Wallsend

Tonight saw a one-off relocation of our regular KONPNE meeting from Newcastle city centre to the spectacular Wallsend Memorial Hall for the special edition “Keep Our NHS Public North East” Open Meeting #VoteNHS ROADSHOW

     

The first part of the evening comprised an excerpt from the recently released (October 2019) and highly acclaimed film ‘Under The Knife’; narrated by actor Alison Steadman and endorsed by film maker Ken Loach, the film highlights the covert dismantling of the NHS that is going on right now. Essential viewing. 

Thereafter, our guest speakers Andrew MacArdle (Green Party), Julia Charlton (Retired Nursing Academic) and Dr Jonny Coates (local GP) provided very thoughtful insights, plus a lively q & a and discussions with members of the audience.

Amongst the topics of the evening, we considered

– how the relationship between GPs and patients (when properly funded) makes a much more efficient health service, than a system which involves visiting specialists who don’t know the patient’s health history and background.
– some of the reasons for the huge number of nurse vacancies were highlighted: the withdrawal of the Education Maintenance Allowance, raising of tuition fees to £9,000 a year in H.E. and loss of bursaries for student nurses.
– the concerning issue of shortages of drugs was raised with speculation on some of the causes.
– the impact of austerity on health was explored and the need to consider the promotion of well-being and prevention of illness.
It was clear to all that attended that we need a change of government.

Many thanks to our speakers… it’s now up to Wallsend to #VoteNHS next Thursday and to make sure that our NHS is firmly off the table….

Check here for the date of our next KONPNE at our usual venue in Newcastle city centre…

      Andrew MacArdle – Green Party

     Julia Charlton – Nursing Academic (Retired)

     Dr Jonny Coates – local GP

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4th December 2019 – Local Parliamentary candidates pledge support to NHS

Labour parliamentary candidate for Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland, Lauren Dingsdale (r) pledges

“I’ll protect our NHS from trade deals by ending privatisation”

Check out https://weownit.org.uk/

#HandsOffOurNHS #NotForSale

The NHS pledge is open to all candidates of all parties to sign, and well done to Lauren and to all of the North East signatories who have pledged support. Please see https://weownit.org.uk/nhs-trade-pledge

As of today, the list includes the following parliamentary candidates:

GREEN PARTY – Hugh Alberti (Middlesbrough), Sophie Brown (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland), Rachel Cabrel (Gateshead), Jonathan Elmer (City of Durham), Nick Morphet (Hexham), Taymar Pitman (Newcastle upon Tyne), David Sewell (NW Durham), Matthew Snedker (Darlington), Thomas Stewart (Berwick upon Tweed)

LABOUR PARTY – Jenny Chapman (Darlington), Mary Foy (City of Durham), Mary Glindon (North Tyneside), Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland), Penny Grennan (Hexham), Kevan Jones (North Durham), Ian Lavery (Wansbeck), Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields), Andy MacDonald (Midlesbrough), Ian Mearns (Gateshead), Chi Onwurrah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central), Laura Pidcock (North West Durham)

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS – Ali Avaei (Newcastle upon Tyne Central)

INFO FROM “WE OWN IT”:

Across the country, over 500 candidates have signed so far.

• Labour candidates are currently in the lead, closely followed by Greens.

• The SNP and Plaid are backing the pledge, and a fair few of their candidates have signed.

• The Lib Dem leadership has not endorse our pledge but, despite this, a few Lib Dem candidates have signed up.

• Conservatives have been instructed not to sign at all – but two have broken ranks

Are you voting for someone who has signed the pledge?

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4th December 2019 – two weeks of campaigning, discussions, leafleting for #VoteNHS

Great to be out and about, and to meet so many people in support of our NHS. Newcastle city centre on a rainy Saturday 23rd, Blyth on Saturday 30th, and Wallsend on Monday 2nd and Thursday 4th. 

We need to be sure to #VoteNHS next week…

Rainy / christmassy Saturday by Eldon Square

…and the Blyth team…but sadly noting the following casualty in Blyth town centre >>>>

and in Wallsend for two days….

Come and join us…..all assistance is appreciated until it’s firmly off the table…

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26th November 2019 – Additional December film screenings booked for Northumberland

Great news for anyone in Northumberland who missed the recent screenings of Under The Knife – there are four new opportunities to see it.  The film which reveals the extent of the creeping privatisation of the NHS, is being shown at the following venues:

Thurs 5th Dec Felton Village Hall NE65 9NH  7.30pm
Fri 6th Dec      Berwick William Elder Building, Castlegate  TD15 1JT    7:30pm
Sat 7th Dec     Newbiggin Maritime Centre, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea NE64 6DB 3:30pm
Sun 8th Dec    Thropton War Memorial Hall NE65 7LT   4:00pm

Below is the Eventbrite page for the Newbiggin showing, otherwise please turn up early to secure your seat.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/under-the-knife-screening-by-keep-our-nhs-public-konp-tickets-83314976337?ref=eios

While entrance is free, donations are very welcome.
Film details and trailer https://undertheknifefilm.co.uk/

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22nd November 2019 – Date for the diary #VoteNHS ROADSHOW comes to Wallsend on Thursday 5th December

More info here

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21st November 2019 – General election protocols put question on hold

Due to General Election protocols, North Tyneside Council have confirmed that our Formal Question to the Council will not be agenda’d for the Full Council Meeting next week 28.11.19. KONPNE thus advises our supporters that our presence at that meeting is now not needed, and we have applied for our Formal Question to North Tyneside Council to be rescheduled for early 2020 – we will keep you updated

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13th November 2019 – Question now emailed to North Tyneside Council

Dr Helen Groom (Retired GP and KONPNE steering group member) will be formally putting a question to North Tyneside Councillors at the Full Council meeting on ((Thursday 28th November 2019 – UPDATE: now cancelled, see post above)) – the question refers to the Councils involvement in the local Integrated Care System, despite a previous Council motion opposing this type of healthcare delivery. 

We are currently awaiting confirmation as to whether our question will be on the Council agenda on that specific night, and we will confirm this with you as soon as we know – so in the interim, please pencil ((Thursday 28th November – UPDATE: now cancelled, see post above)) into your diary, and watch this space for an update. More information is here. If agenda’d for the 28th, please come and join us in the viewing gallery – your support would be very much appreciated.

The question to North Tyneside Council:

Question from Dr. Helen Groom, Retired GP, resident of Whitley Bay

On 22nd March 2018 North Tyneside Councillors unanimously passed the motion;-
‘This council agrees that there is a growing body of evidence questioning the wisdom of a key project from the NHS 5 Year Forward View: Accountable Care Organisations/Integrated Care Systems (ACO/ICS) In theory an ACO/ICS provider accepts a contract based on a fixed capitation-based fee to cover all of the designated health care issues for a local population and deliver an agreed range of outcomes. The ACO/ICS notion of a fixed capitated payment is complicated by the fact that in almost every instance in the NHS, commissioners have seen the new structures as a way to make substantial savings.
However, if there is insufficient money in the contract to deliver adequate care, yet providers remain accountable for delivery of specified outcomes, then providers will be unable to continue.
This is what happened with a contract tendered out by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough CCG when a 5-year contract collapsed within just 8 months. After a prolonged hiatus, a contract to organise cancer services for much of Staffordshire has also been abandoned before the contract was even signed, when the company named as preferred provider ‘couldn’t convince us they could deliver with the resources available. They couldn’t meet the required evaluation criteria.
This council agrees to oppose any proposal to implement the delivery of healthcare in North Tyneside via an ACO/ICO, a project which in the North Tyneside CCG’s own report was stated to be high risk’.

As a member of Keep Our NHS Public North East, I and many other North Tyneside residents remain extremely concerned that NHS England are forcing local CCGs and local authorities to develop a healthcare system which will ultimately lead to increased privatisation and the demise of the NHS. This system, originally known as “Accountable Care Organisations” and recently rebranded as “Integrated Care Systems”, is imported from the United States where healthcare is multi-tiered, privatised, underpinned by health insurance, and is definitely NOT equitable, accountable or available to all in need.

We have noted the subsequent Actions of North Tyneside Council’s Health and Well-being board;-
On 22nd August 2018, the H and W Board received a presentation from Mark Adams, and the minutes of the meeting state
‘…..The Board welcomed the shift in emphasis reflected in the ICS proposals. Since 2012 the NHS had been based on a set of organisations designed to deliver different things in different ways. This new direction of travel provided an opportunity to think and act in a different way, to provide space for better collaboration and to create a shared responsibility for those issues which were too big for individual organisations to tackle on their own’.
On 14th March 2019, the H and W Board received a presentation from Alan Foster
‘…..The Chair of the Board thanked Alan Foster for his informative presentation and for answering the Board’s questions. She made reference to the inverted hierarchy of service delivery included in the presentation which placed an emphasis on neighbourhood and place based commissioning. She believed North Tyneside was well placed to deliver this model’.

On 24th October 2019 Keep Our NHS Public North East, which has many members who are resident in North Tyneside, emailed all councillors with our concerns and briefing papers.

Question;-
What evidence does North Tyneside Council have that members have opposed or even raised objections to the ICS? In becoming part of the ICS what safeguards have you obtained on behalf of North Tyneside residents to ensure services will not be privatised?

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1st November 2019 – election campaigning  now planned

KONPNE will be out and about at a number of locations and times – please check here for the latest locations / times / joining details (this site will be updated regularly) and come along to help us in distributing leaflets – all help is welcomed…even half an hour will make a difference….

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31st October 2019 – KONPNE Meeting

We were pleased to welcome new attenders to our meeting for a spontaneous discussion about the upcoming election, as well as our planned agenda.

You can find the agenda here:  -10.-19-konpne-agenda  and the notes here:  31-10.-19-konpne-notes

The next meeting is a SPECIAL EDITION KONPNE meeting, with a one-off change of venue and format – Wallsend Memorial Hall, on Thursday 5th December, 6pm – 8.30pm – info here

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25th October 2019 – 400 emails…

To update: Further to yesterdays post (below), this email and attachments has today also been forwarded to the 129 Councillors sitting on South Tyneside and Sunderland Councils…making a total of 400 North East Councillors contacted…we will let you know how this develops….

As suggested below, please take ten minutes to email your local Councillors and your local Healthwatch with your views about what is happening to our NHS regarding the so-called Integrated Care System and privatisation – email addresses can be copied and pasted from here

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24th October 2019 – KONPNE contacts Councillors in the North East…they are our REPRESENTATIVES

Our Councillors need to know our wishes regarding the NHS…and they also need information about what is REALLY happening behind the CCG rhetoric, smoke and mirrors….hence our email and attachments this morning to all 270 Councillors sitting on Northumberland, North Tyneside, Newcastle and Gateshead Councils. We have also taken the opportunity to copy in all NE Healthwatch managers and chairs, given their responsibility in representing the views of local people and their role as a member of Health and Wellbeing Boards. 

We have also emailed our friends leading health campaign in South Tyneside, Durham and Sunderland to ascertain their wishes regarding our contact with Councillors in their own areas.

So…we await feedback from Councillors and Healthwatch people, and will also be following this up by questions at Full Council meetings over the next three months….we will keep you informed.

Our email is copied below, plus the two attachments*****It would be hugely appreciated if you would send your own email to your local Councillors / Healthwatch also. All email addresses are here

Dear Councillor,

We are writing on behalf of Keep Our NHS Public North East, a local health campaign group comprising members of the general public, together with doctors, nurses and other health professionals who believe in our NHS. Our group has been in existence for nine years. We are writing to all Councillors in the North East.

Integrated Care Systems = covert privatisation       Keep Our NHS Public North East remains extremely concerned that NHS England are forcing local CCGs to develop a healthcare system which will ultimately lead to increased privatisation and the demise of the NHS. This system, known as “Accountable Care Organisations” and recently rebranded as “Integrated Care Systems”, is imported from the United States where healthcare is multi-tiered, privatised, underpinned by health insurance, and is definitely NOT equitable, accountable or available to all in need.

We believe that the current underfunding and subsequent planned dismantling of our NHS is a political decision which must be rejected at all levels. Closures to our health services are taking place under the cloak of “integration”, with this being executed in a gradual and covert manner, with the minimisation of changes, and with changes being masked by much smoke and mirrors and obscure CCG language. This potentially leaves local Councils to carry the can.

The NHS Long Term Plan (2019)       Alongside these covert changes, it is crucial not to be side-tracked by the news that NHS England wishes to repeal some of the competition elements of the 2012 Health and Social Care Act. A close analysis of the NHS Long Term Plan reveals that the overall impact of the proposed plan will be to replace one kind of privatisation with another – the Plan would enable the private sector to gain control of individual “Accountable Care Organisations” (recently rebranded as “Integrated Care Systems”) through long-term contracts to manage the entire health system within one region, thus bringing about what we term a “macro” or large-scale privatisation. It is clear that the proposed plan will continue with the Stevens strategy of breaking up our single national service into so-called “Integrated Care Systems” with rigidly fixed budgets and rationed services, and will ultimately enable the delivery of these to Stevens’ transnational friends. The legal changes inherent in the proposed NHS Long Term Plan will not halt the privatisation of the NHS – it will accomplish it. More information about our views regarding the content of the Long Term Plan is found at: https://keepournhspublic.com/nhs-long-term-plan-unfunded-undemocratic-unfair-unsafe

Councillors and health care in the North East      We are grateful to the many North East Councillors who support and continue to stand up for a fully-funded, publicly owned and publicly provided National Health Service. We call upon all Councillors to be on your guard against a covert introduction of cuts and privatisation, and not to collude with the political decision to dismantle our NHS. The people of the North East are placing our trust in our elected Councillors to continue to stand up for a fully funded, publicly owned and publicly provided National Health Service, which is available to all on the basis of need. Many Councils have voted against STPs and the provisions rebranded as “Integrated Care Systems”. 

Please find attached two briefing papers, which we feel will be of interest – ACO’s and ICSs and We need to be worried about the NHS Long Term Plan, ICSs and Primary Care Networks.   There is also much information on our website and social media (all addresses are listed below), and please do not hesitate to make contact on konpnortheast@gmail.com, if you require any further details.

We thank you for your attention and for your ongoing support.

 John Whalley and Dr Helen Groom, Steering Group members, Keep Our NHS Public North East  

Attachment 1: ACO’s and ICS’s      2019 KONPNE briefing – ACO and ICS

Attachment 2 : We need to be worried about the NHS Long Term Plan, Integrated Care Systems and Primary Care Networks        2019 KONPNE briefing – We Need To Be Worried

We need to protect our NHS from transatlantic deals between Trump and Johnson – click here to find out what you can do now….and how your MP can help….

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18th October 2019 – Hugely successful screenings across the North East

Final screening (in the current tour) tonight, and many many thanks to all who worked together to make our screenings of UNDER THE KNIFE such a success. Whilst enjoying the film is probably the wrong word – the film chronicles the creeping privatisation of our NHS – the resounding feedback has been around its usefulness in providing clear information to us all….and it was also great to meet up with so many people out in support of our NHS. MANY THANKS from KONPNE, Sunderland KONP and Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign to all hosts and venues, and to all who leafleted, passed on information to friends and colleagues, and to all who shared and tweeted…

UNDER THE KNIFE ON TOUR: Curtis Auditorium, Newcastle University | Gala Theatre and Cinema, Durham | Side Gallery, Newcastle | Age UK Bradbury Centre, Sunderland | Crescent Club, Cullercoats |  Customs House, South Shields | New Life Christian Centre, Morpeth | Star and Shadow Cinema, Newcastle 

Our eight screenings throughout the NE attracted 730 people, 200 of whom signed up to our mailing list. Thank you to all who attended, and also many thanks for your generous donations. If you didn’t have cash with you on the night, you might like to use the following link to make a donation to help to fund future screenings: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/undertheknife

If you are a member of a group that would like to host a screening, then please email konpnortheast@gmail.com and we will forward your details to the production company.

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12th October 2019 – New NHS film release in the NE next week – FREE screenings throughout the NE

Busy week, next week….Now at capacity and no tickets left at The Side Cinema and the Star and Shadow cinema (both in Newcastle), but some tickets still remain for Newcastle Uni, Cullercoats, Durham, Sunderland, Morpeth and South Shields screenings….more info on posts below….and log onto www.undertheknifefilm.co.uk for your free tickets now…..

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3rd October 2019 – Debate and ACTION

Another lively KONPNE meeting, with opportunities for all to talk, discuss and plan.

Discussion centred around the forthcoming NINE (yes, NINE) North East screenings of the NHS documentary film Under the Knife (please see recent posts below), plus our plans to present formal questions to North East councils (starting with North Tyneside Council in November 2019), plus plans (still in development) to co-host a training workshop around challenging NHS charges to migrants. Also, much discussion around the recent NHS Bill presented by the Government – we need to find out much more about this, and to strongly challenge as necessary….

The agenda and notes from the meeting are here:  03-10.-19-konpne-agenda    03-10.-19-konpne-notes

…..and details about our next KONPNE meeting on 31st October are here – please come along, as always the meeting is open to everyone, and you will be made to feel very welcome.

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29th September 2019 – KONPNE over the Pennines

Many thanks to Peoples Assembly for organising todays hugely successful demonstration in Manchester. The Mancunian weather did not deter the many campaigners who provided the Tory party conference goers with a more accurate picture of current events. Members of KONPNE were there and are now drying out….

A report from the Manchester Evening News is here

Peoples Assembly write: “While Brexit will continue to dominate the headlines in the weeks and months to come it’s our responsibility to make sure this new government is not let off the hook when it comes to the deliberate underfunding of our NHS, the growing housing crisis, the dismantling of our welfare state, and the devastating austerity policies that have left so many suffering for nearly a decade. Boris has a mandate of exactly 0.139625757576% of the UK’s population and we should make sure he knows it from day 1″

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23rd September 2019  ….and three weeks to go

before the release of the new cutting edge NHS documentary UNDER THE KNIFE. FREE SCREENINGS throughout the North East at EIGHT venues, supported by KONPNE, Sunderland KONP and Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign…..please print off the leaflet UTK North East screening details and distribute far and wide….and see you there….

*******Please note that the Durham screening starts at 6pm and the screening previously scheduled for Wallsend is now cancelled*******

 

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22nd September 2019 – tickets now released for new NHS Film

The new documentary film UNDER THE KNIFE exposes the covert dismantling of the NHS and the increasing involvement of private companies in our healthcare….and tickets are now released for EIGHT screenings across the North East, all free of charge, and open to all who value our National Health Service.

Monday 14th October – 6pm Curtis auditorium, Herschel Building, Newcastle upon Tyne University  

Tuesday 15th October – 6pm Gala Theatre, 1 Millenium Place, Durham CH1 1WA >> and 6.30pm open and 7pm start New Life Christian Centre, Dacre Street, Morpeth NE61 1HQ

Wednesday 16th October – 7pm Star and Shadow Cinema, Warwick Street, Newcastle NE2 1BB >> and 5.30pm open and 6pm start Age UK Bradbury Centre, Stockton Road, Sunderland  SR2 7AQ

Thursday 17th October – 6.30pm open and 7pm start Cullercoats Crescent Club, Victoria Crescent, North Shields NE30 4PN 

Friday 18th October – 6pm Side Gallery, 5-9 Side, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3JE >> and 7pm The Customs House, Mill Dam, South Shields NE33 1ES

These screenings are open to all, and are completely free of charge. Pam K Productions have partnered with Keep Our NHS Public and The Daily Mirror to host fifty nationwide screenings between the 14th – 18th October….and EIGHT of these are here in the NE.

Free tickets and venue details at https://undertheknifefilm.co.uk/ (please copy and paste address) – we look forward to seeing you at one of these screenings.

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21st September 2019 – North East Against Austerity Community Festival

A superb afternoon at the Star and Shadow, and many thanks to Psychologists Against Austerity and ReCoCo for organising this very lively community event…KONPNE and many other community organisations and resources were there as part of the talking library (great idea) …plus live music, art exhibition, creative activities, help and advice, film and food…..excellent coffee….what is there not to like?

Very clear that we are not alone, and we are stronger together….

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20th September 2019 – Positive step forward for the Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign

From Roger Nettleship:

Great news – we have been granted permission to appeal. The Judge “accepts that the appeal is properly arguable and has a real prospect of success.”  The court has also granted our request for expedition – (speedy hearing date). The hearing date (time estimate 1 day) is on either November 5 or 6,  2019. The case will be heard by 2 or 3 Lord Justices in the Court of Appeal in London.

I know that the delay of 8 months by the previous judge that ruled against us is desperately disappointing for you all because most Phase 1 services have now moved but believe us any victory on this could still have positive consequences for both this phase 1 and phase 2 in our favour  if we win as well as inspiration for all fighting to save their vital health services in other areas.

SSTHC website:  http://www.savesouthtynesidehospital.org/

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19th September 2019 – The Spirit is very much alive and kicking

KONPNE was pleased to attend this evenings screening of the film Spirit of 45 (Ken Loach, 2013) and to say a few words about the KONPNE campaign. Many thanks to North Tyneside Labour Womens Forum for the invite to this screening in Benton.

( KONPNE remains very clear that we do not align with any one political party – our members are from all parties or none. We support organisations who believe in a publicly funded and publicly provided NHS, and we are aim to provide a speaker or leaflets on request wherever possible. Please contact us at konpnortheast@gmail.com )

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14th September 2019 – Ground-breaking NHS film release next month, followed by free screenings across the North East

KONPNE are pleased to confirm free screenings of the NHS documentary film UNDER THE KNIFE – exposing the covert dismantling of the NHS and the increasing involvement of private companies in our healthcare. Screenings will take place in Newcastle, South Shields, Cullercoats, Wallsend, Sunderland, Durham and Morpeth, all in w/c 14th October.

Click here for details and info re free tickets – and bring your friends…it is crucial that we all understand what is going on

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10th September 2019 – News from the Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign

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5th September 2019 – Winter 2019 Campaign Plans

Another very busy KONPNE meeting this evening, thoughtful and creative discussions, and much planned for the coming months including….Under the Knife film screenings across the North East…. participation with the Star and Shadow Community Festival…. work on eradicating local NHS charges for migrants…. and a sequence of formal questions to Councils across the North East….PLUS MORE….

Agenda and notes here:

05.09.19-konpne-notes

Care for the future of our NHS?? >>> Come and join with us at our next KONPNE meeting >>>>details here

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4th September 2019 – Excellent news from the Save Rothbury Hospital Campaign

Dear friends / supporters

At last! Yesterday the NCC Overview and Scrutiny Committee approved the proposal by the NHS Trust and the CCG about the future of the Rothbury Hospital. So this means we are on track for a reopening on April 1st. We should be getting massively improved clinics and services, the GP service continues of course, and – crucially – inpatient beds, when they are needed, for step-up, step-down and palliative care. This is very good news indeed.

Thank you again for all of the kind words and encouragement throughout this long campaign.

With all good wishes

Katie Katie Scott Co-ordinator, Save Rothbury Community Hospital Campaign

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26th August 2019 – For all KONPNE supporters, family and friends…..get the word out by wearing a KEEP OUR NHS PUBLIC teeshirt

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23rd August 2019 – Victory for the Bradford Strikers!

The threat of indefinite strike action has made Bradford General Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospitals rethink their attempt to remove their support and ancillary staff from the NHS on 1st October 2019.

Read the full update from Health Campaigns Together here:  HCT update on the Bradford Strike

                

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4th August 2019 – Professor Allyson Pollock reports on the proposed cuts to NHS provision in South Tyneside

A war of attrition against hospital services in South Tyneside and across the country – Allyson Pollock

Click here to read this excellent article written for this weeks Open Democracy:

https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/ournhs/war-attrition-against-hospital-services-south-tyneside-and-across-country/

For more information and to assist with the Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign, please contact Roger Nettleship at roger.nettleship@blueyonder.co.uk

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25th July 2019 – KONPNE meeting

Some excellent discussions at tonights meeting, plus much follow-up action now in the planning stages….items included

**supporting members attendance council meetings

**investigative work on local healthcare charges for migrants – we already have FoIs regarding local Trusts policies…now to take this further…we believe that everyone should have access to healthcare, free of charge at the point of need

**KONPNE is providing assistance in promoting local screenings of the new NHS film “Under the Knife” – national release is planned for October 2019…. but much needs to be done in the interim regarding arrangements in the NE

**liaison with local councillors….we have devised an information leaflet about NHS privatisation to go to all councillors in the seven local councils in the autumn, and for this to be followed up with a formal question at full Council meetings (Northumberland, Newcastle, North Tyneside and Gateshead Councils)…now fine-tuning the details….

**NHS wordspeak….Are they random words and names used by the CCG and NHS England to promote a sense of intelligence and credibility, OR are they intended to gloss and smoke screen and confuse, OR do they actually mean something?  All will be explained at a KONPNE educational meeting being planned for later this year….watch this space…

Come and join the discussions, planning and action at our next meeting on Thursday 5th September 2019 – details are here   KONPNE meetings are open to ALL who care for a fully funded and public NHS.

Agenda and notes from the July meeting are here:

Agenda 25th July 2019              Notes 25th July KONPNE

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13th July 2019 – the 135th Durham Miners Gala!!

Great to be in Durham again earlier today, with KONPNE and “Health Campaigns Together” members distributing thousands of leaflets and HCT newspapers – very well received, and many conversations with people present – and also great to meet up with our friends in the Durham KONP, Sunderland KONP and Save South Tyneside Hospital campaign groups. Durham was flooded with sound and colour, and our NHS message was received loud and clear….

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29th June 2019 – In Yorkshire for the Health Campaigns Together Northern Conference

A very informative and lively day in Leeds, with health campaign groups present from all over the north of England – Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Chester, Huddersfield, Lancashire, Wirral, York and others….and….YES….North East people are not alone in challenging and campaigning against the current massive cuts and closures in our NHS. Health service cuts are happening in the North East and all over the country, and must be stopped. It was excellent to meet up with campaigners from across the region. Six people were able to attend from the North East (KONPNE and Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaigns) – see pix below…..

Many thanks to Leeds KONP and Health Campaigns Together for planning this superb event – full feedback at our next KONPNE meeting on 25th July.

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6th June 2019  – KONPNE June Meeting

Privatisation of local screening services, Rutherford Cancer Care and treatment of migrants.

Agenda 060619

Notes 060619

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4th April 2019 – KONPNE April Meeting

Updates on campaigns and trying to establish where we are with Integrated Care Providers and the NHS Long-Term Plan.

04.04.19-konpne-agenda

Notes of KONPNE Meeting 4th April

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5th, 6th, 7th March – Mark Thomas at Live Theatre

Many thanks to Mark Thomas and Live Theatre for allowing KONPNE to run a stall over the three nights of Mark’s show, The NHS @ 70.

As well as providing an entertaining and thought-provoking show, packed with useful facts and statistics, Mark was very generous with his time after the show.

Thank you to everyone who signed  up to our contact list, or signed the South Tyneside Hospital Campaign petition or the petition to have St Clare’s Hospice re-opened.  It was lovely to meet so many people who are passionate about reinstating the NHS to a universal, publicly provided service, free at the point of use.

 

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7th February 2019 – KONPNE February Meeting

The first meeting of 2019 saw discussion on the sharing out of tasks and special emphasis on liaising with local councillors.

7-2-19 KONPNE agenda

7-02-19 KONPNE Notes of Meeting

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1st February 2019 – KONPNE writes to all Councillors in the North East

KONPNE HAS WRITTEN TO ALL COUNCILLORS IN THE NORTH EAST…..see the text here:

Dear Councillor,

I am writing on behalf of Keep Our NHS Public North East, a local health campaign group comprising mostly members of the general public, together with doctors, nurses and other health professionals who believe in our NHS. Our group has been in existence for nine years. We are writing to all Councillors in the North East who sit on a local Council Health and Wellbeing Board, Health Scrutiny Committee, the Joint Health Scrutiny Committee, together with all Council Leaders and Councillors holding a health portfolio.

Integrated Care Systems = covert privatisation

Further to our presentation to the Joint STP Health Scrutiny Committee in November 2018, we remain extremely concerned that NHS England are forcing local CCGs to develop a healthcare system which will ultimately lead to increased privatisation and the demise of the NHS. This system, known as “Accountable Care Organisations” and recently rebranded as “Integrated Care Systems”, is imported from the United States where healthcare is multi-tiered, privatised, underpinned by health insurance, and is definitely NOT equitable, accountable or available to all in need.

We believe that the current underfunding and subsequent planned dismantling of our NHS is a political decision which must be rejected at all levels. Closures to our health services are taking place under the cloak of “integration”, with this being executed in a gradual and covert manner, with the minimisation of changes, and with changes being masked by much smoke and mirrors and obscure CCG language. This potentially leaves local Councils to carry the can.

The NHS Long term Plan (January 2019)

Alongside these covert changes, it is crucial not to be side-tracked by the recent news that NHS England wishes to repeal some of the competition elements of the 2012 Health and Social Care Act. A close analysis of the NHS Long term Plan reveals that the overall impact of the proposed plan will be to replace one kind of privatisation with another – the Plan would enable the private sector to gain control of individual “Accountable Care Organisations” (recently rebranded as “Integrated Care Systems”) through long-term contracts to manage the entire health system within one region, thus bringing about what we term a “macro” or large-scale privatisation. It is clear that the proposed plan will continue with the Stevens strategy of breaking up our single national service into 40+ ACOs / ICSs with rigidly fixed budgets and rationed services, and will ultimately enable the delivery of these to Stevens’ transnational friends. The legal changes inherent in the proposed NHS Long Term Plan will not halt the privatisation of the NHS – it will accomplish it. More information about our views regarding the content of the Long Term Plan is found at: https://keepournhspublic.com/…/nhs-long-term-plan-unfunded…/

Councillors and health care in the North East

We are grateful to the many North East Councillors who support and continue to stand up for a fully-funded, publicly owned and publicly provided National Health Service. We call upon all Councillors to be on your guard against a covert introduction of cuts and privatisation, and not to collude with the political decision to dismantle our NHS. Many Councils have voted against STPs and the provisions rebranded as “Integrated Care Systems” – the five boroughs in North Central London all opposed their STPs, this is being replicated across the country, and we seek that this takes place here within the seven North East councils also. You will be aware that, locally, on 22nd March 2018, North Tyneside Council voted unanimously that “this council agrees that there is a growing body of evidence questioning the wisdom of …Accountable Care Organisations / Integrated Care Systems…This Council agrees to oppose any proposal to implement the delivery of healthcare in North Tyneside via an Accountable Care Organisation / Integrated Care System, a project which in North Tyneside CCGs own report was stated to be high risk”. This is a very positive and proactive step forward by Councillors in North Tyneside; the Council agenda, motion and minutes are here: https://my.northtyneside.gov.uk/meeting/19596

Information

The people of the North East are placing our trust in our elected Councillors to continue to stand up for a fully funded, publicly owned and publicly provided National Health Service, which is available to all on the basis of need.

Please find three attachments, which we feel will be of interest – about Integrated Care Systems, about the Long Term Plan, and Questions to ask in Council.

There is also much information on our website and social media (all addresses are listed below), and please do not hesitate to make contact on konpnortheast@gmail.com, if you require any further details.

We thank you for your attention and for your ongoing support.

John Whalley
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 
konpnortheast@gmail.com
http://www.facebook,com/NHSPublicNorthEast
twitter @KONPNorthEast
www.konpnortheast.com

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KONPNE sent the above email to all Councillors sitting on “Health and Wellbeing Boards” and “Health Scrutiny Committees” in Northumberland, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Durham. 
Sunderland KONP has sent the same to Sunderland Councillors.

Links to the three attachments are below.

What you can do:
Please follow up our email by writing to your own Councillors – email addresses are at www.konpnortheast.com/links

YOUR HELP IN CONSOLIDATING THIS IS ESSENTIAL AND IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED
Thank you

Attachment 1    konpbriefingonacoandics-konpne2019

Attachment 2    konpquestionsreics-konpne2019

Attachment 3    konplongtermplan

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18th January 2019 – What a year….

Click the youtube link here for a resume of the last twelve months…..

https://youtu.be/sVHjR_84UC0

…..and if you’re not on the film, hope to see you on the next instalment!!

Thanks for all of your ongoing support

xxxKONPNE

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17th January 2019 – Warm welcome, icy night

Many thanks to all at Jesmond Library this evening for the very warm welcome on a cold and icy night!

As part of the library “Thursday Evening Talks” series, Dr Gerard Reissmann (GP) outlined the main legal changes that have lead to the increasing privatisation of the NHS, followed by a discussion on private healthcare, the misuse of the NHS logo, the NHS Reinstatement Bill and recent local campaigns including Rothbury and South Tyneside. 

The NHS70 card will be in the library for the next week or so, and all are invited to sign and leave your message for the NHS (over 500 messages already!!), plus everyone is welcome at the next KONPNE meeting on Thursday 7th February, 7pm at Brunswick Methodist Church and also to check out our latest events on the KONPNE website here – www.konpnortheast.com/events. Much happening!!!

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12th January 2019 – KONPNE Crowdfunder launched

WE HAVE A BUSY YEAR AHEAD
Please support Keep Our NHS Public North East, and ensure that the Campaign continues in our North East region
*No cuts or cash-driven closures
*Fair pay for all NHS staff
*A fully-funded, universal, publicly-owned and publicly-provided National Health Service

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1st January 2019 – THANKYOU and WELCOME !!

RARING TO GO IN 2019 – BUT FIRST….a huge thank you for all support and involvement in campaign activity over the past year – much has been achieved, we have made our voices heard….but there is a long way to go.

Please see this short video, which summarises some of our campaign activity throughout 2018 – if you are not on it, then hope to see you on the 2019 version at the end of this year!

Please click here:     https://youtu.be/sVHjR_84UC0

A New Year!! We are now able to confirm the dates of our Campaign planning meetings for 2019; all on the following three Thursdays, 6.30pm for tea and coffee, 7pm start and finishing at 8.45pm, and all at the Meeting Rooms at Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle city centre. We welcome all who care about the future of our NHS !!

7th February

4th April

6th June

There is a choice of lift or stairs to the meeting room on the first floor – but please still contact us beforehand  at konpnortheast@gmail.com if you are a wheelchair user. The Methodist Church is situated in Newcastle city centre and is located under one minute from Greys Monument / Monument Metro, at the end of the small access road which runs between Waterstones and Jamie’s Italian. 

We look forward to meeting up with KONPNE supporters – and if you have not yet joined us, then make it your New Year resolution! We guarantee a warm welcome!! 

Details about our next meeting are here

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18th December 2018 – Standing room only in the public gallery at Leeds Court

STANDING ROOM ONLY in the public gallery at Leeds Court – for the first day of the Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign Judicial Review.

Campaigners travelled from South Tyneside and Sunderland, were supported by colleagues from Sunderland KONP and KONP North East, and were delighted to be met in Leeds by our friends from Leeds KONP and the “Hands Off Huddersfield Royal Infirmary” campaign. There is widespread public support against closures and cutbacks at South Tyneside Hospital – these are NOT ACCEPTABLE in the 21st century – and we need to ensure that the wonderful Childrens A&E, Maternity, Special Care Baby Unit, and Stroke Services all continue in South Tyneside.

The three-day hearing in Leeds continues tomorrow Wednesday 19th and also Thursday 20th, with a judgement expected at the end of the week.

The Chronicle report from Day 1 Tuesday 18th December (Campaign barrister) is  here

and the Chronicle report from Day 2 Wednesday 19th December (South Tyneside CCG barrister) is here

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9th December 2018 – Email: Nine Key Questions

KONPNE has emailed the Joint STP Health Scrutiny Committee (this comprises three Councillors from each of the seven local Councils) with a series of nine key questions – Councillors may wish to put these questions to the CCG regarding the proposed and discredited Integrated Care System / Accountable Care Organisation.

Please double click Email – Councillors on the Joint STP Health Scrutiny Committee – Dec 2018 to read the email…. and questions….

btw – we have also forwarded this email to the Chairs and Chief Execs of all seven healthwatch organisations in the NE region….the Healthwatch organisations and Councillors are our representatives…. so let’s communicate with them more….

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29th November 2018 – KONPNE: Reviewing the past and always moving forwards

The last KONPNE meeting of the year – and, tonight, some time spent reviewing our range of campaign activity throughout 2018….and also considering and planning for the festive period, for January and beyond.

We have a 12 month, 52 week per year health campaign in the North East – come and join us in fighting for a fully funded and publicly provided NHS for all of our futures.

Please DOUBLE CLICK: The agenda is here: 29.11.18 – KONPNE agenda and the notes from the meeting are here: 29.11.18 – KONPNE meeting notes 

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26th November 2018 – Some tricky questions for the CCG

plus….KONPNE addresses Council Joint STP Health Scrutiny Committee

All is cloaked in mystery, but if it walks like an ACO and talks like an ACO, then KONPNE believes it is an ACO, and is setting a path for increased privatisation….and none of the obscure and nebulous language associated with the current “aspirant Integrated Care System” stacks up in a healthy way….

We were pleased to hear the comments of Councillors who can see beyond the CCG smoke and mirrors…

**Councillor Lesley Spillard (North Tyneside) “We are hearing about communications, but not about delivery – how will they run this shadow ICS?”

**Councillor Felicity Mendelson (Newcastle) “We need to hear topics and themes regarding health provision, and to consider this across the region”

**Councillor Lynne Caffrey (Gateshead) “We are working in the dark – we need an accumulative picture of what is going on”

**Councillor Wendy Taylor (Newcastle) “What organisation will we be dealing with, and how will it be run?”

**Councillor Lesley Spillard (North Tyneside) “I have massive concerns – we don’t know where we are going, and there is very little information as to what an ICS is about. I have big concerns about this”

ALL COUNCILLORS agreed that there is process information from the CCG and health leads about individual “workstreams”, but no hard information about the proposed or potential effect on current services – and that there is a need for such clarity.

Great suggestion from chair Lynne Caffrey that Alan Foster, STP lead for North East and Cumbria region, be invited to the January meeting to clarify……?

20th November 2018 – Minutes of  Joint Health Scrutiny Committee posted on Council website

NORTHUMBERLAND TYNE & WEAR & NORTH DURHAM STP HEALTH SCRUTINY COMMITTEE MEETING
Monday, 24 September 2018

This north east health scrutiny committee comprises three councillor representatives from each of the seven local councils, and focuses soley on the STP in the NE. It meets every two months at Gateshead Civic Centre.

18th October 2018 – KONPNE meeting

Another busy meeting – lots of campaign items to feedback, discuss and plan….

…..and also even making time for a 40 minute discussion slot, which seemed well-received!!

The agenda is here:  18.10.18 – KONPNE agenda

and the notes from the meeting are here: 18.10.18 – KONPNE notes

Our next meeting takes place on Thursday 29th November 2018, at 7pm, at Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle upon Tyne. All welcome!! This is an open meeting for all who care about the NHS. Further details are here

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24th September 2018 – A tale of two speakers in Gateshead…..

Joint STP Health Scrutiny meeting today at Gateshead Civic Centre – three councillor reps from each of the local councils. The meeting included a presentation from Mary Bewley (the new head of communication and engagement for the STP) about the “Integrated Care Programme” workforce and communications issues – the content of the presentation, however, had much resonance with discredited Accountable Care Organisations (the presentation appeared to centre around staffing issues within large scale health and social care macro organisations) and this similarity was certainly not lost on the councillors present. Health campaigners also highlighted the fact that there is currently a national consultation on Integrated Care Programmes – and the proposals from the Comms Lead as set out at the meeting may well be a case of putting the cart before the horse….

6th September 2018 – KONPNE speaks

Another lively KONPNE meeting, this evening in the meeting rooms at Brunswick Methodist Church. It is good to meet with everyone to share ideas and also formulate plans for the future – there is always a great strength in this joint decision-making, and the ideas generated at this (and other) meetings are bolstered by everyones input…the whole is greater than the individual parts….

Also great to welcome and meet new members – all are very welcome.

The agenda for this meeting is here:  6.9.18 – KONPNE agenda    and the notes from the meeting are here: 6.9.18 – KONPNE notes of meeting

Our next meeting will take place on 18th October 2018.  Please see here for details

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1st September 2018 – Newcastle Unites

Great to be with our friends from Newcastle Unites at the Newcastle Unity Carnival – KONPNE stands for and celebrates our multicultural society here in the North East.

We fight against the institutional racism involved in denial of or reduced access to healthcare. We need to challenge the government and media statements which blame migrants for NHS pressures – so diverting attention from the underfunding of the NHS by central government.

We fight against the problems in accessing visas by overseas healthcare workers, any unequal treatment and discrimination experienced by NHS staff, and any racist abuse encountered by NHS staff. There is a lack of recognition of the role of migrants in running the NHS, and this perception must be changed.

In the case of NHS charges, discrimination against those not entitled to free NHS care also provides a justification and cover for the introduction of new systems – there is no doubt that these will be used in the future to support wider charges affecting everyone and these will herald a two-tier insurance-based healthcare.

We celebrate and stand for a multicultural Newcastle upon Tyne and we fight to KEEP OUR NHS PUBLIC. It is a honour to take part today and we thank all of the team at Newcastle Unites for an excellent event.

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20th July 2018 – And still nil response from STP lead and NewcastleGateshead CCG 

The distinct lack of response from NewcastleGateshead CCG / STP Lead Alan Foster / North East Commissioning Service has been picked up and details published nationally by the editors of this months health campaigns paper “Health Campaigns Together”.

Since January 2018, North East health campaign groups have repeatedly asked for a clarification of two specific points relating to the local draft STP – but, as yet, to no avail. Emails have been sent on 17th January, 17th February, 24th March and 6th May. It is fair to say that we did receive an email from Alan Foster (STP Lead for Cumbria and the North East) in April 2018…but it didn’t answer the questions asked…and there has been nil response from Mr Foster following our email of 6th May 2018.

19th July 2018 – Newcastle Health and Wellbeing Board speak loud and clear

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE HEALTH AND WELLBEING BOARD
Mark Adams (Chief Officer, NewcastleGateshead CCG) presented “An Integrated Care System for North East and North Cumbria” together with an invitation to “Join Our Journey”, to Newcastle Health and Wellbeing Board on 10th July 2018.

Board members were, however, not queuing up for this particular CCG trip – and instead identified a large number of concerns, as listed in the following Council minutes:

“The Board resolved:
That the presentation on the current direction of travel towards an Integrated Care System for the North East and Cumbria be received and Board member comments and concerns on this process be noted, including:-
– The need for proper, meaningful engagement with partners and the public;
– The lack of a clearly defined role for Health and Wellbeing Boards within the process;
– The potential requirement for legislative change to deliver the proposals;
– The implications for delivery of the prevention agenda and public health outcomes;
– The need for resource to be made available to support delivery of services at a local community level;
– Concerns that proposed Governance arrangements may be at odds with delivery of local solutions;
– The need to ensure agility and flexibility within the system to enable organisations to be responsive over time;
– That the proposals were being centrally driven to meet prescribed national objectives rather than reflecting local priorities.”

19th July 2018 – NE celebrations @ 70 + continuing the campaign to ensure another 70 years….

MANY THANKS to all who joined in with the hectic activity over the past month!! We can safely say that 70 years was well and truly celebrated in Newcastle upon Tyne…. WHILST ALSO continuing the campaign to ensure another 70….
>>> 23rd June for three weeks: hundreds of people viewed the hard-hitting Marion Macalpine photographic exhibition on NHS privatisation, plus local panels about NHS privatisation in the NE prepared by KONPNE – plus promotion through leafletting, social media, BBC Radio Newcastle and the Chronicle
>>> 26th June: our open discussion night “What the NHS means to Me”….We heard from a nurse of the early days of the NHS, and from a current GP; from someone treated shortly after birth and from a person currently undergoing treatment; from people who work in support services to the NHS – and much more…an inspiring evening
>>> 30th June: an amazing day in London – thousands of people out on the streets in the scorching heat to demonstrate and celebrate
>>> 5th July: A very happy 70th birthday to our NHS and (hopefully) many happy returns – KONPNE out in celebratory mood in Newcastle upon Tyne city centre – baking hot sunshine, birthday cake, a GINORMOUS birthday card, guitar sets, community choir and an open mic for birthday messages!! What more do we need (apart from a fully reinstated NHS)??!!
>>> 10th July: KONPNE and Tyneside Cinema in collaboration – a screening of “Spirit of 45” (Ken Loach film) plus expert panel discussion – an empowering evening, highlighting the dangers inherent in “Accountable Care Organisations” (an American private health model) and its recent re-badge as “Integrated Care Systems”…and the fact that, as in 1945, we CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
>>> 14th July: 134th Durham Miners Gala!!! Great to march with Durham KONP, meet up with other NE health campaigners, and assist on the Durham KONP campaign stall alongside the Health Campaigns Together stall

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14th July 2018 – 134th Durham Miners Gala – proud to be here

134th Durham Miners Gala!!! Great to march with Durham KONP, meet up with other NE health campaigners, and assist on the Durham KONP campaign stall alongside the Health Campaigns Together stall – what a fantastic day

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10th July 2018 – A bad trip at Newcastle Civic Centre

Integrated Care Partnerships? We don’t think so…

At a meeting of the Newcastle Wellbeing for Life Board (the local Health and Wellbeing Board) meeting today, Mark Adams, Chief Officer, Newcastle Gateshead CCG, spoke to the agenda item “NHS Funding, Organisation and Forward Plan”, the notes for which were circulated THE SAME DAY….so much for the timely sharing of information and engagement…

Anyway, leaving that important issue aside, we heard Adams outline the “NHS Direction of Travel” for the North of England – which he proposes will comprise one “Integrated Care System” covering North Cumbria and all of the North East from Berwick to parts of Cleveland and North Yorkshire, and he went on to describe how this macro organisation will be subdivided into four “Integrated Care Partnerships” – the paper is linked below – and all to be in place by April 2019….?
Members of the Wellbeing for Life Board were, to put it mildly, not convinced.

The strapline for Adams’ CCG paper invites people to “Join Our Journey”…and, in doing so, he gives away one of the key drivers. It is clearly a bus owned and driven by NHS England and the local CCG, with little or no involvement from would-be “partners”. Sound familiar? Seems resonant of the draft STP fracas back in October 2016?
Feedback to Mark Adams from the Board:
Sally Young (Chief Executive, Newcastle Council for Voluntary Service) specified that “telling people about what is happening is not involvement or engagement”.
Steph Edusei (Chief Executive, Healthwatch Newcastle) pointed out that “engagement means involving people – and nothing has happened for the past two years”
Prof Allyson Pollock (Director, Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University) challenged Adams that his proposal is moving in advance of the Parliamentary consultation on ACO’s (/ACS’s) – and asked why this is so?
Councillor Nick Forbes (Leader of Newcastle City Council) asked for clarification as to how the identified and much-needed health promotion will take place with little money in the pot – at this point Adams handed over to Dr Guy Pilkington (Assistant Clinical Chair, Newcastle CCG) who responded how “we will need to be bold, as money is tight”.

>> What was outlined by NewcastleGateshead CCG is a very significant proposal – and we trust that this proposal will go out to full public engagement and consultation….surprisingly, no mention was made of the timetable for this….

>> And one final thought….and forgive us if we have got this wrong…Adams repeatedly referred to “industrialising” health promotion and, by this, we think he is suggesting a large-scale development. Whilst we applaud all of the hard-won health promotion work carried out by our dedicated NHS clinicians, and recognise that increased attention to health promotion in the future is crucial, we urge members of the CCG to move away from the language of the market place, industrialisation, and care “packages”. Rest assured that nothing about our health needs to be “industrialised” – we require a person centred approach and true human engagement.

Join our Journey? We don’t see any queues.

The CCG document is here – go to supplemental agenda 2:

https://democracy.newcastle.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=9442&x=1

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10th July 2018 – KONPNE and Tyneside Cinema

An empowering evening tonight – collaboration between KONPNE and Tyneside Cinema – showing “Spirit of 45” (Ken Loach, 2013) and then an expert panel discussion which highlighted the increased NHS privatisation by stealth, and the dangers inherent in “Accountable Care Organisations” (an American private health model) and its recent re-badge as “Integrated Care Systems”…and the fact that, as in 1945, we CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

Many thanks to the panel:
Andrew Simpson, Director of Film Programming, Tyneside Cinema (chair)
Dr Gerard Reissmann, local GP and member of Keep Our NHS Public North East
Linda Hobson, Unison Deputy Regional Convenor and Unison National Health Executive
Graham Kirkwood, Senior Research Associate, Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University
and to the very engaged audience

7th July 2018 – Cello surroundsound @ St.Toms

Wonderful, unexpected surprise this morning – the fantastic Cellodees playing in the midst of the Marion Macalpine NHS Privatisation Exhibition at St.Thomas church, Haymarket, Newcastle upon Tyne. 
Many visitors today – learning about the sad reality of NHS privatisation. This under-the-radar privatisation needs to be stopped.
Many pages of comments in the Exhibition visitors book, and OVER 500 messages on the NE Birthday Card for the NHS.
Come along….view…read…comment….join in. 
The Exhibition is open for ONE FINAL WEEK – Monday 9th to Saturday 14th JULY, 10.30am to 4pm, free entry – if you care about the future of healthcare in England, make sure that you don’t miss it….
North East councillors and CCG staff – it would be good to see you there.

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6th July 2018 – The Exhibition which keeps on growing…

The Exhibition which keeps on growing!!
One week left!!
Come along to view the Marion Macalpine Photographic Exhibition “How Come We Didn’t Know? Privatisation: the corporate takeover of our NHS”
PLUS!!
NHS Privatisation in the North East – panels prepared by Keep Our NHS Public North East
PLUS!!
Now also showing the North East’s NHS 70 Birthday Card – with 500 messages…and growing (add your own)
All at St.Thomas Church, Haymarket, Newcastle upon Tyne, open Saturday 7th July then Mon – Sat until Saturday 14th July, 10.30am to 4pm, free entry
See you soon…..

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6th July 2018 – Chronicle

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5th July 2018 – A very happy 70th birthday to our NHS and (hopefully) many happy returns

KONPNE in celebratory mood out and about in Newcastle upon Tyne city centre – baking hot sunshine, birthday cake, a GINORMOUS birthday card, guitar sets, community choir and an open mic for birthday messages!! What more do we need??!!

Yes to celebration – and YES also to *a publicly owned NHS that is free for all  *proper funding and proper staffing  *support for our wonderful NHS workers  *world class services for every community

Many thanks to Martha and the team at Pink Lane Bakery for donating the bespoke NHS 70th Birthday cake, to Gill at Wideopen Co-op and Pam at Market street Co-op also for donating cakes, to John Aspinall (Elephant Memoirs) and Making Waves (Cullercoats Community Choir) for music, and to Unite the Union (NEYH) for printing, Peoples Assembly and Newcastle Unites for the PA….to members of the KONPNE group for a fantastic turn out….and to members of the public for the heartfelt messages on the card. …Team effort!!

The card is available for viewing (and for further messages!) at St.Thomas’Church, Haymarket, until 14th July….

….and a great report and video from Newcastle Chronicle is here:   https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/passion-support-nhs-show-newcastle-14871718

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2nd July 2018 – first thing Monday morning…

….and EXHIBITION ALL SORTED, RESTOCKED AND READY FOR WEEK 2….Come along, view the exhibition and tell us what you think.

The Marion Macalpine Photography Exhibition “How Come We Didn’t Know; Privatisation: the corporate takeover of our NHS” is open Monday – Saturday*, 10.30 – 4, until Saturday 14th July at St.Thomas Church, Haymarket, Newcastle upon Tyne – the church next to Newcastle Civic Centre (*excluding Thursday 5th July). Free entry. Hosted by KONPNE.

30th June 2018 – NHS birthday celebrated in style AND giving the crystal clear message: WE NEED TO PROTECT FOR THE FUTURE

Keep Our NHS Public North East in London today. Fantastic day with group members, and members of other NE campaign groups, plus making many new friends – but, most importantly, a very clear message to the North East CCGs and central Government: ICSs (aka ACOs) = privatisation = Not In Our Name

Arriving in London…

and the party starts in style…

From Health Campaigns Together:
What an AMAZING day!!
50,000+ people came out in the scorching heat to demonstrate against privatisation of #ourNHS
And celebrate her 70th birthday
You are making change happen
THANK YOU ALL 💙👇🏼

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26th June 2018 – NHS is central to our society and the way we live

Praise and gratitude to our fantastic NHS staff in the North East – and much celebration for all the good work over the last 70 years.

We heard from a nurse of the early days of the NHS, and from a current GP; from someone treated shortly after birth and from a person currently undergoing treatment; from people who work in support services to the NHS – and much more. 

All surrounded by the hard-hitting Marion Macalpine photography exhibition on NHS Privatisation “How Come We Didn’t Know?” Please come in and view the exhibition, read the exhibition comments book to find out What the NHS means to us, the people of the North East…and also please add your own thoughts and reflections.

The Marion Macalpine Photography Exhibition is open Monday – Saturday*, 10.30 – 4, until Saturday 14th July at St.Thomas Church, Haymarket, Newcastle upon Tyne (*excluding 5th July). Free entry.

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26th June 2018 – Screening details now released for Tuesday 10th July 2018 – “SPIRIT OF 45”

*****KONPNE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TYNESIDE CINEMA***** To mark the 70th birthday of the NHS, tickets are on sale now for a screening of “Spirit of 45” (Director Ken Loach, 2013) and expert panel discussion: TUESDAY 10th JULY at 6pm.

Click here for tickets – £6 :

https://www.tynesidecinema.co.uk/film-and-events/view/frontline-3-save-our-nhs

From Tyneside Cinema:
FRONTLINE #3: SAVE OUR NHS
As part of Frontline, Tyneside Cinema’s monthly series of discussions tackling the big issues, engaging local partners and talking about the vital questions of our time, we mark the 70th birthday of the NHS by bringing together doctors, campaigners and policy experts to discuss the struggle to keep the NHS free at the point of use, in an era of grave threat to public services.

25th June 2018 – Privatisation on the agenda??

Hot sunshine in Gateshead today – but more sombre in the Civic Centre for the two-monthly Joint STP Health Scrutiny Meeting – comprising Councillor representatives from the seven councils in the NE STP. 
Intriguing to hear Alan Foster, STP Lead for North Cumbria and North East, give the presentation “Towards an Integrated Care System for the North East and North Cumbria” and then try to convince Councillors that the ICS was in no way related to the tainted Accountable Care system / privatisation in any way….
Insightful questions from a number of Councillors.
Agenda is here:

http://democracy.gateshead.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=305&MId=2009&Ver=4

Meetings are open to the public, and meetings are scheduled for 16th July (1.30pm), 24th September (2pm) and 26th November (2pm), all at Gateshead Civic Centre.

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23rd June 2018 – THE Great Exhibition of the North

“How come we didn’t know? Privatisation – the corporate takeover of our NHS” by Marion Macalpine.
THE photographic exhibition that does the exposing.

The Exhibition itself is looking great, with lots of space and light, and a fantastic warm welcome from the team at St.Thomas’ – we had a great opening day, with many visitors. The exhibition content is, however, disturbing to say the least, graphically demonstrating the growing corporate takeover of the NHS and shows how privatisation is promoted by the latest health service reorganisation. Never one to hold back, at the same time KONPNE are also presenting our very own complementary exhibition, focusing on NHS privatisation in the NE.
A double event – not to be missed.

Now open to view for the next three weeks (Monday – Saturday, 10.30am – 4pm, free entry). Definitely a must see exhibition for all who care about the NHS – and for all who wonder what on earth is happening….

Come along to St.Thomas (the Church next to Newcastle Civic Centre, at the Haymarket).

London-based campaigner and photographer Marion Macalpine meets Dr Helen Groom, founding member of KONPNE  (top right photo) and Revd Catherine Lack, St.Thomas’ Church (middle right photo)

The exhibition explores the diverse forms that privatisation takes, including PFI contracts; private health companies masquerading as NHS including many GP clinics and diagnostic centres;  private hospitals which cherry-pick ‘low risk’ patients;  lucrative contracts for highly specialist treatment;  healthcare corporations with a history of fraud or tax avoidance;  scandalously poor care practice that is no barrier to winning new contracts;  private corporations driving government policy and involved in negotiations such as the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership….and now including new panels on the shocking impact of government plans for so-called ‘Transformation’. The exhibition highlights critical links between politicians at all levels and private healthcare corporations.

EXHIBITION ON TOUR!! The exhibition has previously been displayed in Ascot, Birkenhead Art Gallery, Brighton (3 times), Cambridge, Chichester,  Cheltenham, Deal, Hackney (twice), Hammersmith, Haringey, Lambeth, Liverpool Central Library and the Unite building, The Wirral, Norwich,  Sheffield, Southampton, Stroud, Tower Hamlets, Whitstable and Health Campaigns Together 2017 conference.

Marion Macalpine, Photographer:  “Congratulations to KONP North East for exhibiting ‘How Come We Didn’t Know?’ , also their own exhibition about privatisation of the NHS locally. Groups around the country having been exposing the hidden and shocking government plans for privatisation for some time, and displaying ‘How Come We Didn’t Know?’ since 2014. It is great that it is up so centrally in Newcastle”

Reverend Jonathan Adams, St.Thomas’:     “St.Thomas’ is right in the centre of the city, in front of the Civic Centre, by the Haymarket Metro, inbetween the two Universities. It is a place where people come to explore ideas about things they care about. Clearly the NHS is central to what we believe is valuable – about caring for one another. We are very glad to support the Macalpine exhibition – 23rd June for three weeks, Monday to Saturday, 10.30am to 4pm, free of charge. We’ll be delighted if people come, look at it, and consider what we really want for the future of our NHS”

Marion Macalpine, Rev Jonathan Adams, John Whalley

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16th June 2018 – National KONP AGM

Good to be at the national KONP AGM in London today – great to catch up with people, important motions passed, and excellent speakers including Professor David McCoy (Professor of Health Policy, Queen Mary University, London), who spoke on the NHS in the context of European health systems. 

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15th June 2018 – Clarification is STILL required

WE HAVE REPEATEDLY asked the STP lead / Newcastle Gateshead CCG / North East Commissioning Service for a clarification of information relating to three specific areas – but, sadly, to no avail.
Emails sent out
17th January 2018
17th February 2018
24th March 2018
6th May 2018
We also wrote to the Freedom of Information Team at the CCG – but apparently there are no answers to our queries in written records.

It is fair to say that we did get the attached communication from Alan Foster (STP Lead for Cumbria and the North East) in April 2018 – but it STILL didn’t answer two of the three questions…and there has been nil response from Mr Foster following our email of 6th May 2018.

We have updated all of the Healthwatch teams in the NE, and have now written to the chair of the Joint STP Scrutiny Committee.

We believe our questions are CLEAR, RELEVANT and DESERVE A FULL WRITTEN RESPONSE – What do you think?????

Please click here Alan Foster April and NE Campaign Groups May 2018 for Alan Fosters communication and our more recent email dated 6th May 2018

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31st May 2018 – Marion Macalpine exhibition coming to Tyneside 

Marion Macalpine photo exhibition on NHS Privatisation coming to TYNESIDE – opens 23rd June 2018 for three weeks*.
Hosted by “Keep Our NHS Public North East”, and taking place at St.Thomas’ Church at the Haymarket, Newcastle upon Tyne city centre, this exhibition will demonstrate the growing corporate takeover and privatisation of our NHS. (*NB No exhibition on Thursday 5th July)

Reverend Jonathan Adams said 
“St.Thomas’ is right in the centre of the city, in front of the Civic Centre, by the Haymarket Metro, inbetween the two Universities. It is a place where people come to explore ideas about things they care about. Clearly the NHS is central to what we believe is valuable – about caring for one another. We are very glad to support the Macalpine exhibition – 23rd June for three weeks, Monday to Saturday, 10.30am to 4pm, free of charge. We’ll be delighted if people come, look at it, and consider what we really want for the future of our NHS”

29th May 2018 – Advance notice!!! NHS 70th Birthday events in the North East

OUR NHS: Celebrate and Protect for the Future

1) PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION ON TOUR – about NHS privatisation: “How Come We Didn’t Know?”, Marion Macalpine
This runs from Saturday 23rd June to Saturday 14th July 2018*, 10.30am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday, free entry, at St.Thomas Church, Haymarket, Newcastle (the church next to the Civic Centre). *NB No exhibition on Thursday 5th July.
We will need help in leafleting for this, once the exhibition starts – more info later….

24th May 2018 – Update from Judicial Review team

A message from the JR4NHS Team

Dearest supporters,

20th May 2018 – A response regarding A&E, Urgent Care, closure and privatisation….

At the end of March 2018, Mr Bas Sen (Consultant in Emergency Medicine, and Associate Medical Director at the RVI) sat alongside members of NewcastleGateshead CCG at a Council STP Scrutiny Committee focusing on Urgent Care (Gateshead, 20th March 2018). 
Following the meeting, KONPNE posed two important questions: 1) about the closure and centralisation of A&Es, and 2) about the privatisation of Urgent Care Centres in the NE region.
Please find our email questions and Mr Sen’s email response here Email to Mr Bas Sen, with response April 2018
He “accepts the argument regarding accessibility to local A&E Departments” but then downplays this in relation to other factors and, with regard to the private Vocare organisation which run much of our Urgent Care in the NE, he is “comfortable with the quality provided in local contracts”…..despite the poor performance of Vocare in other parts of the country…..

Your thoughts???

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17th May 2018 – KONPNE meeting

Interesting presentation and discussion this evening – our new format for the meeting allowing more time for an in-depth consideration of one issue. Many thanks to Malcolm for preparing the presentation and speaking, and to all who attended and contributed in many different ways. The agenda for the meeting is here 17.5.18 – KONPNE agenda and the notes from the meeting are here 17.5.18 – KONPNE notes of meeting.

Our next meeting is scheduled for late June – date tbc – hopefully at the same venue as the NHS Privatisation photo exhibition. As always…..ALL ARE WELCOME!!

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24th April 2018 – #Justice4NHS Judicial Review at Leeds High Court

The first of the two national Judicial Reviews took place today in Leeds High Court – much respect and very well done to the “999 Call for the NHS” Team for all your commitment and hard work regarding this initiative. KONPNE stands alongside 999 Call for the NHS in supporting #Justice4NHS

Click 999JR court report for a brief court update from the 999 Call for the NHS Team.

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23rd April 2018 – Parliament debates e-petition on NHS privatisation

Petition:
Stop the privatisation of NHS services
We call for a ban on the outsourcing (privatisation) of NHS services, and stop the renewal of any outsourcing contracts already signed. Companies should not be profiteering from NHS contracts, when every pound of NHS budgets is desperately needed for more doctors and nurses, and to pay them more.
Research by Bain & Company published by the Financial Times in January 2017, found that private-sector companies had been invited to bid for 14 per cent more NHS contracts in the 12 months to August 2016 than just a year previously. In March 2017 the Financial Times also reported of the extra £2bn given to the NHS in 2014 to try and bolster NHS services, according to data analysis carried out by the Health Foundation, an independent charity, only about half this extra money was spent in the NHS.

Watch the debate: https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/dd85df77-1e1d-4f1b-bb9f-30a6f5e06a98

Read the transcript: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2018-04-23/debates/A43878B7-E1E8-4205-A7D2-6624BCF0E403/PrivatisationOfNHSServices

The petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/205106

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11th April 2018 – Fact (and Tory Party fantasy) at Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne

FACT (AND TORY PARTY FANTASY) AT GOSFORTH CIVIC THEATRE tonight, at the Mental Health Hustings organised and hosted by Newcastle Launchpad.

An interesting range of responses from Green, Labour and Tory candidates standing in Newcastle – Lib Dems were not present….

Keep Our NHS Public North East asked the final question of the night:
“KONPNE is made up of members of the public, all fighting against NHS cuts and privatisation. Accountable Care Organisations (renamed “Integrated Care Systems”) are an American import, characterised by privatised services, services underpinned by insurance schemes, piece-meal services, inequality and insecurity – none of which we need in our NHS. We ask the candidates: 1)Would you agree that ACO / ICS, as proposed by the Government, are underpinned by a privatisation agenda? 2)As a prospective Councillor in Newcastle, what will you do to stop the ACO / ICS privatisation rot?”

9th April 2018 – Ken Loach and “Spirit of 45” at Darlington

Fantastic evening last night in Darlington, meeting up with many people who support a publicly owned and publicly provided NHS. “The Spirit of 45” was screened, with Ken Loach present and engaging in a Q&A after the film. 
The evening was superbly organised by Louise and the team in Darlo, plus Waking Up To Climate Change, Food for Thought Darlington and The Forum Music Centre. 
*****If you live in the area: There are plans to further develop NHS campaigning activity in Darlington…watch this space for news, or get in touch at konpnortheast@gmail.com, and we will put you in touch with Louise*****

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5th April 2018 – Planning now started for NHS@70 celebrations in NE

Another busy KONPNE meeting this evening…..and whilst we develop the campaign for a publicly owned and publicly provided NHS, we also took time this evening to commence the planning for the KONPNE NHS@70 birthday celebrations here in the NE. Please contact us at konpnortheast@gmail.com if you wish to be part of the planning group for events in July.

The notes from this evenings meeting will be posted here when completed – many thanks Rachael. Our next KONPNE meeting will take place on Thursday 17th May – all welcome – full details here

Notes from the meeting are now available here:  5.4.18 – KONPNE notes of meeting

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4th April 2018 – Agenda now available for tomorrow night Thursday 5th April

Everyone is welcome at the next KONPNE meeting tomorrow night – Thursday 5th April.  Details are on the events page here, and please click here for the  5.4.18 – KONPNE agenda

….Come along – you are guaranteed a warm welcome!!

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25th March 2018  ….still waiting for a response from STP / NewcastleGateshead CCG / NECSU

                                                                             But, then again,

EMAIL 3:
24th March 2018
From: NE Health Campaigns
To: Newcastlegateshead CCG FOI team

Dear NewcastleGateshead CCG FOI team,

Further to the two emails ​(​attached)​, to which there has been nil reply, I would be grateful if you would please supply the following information​ in line with the Freedom of Information Act (2000​):

1) The initial draft NTWND STP went to public consultation in November 2016. Please clarify when you envisage an updated draft STP being made public for further engagement, consultation and agreement. 
This process is described in the attached document from Joe Corrigan (CCG) dated 14th February 2017 at point 7:3

2) Please clarify as to why the CCG has taken the decision for Workstreams / Boards to carry a definitive STP title, when an updated draft STP plan has yet to be made public and agreed. There is record, for example, of the “STP Prevention Workstream” and the “STP Prevention Board” – but, in point of fact, the “STP” for NTWND has yet to be decided.
Please also provide information as to how these committees can continue to carry out business in a credible manner without further formal engagement, consultation and agreement with members of the public – it is now almost seventeen months since the first draft appeared.

3) At two Joint STP Scrutiny meetings (13th November 2017 and 15th January 2018)​, there have been aside references by CCG staff to what seems a consideration of amalgamating the NTWND STP “footprint” with other areas south of the region and in Cumbria; please provide information and your rationale for this possible development.

4) The above information was initially requested on 17th January 2018, with ​an immediate email re​ply​ from Caroline Latta (NECS) indicating that the email has been received​ and that a response would be provided​.​ Regrettably, no response received from STP, CCG, or NECS staff.​
Our request for information was repeated four weeks later to the same people​, again with nil response. 
Both emails are attached.
NewcastleGateshead CCG mission statement (on website) states: “As a CCG, we are determined to hear the voices of patients and ensure that members of the public are involved in the design, delivery, improvement and monitoring of the services we commission”. 
Please provide details as to why in this instance there has been no response to our repeated request for information and, also, please comment on how you feel this fits with your declared mission statement regarding engagement with members of the public.

This email (as with our other communications regarding this request) is copied onto our social media and website, so that all members of our groups across the North East region​ and also other members of the public are updated and are aware of the situation; your response to this F​O​I request will also be shared in the same way.

We thank you for your attention​ to this matter

John Whalley, Co-ordinator, Keep Our NHS Public North East
Pauline McDonnell, Gateshead Keep Our NHS Public
Roger Nettleship, Chair, Save South Tyneside hospital Campaign
Carole Reeves, Co-ordinator, Durham Keep Our NHS Public

Click here to see the earlier emails  Email NGCCG NECSU 24th March 2018

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22nd March 2018 – Two unanswered questions…..

EMAIL FOLLOWING THE STP JOINT COUNCIL SCRUTINY COMMITTEE HELD IN GATESHEAD EARLIER THIS WEEK:

Dear Councillor

I am forwarding this email to all Councillors who sit on the NTWND STP Joint OSC / representatives.   Further to the most recent meeting on Monday 20th March 2018, it was regrettable that observers were not afforded an opportunity to comment or question – although I do, of course, wholly recognise the demands on time and the work of the Chair in looking at ways to enable more detailed discussion.

For your information, I wished to put two questions to the invited speakers regarding Urgent Care and A&E, and I provide the following related information to you now, for your information.

1) We concur with the important and key remarks at the meeting from Councillor John Robinson (Durham County Council) regarding the need to retain physical accessibility to A&E Departments – indeed, Mr Bas Sen,the speaker at the meeting also appeared to agree with this. We are, however, aware that across the country there are currently attempts to close local A&E departments and establish centralised resources.
The question to the speaker: Do you feel that the argument for centralising A&E services at one location in a city environment can be applied equally to the situation in a borough or rural community, where the availability of ambulances, response times, travel time and physical geography must also be factored in?

2) We concur with the remarks and concern at the meeting from Councillor Ann Schofield (Newcastle City Council) and other Councillors about dangers of privatisation in the NHS. It was, however, noted that no reference to the privatisation of “Urgent Care Centres” and “GP out of hours” services was made in the presentation by Mr Sen or by the CCG staff present. 
This “Vocare” document in the public domain:
www.vocare.org.uk/docs/Vocare%20RNS%20announcement.pdf
gives financial details and informs that the “Northern Doctors” organisation which provided out of hours responses was converted into a private limited company in 2015, changed its name to “Vocare” in 2016, and provided a range of NHS 111, GP out of hours and Urgent Care services in the North East and in other regions across the country. The head office is based just outside Newcastle upon Tyne. “Vocare”, in turn, was very recently bought out by the privately-owned “Totally Ltd” – please follow this link which outlines some of the issues associated with this private business:  http://999callfornhs.org.uk/nhs-detectives-2018/4593771080      The questions to the speaker: What is your view of “Totally Ltd” declaration that their purchase of Vocare “provides the company with a strong and commercially attractive opportunity” (see Vocare document, page 6) and, given local contracts with this company, what are your views on the CQC inspections regarding the quality of services provided by the company elsewhere in the country (see Vocare document, page 12)

We are aware that Councillors sitting on the NTWND STP Joint OSC share our concerns about these issues.
Further to the meeting on Monday, we have now written to Mr Bas Sen to seek his response.

Yours sincerely
John Whalley
Co-ordinator
Keep Our NHS Public North East

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KONPNE have also contacted the speaker at the meeting, Mr Bas Sen (Associate Medical Director RVI, also working into the Trauma Centre), for his comments on these questions, and have copied in Mark Adams (NewcastleGateshead CCG) and Caroline Latta (NECSU) who were also at the meeting.

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Information, agenda and minutes of this Committee are located here:
http://democracy.gateshead.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=305
The Committee meets every two months in Gateshead and is open to all to observe. Dates and times will be posted on the konpne website at www.konpnortheast.com/events

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22nd March 2018 – Council unanimous vote – NO ACO / NO ICS in North Tyneside

TONIGHT: NORTH TYNESIDE COUNCIL: UNANIMOUS CROSS-PARTY VOTE IN FAVOUR OF THE MOTION: “This council agrees that there is a growing body of evidence questioning the wisdom of ….Accountable Care Organisations / Integrated Care Systems (ACO/ICS)….This council agrees to oppose any proposal to implement the delivery of healthcare in North Tyneside via an ACO/ICS, a project which in the North Tyneside CCG’s own report was stated to be high risk”.

Well done Councillors Lesley Spillard, Sarah Day and Wendy Lott who brought the motion to the council, and to Councillors Leslie Miller, Kenneth Barrie, Margaret Hall, Gary Bell and Alison Wagott-Fairley who all spoke in favour of the motion.

17th March 2018 – Caroline Lucas supports KONPNE

Meeting John Whalley (Co-ordinator, Keep Our NHS Public North East) in Newcastle upon Tyne this afternoon, Caroline Lucas MP and Co-Leader of The Green Party sends her very best wishes to all at KONPNE and to all other health campaigns in the North East of England.
Caroline was very interested to hear about health campaign work across the region.
“ACO’s recognise the inefficiencies in the internal market, and the need for integrated health and social care – but the ACO proposals are driven by the ideology of private healthcare provision. They could hand over health and social care services for whole areas to the private sector. Greens are committed to a publicly funded, publicly provided health service which is free at the point of use”.

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10th March 2018 – North East March and Rally for the NHS; a loud and clear message to North East CCGs and NHSE

Stephen Tompkinson – 

“The underfunding of the NHS is a political decision that has resulted in huge pressures being placed on all NHS staff who are desparately trying to keep services going. And for patients there are longer waits for GP appointments, hours spent lying on trolleys in hospital corridors, rationing of treatments and avoidable deaths. Our NHS staff work hard – the problem is underfunding and cuts. The Sustainability and Transformation Plans, which the government and local clinical commissioning groups are trying to introduce, will lead to further cuts, closures and privatisation” 

>>>> THE Q&A >>>>

Keith Venables, national secretary of “Health Campaigns Together”, in action at the inspiring post Rally Q&A session at Brunswick Methodist Church Hall and, afterwards, meeting up with Laura Murrell and Dr Pam Wortley of the newly formed “Keep Our NHS Public Sunderland”. 

>>>> THANK YOU >>>>

7th March 2018 – KONPNE and UCU

Newcastle University UCU have passed a motion to support the North East March and Rally for the NHS on Saturday and, likewise, it was important to support Newcastle University UCU at their picket line this morning. Flyers for the March and Rally given out at Kingsgate and outside the Medical School at Newcastle University – Good wishes to the UCU.

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1st March 2018 – Stars shine for NHS!!

Appearing in the comedy “Art” at Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne….and now also appearing at the North East Rally for the NHS on 10th March, we welcome Stockton-born actor Stephen Tompkinson (Ballykissangel, DCI Banks), and co-stars Denis Lawson (Star Wars) and Nigel Havers (Chariots of Fire) who say NO to NHS cuts, NO to NHS closures.

Join us at the Rally on SATURDAY 10th MARCH: Up-to-date event details are here and the facebook event page is at https://www.facebook.com/events/780175362176239/

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25th February – Bethany Elen Coyle records “SONG FOR THE NHS”

First performed at the North East NHS march and rally in February 2017 – Bethany Elen Coyle has now recorded her wonderful SONG FOR THE NHS, with all proceeds to Keep Our NHS Public North East, and Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign. Bethany and Ron are with us again on the NE March and Rally for the NHS on 10th March in Newcastle – hear this track LIVE!!! (but buy it as well!!)

SONG FOR THE NHS is here: https://bethany-elen.bandcamp.com/track/song-for-the-nhs
Latest Info about the March and Rally is here: www.konpnortheast.com/events and the facebook event page is at https://www.facebook.com/events/780175362176239/

 

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22nd February 2018 – Lively discussions

Great to meet up with people again, and also to welcome many new faces to our KONPNE meeting this evening – we appreciated your participation, and hope that you felt welcomed.

Feedback from the last (very busy) month, and then much discussion around forthcoming events -including the March and Rally, liaison with councillors and contact with MPs. Lots done and lots to do.

The notes from the meeting will be posted here when completed – many thanks Rachael.

Our next KONPNE meeting will take place on Thursday 5th April – all welcome – full details here

The notes of the meeting are now available here: 22.2.18 – KONPNE notes of meeting

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21st February 2018 – agenda for the KONPNE meeting to be held on THURSDAY 22nd February 

This is here 22.2.18 – KONPNE agenda

Full details are here Upcoming Events

See you on THURSDAY at 6.30pm for tea / coffee, and meeting starts at 7pm

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20th February 2018 – Logobear for the NHS

Many thanks to Phil at Logobear Newcastle for the very generous discount to KONP supporters, family and friends – click KONPNE and LOGOBEAR to find out how to get your KONP teeshirt in superquick time next time you are in Newcastle!! Just right for the March and Rally in two weeks time!!

 

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17th February 2018 – No response from NewcastleGateshead CCG….

17th Feb 2018
From: NE Health Campaigns
To: Alan Foster, Mark Adams NewcastleGateshead CCG, Dr Guy Pilkington NewcastleGateshead CCG, Caroline Latta North East Commissioning Support Unit

Dear CCG / NECSU
Further to our request for information made over four weeks ago and your initial response, both emails copied below, it is disappointing that there has been nil further response. As stated in our email, there is a certain irony in this continued paucity of information, given that your presentation at the Joint STP Scrutiny Committee meeting on 15th January 2018 spoke about the importance of collaboration and, indeed, two of the councillors present highlighted the need for accessible information and greater public involvement.
Our groups do require a response to the three questions listed below. We have agreed to wait for one further week, and will then submit a FoI request for this information and supporting documentation.
Yours sincerely
John Whalley
Co-ordinator
Keep Our NHS Public North East

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17th January 2018
From Caroline Latta, NECSU

Just to confirm that I have received your information and requests on behalf of Alan, and I will come back to you once I have had a chance to speak to Alan.
Best wishes
Caroline
Caroline Latta
Senior communications and engagement locality manager

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17th January 2018
From: NE Health Campaigns
To: Alan Foster
cc Mark Adams NewcastleGateshead CCG
cc Dr Guy Pilkington NewcastleGateshead CCG
cc Caroline Latta North East Commissioning Support Unit

Dear Mr Foster

Further to the Joint STP Health Scrutiny Committee held on Monday 15th January 2018 at Gateshead Civic Centre, members of the health campaign groups present were surprised to hear your response to one of the questions raised.
When asked a pertinent and very reasonable question about the process and timescale for the CCG providing the next draft or version of the NTWND STP, the response provided by yourself was “the STP will be published when we have developed it”. There was no or minimal attempt from yourself to qualify or explain this statement.
The wording of your response and the lack of clarification is, of course, ironic given the lengthy prior discourse at the meeting around the importance of collaboration.
Your response was also provided in the context of the previous agenda item about the “STP Prevention Workstream”, and we heard of regional progress with the “STP Prevention Board” but, apparently, you state that there is no STP – an updated draft NTWND STP has yet to be completed.

All of the above is a good example of paucity of information compounding confusion and suspicion.

I would be grateful if you would please arrange to provide the following information:
1) The draft NTWND STP went to public consultation in November 2016. Please clarify when you envisage an updated draft STP being made public for further engagement and consultation. This process is described in the attached document from Joe Corrigan (CCG) dated 14th February 2017 at point 7:3
2) Please clarify as to why the CCG has taken the decision for Workstreams / Boards to carry a definitive STP title, when an updated draft STP plan has yet to be made public and agreed
3) At the two Joint STP Scrutiny meetings, there have been aside references by CCG staff to what seems a consideration of amalgamating the NTWND STP “footprint” with other areas south of the region and in Cumbria; information and your rationale for this possible development would be appreciated.

Your early written response is appreciated, and this will be forwarded to members via social media and website

John Whalley, Co-ordinator, Keep Our NHS Public North East
Pauline McDonnell, Gateshead Keep Our NHS Public
Roger Nettleship, Chair, Save South Tyneside hospital Campaign
Carole Reeves, Co-ordinator, Durham Keep Our NHS Public

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16th February 2018 – South Tyneside protest builds in momentum

Powerful lunchtime protest today, organised by The Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign to highlight the continued opposition to the downgrading of Children’s 24 hours Consultant Led A&E, downgrading of Consultant Led Maternity Services, the loss of inpatient Gynaecology and all hospital stroke services. 
Speeches from the campaign chair (pic), two local MPs (pic), Councillors, and Unions – plus much support from the people of South Shields (pic), hospital staff on their lunch-time break ….and passing traffic!
There is NO DOUBT – SSTHC has the support of the public. KONP North East were present, and it was good to meet up with members of KONP Sunderland (pic).

15th February 2018 – Newcastle Uni Labour Soc hosts KONPNE

NHS WORKSHOP – On Wednesday 15th of February, Newcastle University Labour Society hosted a talk with two representatives from KONPNE. Diane Jones and Julie Armstrong shared details of the continuing push towards privatisation. A very thorough account of the ongoing crisis was given, drawing attention to a range of issues. For example, the case of ACO’s and the judicial review against them. Furthermore, local issues were raised, including the continuing struggle to save South Tyneside maternity services.

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13th February 2018 – The March and Rally begin to take shape

Great planning meeting for the NE March and Rally for the NHS – many thanks to all who took part – all is beginning to take shape….MORE NEWS TO FOLLOW BUT WE CAN CONFIRM ***rally opened by Keith Venables, (co chair, “Health Campaigns Together”) ***speech by MP ***Unions ***update from health campaigns ***PLUS live music from Bethany Elen Coyle, Ron Brown and Blyth Valey Samba Band….. MORE TO FOLLOW!!! Keep the date free:::::Saturday 10th March 2018, 10.45 am, Newcastle – go to facebook event for details https://www.facebook.com/events/780175362176239/  or click here for website info

The planning meeting meeting tonight was open to all – the notes from the meeting are Feb 13 2018 Planning for 2018 March and Rally – many thanks Rachael! 

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9th February 2018 – Please assist….

Please help us to develop our campaign activity further over the coming months. 
If you are in a position to help financially with a monthly standing order, then this would be a huge help. All contributions are very gratefully received, however small. 
Our bank details are:
Bank – Co-op 
Sort code – 08 92 99 
Account – 65517907
Name – KEEP OUR NHS PUBLIC – NE
Many thanks to all who kindly donate money. This is greatly appreciated, and every penny is used wisely in our campaign to Keep Our NHS Public.
It is fantastic to know that we have a committed group of supporters.

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8th February 2018 – NT Councillors speak in support of NHS

Members of KONPNE attended North Tyneside Council “Adult Social Care, Health and Wellbeing Sub-Committee this evening – item 7) on the agenda being “A Presentation on the Northumberland Accountable Care Organisation”.

The presentation was made by Birju Bartoli (Exec Director of Systems, Strategy and Transformation, Northumbria Healthcate NHS Trust). Assured by the Chair that this was a fact-finding agenda item, Councillor Lesley Spillard and Councillor Alison Waggott-Fairley made important pro-NHS statements about the privatisation agenda which clearly underpins ACO’s, and Councillor Tommy Mulvenna and Jenny McAteer (NT Healthwatch) highlighted the need for increased public involvement and consultation. We watch this space very closely and will rigorously oppose any attempt to further develop the Northumberland ACO approach in the NE.

Agenda / minutes / powerpoint from Birju Bartoli about ACOs:  https://my.northtyneside.gov.uk/meeting/19035

https://www.england.nhs.uk/new-care-models/vanguards/care-models/primary-acute-sites/northumberland/

https://www.northumbria.nhs.uk/about-us/accountable-care-organisation-for-northumberland/

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7th February 2018 – Newcastle TUC AGM

A BIG THANKYOU to Newcastle TUC for inviting KONPNE to address the Newcastle TUC Annual General Meeting, held earlier tonight. Much discussion around regional and national developments – including the NTWND “Sustainability and Transformation Partnership” and around “Accountable Care Systems / Organisations”….or “Integrated Care Systems” as they are now known…..same proposed cuts, same proposed privatisation…..

Much to be aware of – and much to guard against.

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3rd February 2018 – National Day of Action for the NHS

MANY THANKS from KONPNE and North East Peoples Assembly to all who assisted at todays city centre campaign information stall and to all members of the public for your support – great to join together across the country with NHS supporters at the mega march in London and in 50 plus towns and cities. We join together in demanding
* an end to the winter crisis with a cash injection to restore the NHS budget
* commitment to increased funding each year
* end the cap on NHS pay
* no cuts, no closures, no privatisation

The campaign stall at the Monument attracted much information – information about privatisation and ACO’s, leaflets about Branson and Virgin, contact information for campaigns groups across the NE, advance information about the North East March and Rally for the NHS (click here) and our campaign petition – a loud and clear message to all NewcastleGateshead CCG:
NO ACOs HERE.
NO CUTS OR CASH DRIVEN CLOSURES TO NORTH EAST HEALTH SERVICES

Thanks also to MetroRadio for reports every hour, and to the Chronicle for extensive reporting and videowork – click here

People queueing to sign the petition at the Monument – an average of one person every thirty seconds. A LOUD AND CLEAR MESSAGE TO NEWCASTLEGATESHEAD CCG: We believe in a publicly funded, publicly provided and publicly accountable NHS. We do not accept the underfunding of the NHS and social care, with the subsequent cuts to services in the North East.

ACO’s? Not in our name.

 

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20th January 2018 – Lively HCT conference at Leeds

Proud to be representing North East campaigners at the “Health Campaigns Together” conference in Leeds on 20.1.18 are speakers Gemma Taylor (Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign), William Jarrett (Save North Tyneside NHS), Katie Scott (Save Rothbury Community Hospital), Liz Greener (Durham Keep Our NHS Public), John Whalley (Keep Our NHS Public North East) plus twenty more people who travelled down from the North East to Leeds in the minibus, cars and public transport. Great to spend time together and also link up with other health campaigns across the whole northern region – a sense of solidarity and inspiration – and many thanks to HCT and Leeds KONP for superb organisation.

A KONPNE video of images from the event is on the youtube channel here

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19th January 2018 – Standing room only at Sunderland!

for the inaugural meeting of “Sunderland and District Keep Our NHS Public”. Pam Wortley, Chair, welcomed speakers Sharon Hodgson (MP, Washington and Sunderland West), Gemma Taylor (Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign) and John Whalley (Keep Our NHS Public North East), and then invited questions from the floor. Much energy in the room tonight – the Sunderland KONP will go from strength to strength….no doubt about that! Many congratulations, and very best wishes.

Watch the LAUNCH EVENT for Sunderland and District Keep Our NHS Public.

Video A: Introductory speech from Pam Wortley (Sunderland KONP) and speech from Gemma Taylor (Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign) 
https://youtu.be/6fuHwANmEug

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18th January 2018 – Packed agenda for KONPNE meeting

is here 18-1-18 -konpne-agenda and the notes from the meeting (thanks Rachael!) are posted here 18-1-18 Notes from KONP Meeting . Much discussion and campaign planning – about links and campaign work with MPs, councillors, university, and about our street event with Peoples Assembly in February, and about the NE March and Rally for the NHS in March 2018. Lots happening….

Please also see information here about our next meeting. All of our meetings are open – and you are assured a warm welcome.

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15th January 2018 – A poor show from North East CCG

Todays “Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and North Durham STP Health Scrutiny Committee”, held at Gateshead Civic Centre, comprised three councillors from each of the seven local councils (some apologies were given), plus observers from health campaign groups and other members of the public.

We were pleased to hear local councillors speaking out about the dangers of ACO’s and further privatisation in the NHS.  However, the CCG contributed “Item 5: Role of Accountable Care Organisations: Mark Adams, Joint Lead for Combined Cumbria and North East STP will provide the Joint Committee with a verbal update on the above” and this proved to be a wholly inadequate explanation of the concept of ACO’s as advocated by NHSE. Whilst Mark Adams commented that there is, as yet, no model for ACO’s in the North East, he took time to emphasise the benefits of collaboration within an ACO model but, in our view, minimised the fact that the ACO model operates within a business framework and, thereby, runs a significant risk of large scale privatisation. We felt his “update” and responses to questions to be evasive and, indeed, felt such to be misleading about the reality of the situation. We have written to the Chair of the Committee, with copies to all committee Councillors and CCG staff present – see Email to Councillor L Caffrey 17.1.18. 

Unfortunately, the situation gets worse…when Alan Foster, co-lead for the STP in the north was asked a pertinent and very reasonable question about the process and timescale for the CCG providing the next draft or version of the NTWND STP, the response provided was “the STP will be published when we have developed it”, with no or minimal attempt to qualify or explain the statement. The wording of the response and the lack of clarification is, of course, ironic given the lengthy prior discourse at the meeting around the importance of collaboration….and the response was also provided in the context of a previous agenda item about the “STP Prevention Workstream”, and the “STP Prevention Board” …..but, apparently, there is no STP – an updated draft NTWND STP has yet to be completed. A good example of paucity of information compounding confusion and suspicion. We need answers – please see Email to Alan Foster 17.1.18, and we will keep you updated.

Here is the link to the minutes of the previous meeting in Nov 2017 and to the agenda for 15th January 2018. We will let you know when the next meeting is.
http://democracy.gateshead.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=305&MId=1847

A poor show from NewcastleGateshead CCG (representing the North East CCGs). 

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9th January 2018 – Newcastle residents care ab