News

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

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

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21st September 2022 – Questions in Northumberland

NHS campaigners in the North East are putting formal questions to seven North East councils to determine their stance on the new “Integrated Care System” – given that the ICSs are under instruction from NHS England, our local Councillors are our representatives regarding this new programme, and we need to ensure that they are accountable in standing up for our NHS.

Scroll down on this page for our contacts with Durham, Sunderland, and Newcastle Councils, and to read about a DISGRACEFUL response from North Tyneside Council.

Today, though, we faced Northumberland County Council in a…. pre-meeting meeting??   Unusually, Public Question Time for Northumberland County Council takes place immediately before the full Council meeting – it is not part of the formal full County Council meeting AND, unlike the full County Council meeting, there is no live stream…. It will be interesting to learn from the Council as to why they have decided to manage public questions in this way as it does appear to minimise the importance of public questions, reduces accessibility and accountability, and may serve to decrease local democracy. We feel that Northumberland County Council would do well to follow the example of the other six city / borough / county Councils in the North East by scheduling questions from the public as an integral part of the full Council meeting.  

Moving on to our question at this rather random “pre-meeting meeting”…..Many thanks to KONPNE supporter Ed Bober from Morpeth, who put the following question to the Council:

“What is Northumberland County Council doing to promote local participation and scrutiny of decision-making by Integrated Care Systems and to ensure that the Integrated Care Systems do not permit private sector representatives to participate in decision making on its board, committees, or other bodies with delegated powers?”

Given that it was a pre-meeting meeting, there is no official video record from Northumberland County Council and, unless we have missed it, there appears to be no link to public questions and responses on the Council website…..  the record of the proceedings is all….. very… vague.  Rest assured that our question did definitely happen!! …and there was definitely a response!!  We have asked for a written copy of the Council response, and also details as to where public questions and responses may be viewed.  Fortunately, a KONPNE supporter in the public gallery made a video, and this is posted here.

Read our commentary on the Northumberland meeting PLUS…… How does your Council shape up…….?  Click here to read about our questions to seven full Council meetings across the region this year….

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Ist September 2022 – KONPNE speaks

Our monthly meeting tonight – and much discussed; click here to read the notes from the meeting.

Meetings always take place on the first Thursday of the month at 7pm via Zoom – please join us on 6th October. Everyone is welcome. More information about the meeting and the Zoom link is here.

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31st August 2022 – Help with our admin, monitoring and scrutiny

KONPNE is a busy regional NHS campaign group – and we can do even more campaigning with your help….

There are a number of background routine tasks and jobs that need to be done – everyday tasks that keep the Campaign ticking over – but which are also VITAL in providing a strong structure for our campaign work.

Some of these tasks are “one-off” and others are monthly commitments – but each one would take less than an hour or two… honest. Please contact us at konpnortheast@gmail.com if you are able to assist and wish for more information – we will provide the support and information to help you get started….

This month, we need help with

> updating our email address list of all Councillors in the North East (going on to the Council websites, and updating our word doc, so that we have email contacts for all new Councillors post-May 2022), This is a one off job!

>New “North East and North Cumbria ICS Board” – one or two people to research the meeting joining process, observe (online) the new ICS Board meeting, and feedback to our October meeting

> Research the “North East and North Cumbria ICS” strategy / operational policy / aims

> Our blog (on this website here) needs an injection of energy – please be a “one off” guest contributor and write about your NHS and campaign-related thoughts / reflections / experiences and musings. Maybe you have attended an event recently, or have reflections on campaigning

> Our campaigning in the North East primarily covers five local authorities (Northumberland, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Gateshead and County Durham….Sunderland KONP cover Sunderland, and Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign covers South Tyneside) …..PLUS there are a number of meetings (as yet unspecified) connected to the new Integrated Care System. We need one person from each of the five areas to keep a monthly check / have a general awareness of their Council and NHS minutes and meetings, and to keep us updated regarding discussions and decisions regarding the NHS in their area, as identified in these minutes. This monthly task is more straight-forward (and not as onerous) as it sounds!  Please contact us for more info if you are able to help with this valuable work.

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4th August 2022 – Monthly KONPNE meeting

Another lively Campaign discussion and planning meeting this evening – notes from the meeting are here – these are open and available for all to read.

Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 1st September 2022 – always the first Thursday of the month at 7pm . All are welcome, and more information is here

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3rd August 2022 – Email to Chair of Health and Wellbeing Board, North Tyneside Council

Given the three shameful “responses” (if you can call them that) from North Tyneside Council (see 22nd July 2022, below), KONPNE has today emailed Cllr Karen Clark, Chair of North Tyneside Health and Wellbeing Board, regarding our original question which, to date, has remained unanswered. We have also copied in all North Tyneside Councillors, and have provided details about our concerns. We will update all of our supporters when a reply is received. 

Our email to Cllr Clark is here, and the information sheet which spells out our concerns is here

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22nd July 2022 – Three unsatisfactory responses from North Tyneside Council – KONPNE members are following this up

North Tyneside Council, democracy and the NHS – is there anyone at home? Or is it all smoke and mirrors?

On 11th July 2022, KONPNE submitted a question to North Tyneside Council, for their response at the full Council meeting scheduled for 21st July 2022. This followed Council protocols around transparency and accountability. Our question to the Council centred around the new “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System”, which is now responsible for making decisions about treatments and commissioning health services in this geographical area – there are huge concerns about the ICS and the impact on local democracy and the further privatisation of the NHS.

NOT ONLY (1) have North Tyneside Council seen fit to disallow, without reason, our question at the July 2022 Council Meeting (see below, scroll to 14th July), AND (2) have totally ignored our subsequent request that this decision be reconsidered (click here – we are still awaiting a reply) …. BUT ALSO (3) they have now followed this up with a totally inadequate and disturbing written response.

Whilst we expected a considered reply to our question about the Integrated Care System (ICS) from a Councillor, one of our elected representatives, instead we have received an anonymous “response” from the NT Council HQ at Silverlink. Forwarded to us by a Personal Assistant to the Director of Children’s and Adult Services, it would be good to know who actually wrote this response, as it does appear to reflect a copy and paste job from the ICS website, coupled with a reluctance to respond to (or attempt to side-step) our actual questions, and ending with what appears to be a very disturbing total disregard for the future of our NHS.

There are only 4 Local Authority representatives on the Integrated Care Board (ICB), despite the ICS covering 14 Local Authorities across North Cumbria and the North East – and 3 of these reps are unelected Council Officers…..so much for democracy?  The response received from North Tyneside Council gives the impression that there is absolutely nothing amiss. We believe that representation at this level is important, as the ICB has ultimate authority regarding all future health contracts across the region, and sets the tone and direction of travel. It is also important to note that the ICB comprises people appointed by the Chair (who is, himself, appointed by NHS England) and, so, our one Councillor is the one and only elected representative of 3 million people across North Cumbria and the North East – we hope that s/he factors in some time for sleep at night. Obviously, tokenism springs to mind.  We believe that the ICB should include a Councillor from each Local Authority, not just one representative covering all 14 Local Authorities. 

And, of course, our fundamental concern is around the ongoing insidious privatisation of our NHS. It is totally unacceptable to read the dismissive statement in the final paragraph from North Tyneside Council that it will “continue to use its influence to ensure that contracts are awarded to providers who will deliver the best services to the residents of the borough”. There is NOTHING in the NT Council response to confirm the Councils commitment to a publicly-funded and publicly provided NHS. The North East and North Cumbria ICS Constitution should include a clear commitment that NHS providers be the default providers of health services, care and treatment and, as contracts with private sector companies come up for renewal, the default position is that they be awarded to NHS providers. We believe that our Councils and Councillors need to be clear in their support for this stance.

Our original questions remain unanswered by North Tyneside Council: 

What is North Tyneside Council doing to promote local participation and scrutiny of decision-making by the ICS and to ensure that the ICS does not permit private sector representatives to participate in decision making on its board, committees, or other bodies with delegated powers?

What will North Tyneside Council do to encourage the ICS to end the outsourcing and privatisation of NHS services?

Our original statement and question to North Tyneside Council is here and the North Tyneside Council response is here. We believe that the Councils response is shameful and we are, of course, following this up. We will keep you informed.

More information about “Integrated Care Systems”, private sector involvement, the composition of the Board, our Campaign so far, and about “North East and North Cumbria ICS” in particular is here.   

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18th July 2022 – Message received – loud and clear 

We need the new “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System” signed up to the pledge – no private companies on ICS Boards. Members of KONPNE were pleased to join in with the “We Own It” initiative and, in total,  a HUGE 1,562 people (1,501 by electronic letter and 61 in writing) across the NE and Cumbria contacted the Chair of the new Board to demand the pledge: NO PRIVATE COMPANIES ON ICS BOARDS. 

The message was received loud and clear by Sir Liam Donaldson, Chair of the Board, who recently left a message on their new ICS website – click here 

The message makes interesting reading, but no absolute assurance – there is a “let-out clause”….

CLICK HERE

and scroll to Part 10 to read more about our huge concerns about the composition of the ICS Board, and specifically about the let out clause. This is a fundamental issue, and a principle is at stake – the ICS is now responsible for commissioning all healthcare in our region.

A start has been made. A huge number of people in the North East and Cumbria now know about this issue, hundreds have contacted the ICS about it, and NENC ICS know that we are closely scrutinising their operational structures and decision-making processes. There is absolutely no place for private sector healthcare on ICS Boards and Committees.  

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14th July 2022 – North Tyneside Councillors in hiding??

Given all the difficulties associated with the “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System”,  we submitted a question on 12th July 2022 for the North Tyneside Council meeting scheduled for 21st July – but received an email response from the Council on 13th July 2022, stating that our question was not accepted for the Council meeting and will be referred to Council officers for a response.

“The Chair of Council considered your question for the Council meeting 21 July 2022 and decided that it be referred to officers to respond to you directly.  Your question will NOT be considered at the meeting next week”.

Strange…. but true.  Of course, we have immediately emailed the Council on 14th July for more information about this decision. We feel that it is our democratic right to put questions to our elected representatives at a full Council meeting, and we await their response. We will keep you updated.

In the interim, click here to read our VERY REASONABLE and APPROPRIATE question to North Tyneside Council, and click here for information about ICSs. BTW, North Tyneside Council please note: Durham, Sunderland and Newcastle Councils have all provided responses to our questions…. scroll down to 6th July and 22nd June.

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11th July 2022 – NHS; Rain AND shine

A message to poet Harry Gallagher and musician JohnE Thornton: A person at the “Keep Our NHS Public” rally at the Monument in Newcastle upon Tyne on Sat 2nd July says that you were both superb. Unfortunately she couldn’t shelter in a shop doorway when the heavens opened during the poetry set BUT, out of respect, she just stood there and got soaked. She said when she walked away her clothes were slapping against her. She was meeting her daughter in a café for lunch and, before that, she needed to go and buy £50 worth of new DRY clothes.    Fandom can be expensive!!

KONPNE:  To the person at the Rally – it is GREAT that you were there…..and stayed!! KEEP IN TOUCH – We need to KEEP OUR NHS PUBLIC, rain AND shine….

Harry and JohnE – as always – THANKYOU

FULL REPORT on the Rally??  Scroll down to 2nd July!!

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9th July 2022 – Durham Miners Gala

 

The Durham Miners Gala returned after a two-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2022 Gala was dedicated to all key workers – carers and bus drivers, delivery workers and nurses, shop staff and teachers, everyone who had risked (and still are risking) their lives to keep society functioning throughout the pandemic and beyond.

Over the past five Gala’s, supporters of KONPNE have distributed KONP leaflets and Health Campaigns Together newspapers across the site and helped at the Health Campaigns Together stall, and this year was no exception. Although it was baking hot in the marquee, one of the happy perks of campaigning by the side of the stall was that it proved to be a focal point for all our NHS friends and supporters – local and from across the country – and also a place to make connections with people who, we know, we will work together with in the future…. here’s to the future….!

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7th July 2022 – KONPNE meeting

Monthly campaign meeting for KONPNE – always the first Thursday of the month @ 7pm….

The notes from this meeting are here – these are open, and available for all to read!!

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 4th August at 7pm – ALL WELCOME!
Further information and Zoom codes are here

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6th July 2022 – Formal question at full City Council meeting – Newcastle

Further to our report below (22nd June 2022), NHS campaigner and Newcastle resident Clare Bethell continued KONPNE’s planned sequence of putting formal questions to seven Councils in the North East. The aim is to determine each Councils stance on the new North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System (NENC ICS), which is responsible for commissioning all health care in the region, as from 1st July 2022. We have massive concerns about this new system – see our webpage here.

Clare put the following question to Newcastle City Council at tonights full council meeting:

“I speak on behalf of “Keep Our NHS Public North East”.

Further to the deeply flawed Health and Care Act 2022, “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System” is responsible for commissioning all healthcare for the City of Newcastle upon Tyne from 1st July this year. There are potentially a number of problematic areas associated with the new Integrated Care System, and some of these difficulties may be addressed and remedied locally through attention to the wording of the Constitution of the new ” North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board”. 

Issues that need to be clearly stated within the Constitution include 

– the ICS commitment to maintain a comprehensive health service, free at the point of need, and accessible to all residing in the area

– the need to exclude representatives from private sector organisations on any ICS board or committee

– a commitment that NHS providers are the default providers of health services

– vigorous scrutiny, transparency and accountability with all new contracts

– a commitment that anyone who needs emergency care while present in Newcastle will receive the necessary treatment, whether or not they are registered with a GP in the area

– a commitment that the Integrated Care Board will include a Councillor from each local authority and representatives from the range of health professionals and patient groups; this will uphold local democracy and transparency

– a commitment to hold all meetings of Boards and Committees in public, making papers available, and welcoming questions from the public

– the requirement for the full assessment of health and care needs, and availability of social supports, prior to a patients discharge from hospital

– the need for all NHS providers within the area to adhere to nationally agreed pay, terms and conditions, as negotiated with NHS staff Unions

I would be grateful if you would please outline what Newcastle City Council is doing to promote these issues when in contact with officers of the Integrated Care System, and please confirm that Newcastle City Council upholds the principle that the NHS must be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of use and based on the clinical needs of patients – not on the new Integrated Care Boards financial considerations.”

Councillor Karen Kilgour, Deputy Leader of the Council, replied on behalf of Newcastle City Council. Councillor Kilgour confirmed that the Council has a role to play regarding the ICS, but no power to set commitments on behalf of the ICS. She confirmed that Newcastle City Council does have some influence as to how the ICS evolves, and have suggested amendments to the Constitution of the new ICS. She confirmed opposition to any privatisation of the NHS and charging of any form, and confirmed that the move to the ICS won’t change peoples right to treatment in the city – people in the city who need emergency treatment will be able to access it, regardless of address. Councillor Kilgour stated how she has raised many issues and concerns regarding the ICS via the Local Government Association, and will continue to do so.

Clare Bethell, KONPNE campaigner, concluded her question with the following statement:

“We are aware that plans from NHS England outline a much-reduced Councillor and public involvement in decision-making regarding our future health services. This is a huge cause of concern as this does, of course, lead to a direct reduction in local democracy. This situation is both appalling and a disgrace. Please know that we, as Newcastle residents, want a publicly-funded and publicly-provided NHS, and that we support and expect our Councillors to stand up, to ask awkward questions, and to fight to protect our NHS. As from yesterday, we have all benefitted from 74 years of public healthcare – and we need our Councillors, now, to play your part in ensuring that the NHS remains for future generations. Thank you.”

KONPNE awaits Councillor Kilgours above response in writing, and will link her response in full here. The meeting was livestreamed, and this may be viewed on Youtube here  (go to minute 18.16 in the bottom right hand corner of the Youtube screen). To reiterate: “KONPNE supports and expects our Councillors to stand up, to ask awkward questions, and to fight to protect our NHS.”  

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2nd July 2022 – Morpeth celebrates and protests

Excellent joint work by KONP / Morpeth and Pegswood Labour Party Branch –  a great joint team action, out and about in Morpeth to celebrate 74 years of NHS healthcare – and to protest some of the key features of the new “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System” (NENC ICS). This new body is now responsible for all health commissioning in the region and, yes, not many people had heard about it….
There was an excellent response from the Morpeth public – all leaflets went, the NHS birthday card was covered in messages, and many people scanned the poster/board’s QR codes and sent emails on the spot to the Chair of the new NENC ICS. Unsurprisingly, many people were outraged. It’s OUR NHS. It is not, as yet, totally privatised – but this new ICS holds many dangers.

For info about “Integrated Care Systems” – go to our ICS page here

Does your party or group want to get involved / need a speaker at your Zoom / require more information??? Contact KONPNE at konpnortheast@gmail.com

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2nd July 2022 – The Integrated (?) Care (?) System (?) commences in the North East and Cumbria

Yesterday saw the start of the deeply flawed and curiously named “Integrated Care System” – it is a sad day that we now no longer have a “National Health Service” but, instead, 42 localised and stand-alone “health systems”….. together with their much baggage and many, many problems – see here

North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System is now responsible for commissioning all healthcare across the region – a “development” which is hugely significant but one which is not widely known nor reported on. 

So…to inform and enlighten…health campaigners and community organisations took it upon themselves and were out in force in Newcastle-upon-Tyne city centre, to get across HUGE concerns. Hosted by “Keep Our NHS Public North East”, we thank speakers from a wide range of community organisations – Dr Helen Groom (Patients Not Passports), John Harrison (Disabled People Against Cuts), Sean Fahey (North East Pensioners Association), Angela Robinson (NHS Nurse – retired), Caitlin Southern (North East Peoples Assembly), Dr Gerard Reissmann (Newcastle GP – retired), Jan Shortt (General Secretary, National Pensioners Convention) and Jude Letham (Keep Our NHS Public North East). Watch this space and our social media for quotations and resumes of the speeches. Many thanks, one and all.

North East Poet Harry Gallagher was, of course, greeted very warmly. His book “Northern Lights” is a love letter to the people of the North, a region often buffeted and battered by stormy conditions – this new “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System” being no exception. Harry Gallagher, the People’s Poet, engaged the crowd with his dry humour, brutal honesty, and passionate conviction...and, starting and ending the rally, we were also very fortunate to welcome musician JohnE Thornton. JohnE has worked in the NHS for 10 years, and is now well-known on the Newcastle and coastal scene for the music gigs he hosts and plays in. Many, many thanks to both Harry and JohnE. 

We mustn’t forget that Tuesday next week marks 74 years of healthcare from our NHS. There is no celebratory gateau this year…we reckon 42 separately baked, cut-price cupcakes would be a more accurate motif….but that menu can be changed. Please sign the petition, email the Chair of the ICS, liaise with your local Councillor, contact your MP, link up with your Healthwatch, get involved in our actions and speak up – we need to fight to reinstate our NHS.

….and, so, it is now over to all people living and working in the NE to get involved with the Campaign and to continue the fight in this region. Click here for details of the Integrated Care System….and please be active – click here to find details about our forthcoming Campaigns.

If you want an NHS, you need to be an NHS activist.  

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26th June 2022 – HUGE CONCERNS: KONPNE contacts Chair of NE Integrated Care System

There are, of course, HUGE concerns regarding the curiously-named “Integrated Care System” – a misnomer, if ever there was one.

It is a sad day indeed that there is no longer a unified national health service but, rather, a collection of 42 separate health divisions across England, each responsible for making decisions about treatments and commissioning services for their geographical area. “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System” (NENC ICS) is now responsible, as from 1st July this year, for the healthcare in the North East.

CLICK HERE

to read todays email from Jude Letham (KONPNE Co-ordinator) to Sir Liam Donaldson (Chair of NENC ICS), with cc to Sam Allen (Chief Exec, NENC ICS)

and

CLICK HERE

for our ICS webpage. It is crucial that we all stand up for the NHS regarding this.

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22nd June 2022 – Formal questions to two full Council meetings – Durham and Sunderland

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18th June 2022 – Who’s NHS?   OUR NHS

KONPNE and thousands make it clear to Johnson et al…   It’s OUR NHS and we NEED to keep it PUBLIC.   Proud to support the TUC Demo in London yesterday 

The Guardian   (18th June 2022)   Thousands march in London over cost of living crisis

The Guardian    (18th June 2022)   ‘It’s awful actually’: voices from the cost of living protest in London

Royal College of Midwives     (17th June 2022)   Midwives rally to the cause and demand better for workers in mass London protest

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11th June 2022 – Campaigning by Metro

PROUD TO STAND UP FOR THE NHS on the WE OWN IT day of action on Saturday. IT IS OUR NHS – not big business / American corporations / multinationals with shareholders….. Tyneside campaigners travelled the Metro with stops at Whitley Bay, North Shields and Byker….and gaining many more signatures for the email to the Chair of “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System” (the body now responsible for health contracts in the NE). We need to keep private corporations away from NHS Boards.

HAVE YOU SIGNED?????? NOT TOO LATE – CLICK ON OUR “INTEGRATED CARE SYSTEM” PAGE HERE AND SCROLL TO ACTION 2 ….. IT WILL TAKE YOU 2 MINUTES!!!!

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6th June 2022 – Demanding Better; Join the Fightback

Many thanks to Peoples Assembly North East for inviting KONPNE to speak at the public meeting this evening. alongside John Harrison (Disabled people Against Cuts), Fran Heathcote (Public and Commercial Services Union) and John Woodhouse (Communication Workers Union).

Solidarity. NO to cuts and privatisation.

Peoples Assembly is one of our longstanding campaign partners, and does a great job in encouraging joint actions amongst organisations in the North East.

INFO: https://www.facebook.com/PANorthEast/

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2nd June 2022 – KONPNE meeting

Monthly campaign meeting for KONPNE – always the first Thursday of the month @ 7pm….

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

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 7th July at 7pm – ALL WELCOME!
Further information and Zoom codes are here

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14th May 2022 – Shut Hassockfield Down

It’s time we made the UK a welcoming, supportive and kind place that welcomes those who are forcibly displaced, no matter where they come from. No one chooses to be a refugee. The health needs of refugees can be considerable, given recent trauma, displacement and separation, and places such as Hassockfield serve to intensify symptoms. It is time the Government abolishes its hostile policies, and closing immigration prisons like these is the first step in doing so.

It was important for supporters of KONPNE to be present today and to stand in solidarity with many other groups and individuals against this abhorrent facility. 

Mary Kelly Foy, MP for the City of Durham: “I am fundamentally opposed to the detention of vulnerable refugees. Instead of this dehumanising process, I echo the call of human rights activists that asylum claims should be resolved in the community without the trauma of detention.”

Agnes Tanoh, “Women for Refugee Women”, started a petition against the new detention centre that has now been signed by over 16,700 people. She said: “I know how detention destroys a woman, because I was locked up for over three months at Yarl’s Wood detention centre, before the Government accepted that I am a refugee. I witnessed the suffering of vulnerable women while I was there. The Government promised to reduce its use of detention because of the harm it causes, but they broke this promise by opening Derwentside detention centre – the first one to open in over seven years. Protest is an act of solidarity. Together we have one strong and loud voice”.

CLICK HERE for the No to Hassockfield Campaign, HERE for the report in the Northern Echo, HERE for the video from Rochelle, and HERE for our NHS and Migration website page  

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12th May 2022 – KONPNE speaks

It is always good to catch up with like-minded people at our monthly KONPNE campaign meeting. The agenda tonight comprised information and planning around a huge range of NHS-related issues. One thing is for sure – we are never stuck for issues to talk about. Please click here for the notes from our meeting – including updates on Hassockfield protest, Durham Gala, TUC march and rally, local groups, petitions, questions to local councils, Integrated Care Systems, and more….

Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 2nd June – all welcome, and please click here for details.

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23rd April 2022 – Three questions to put to candidates in the forthcoming Council elections

Knock knock….

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

Here’s three key questions to put to prospective Councillors – or, indeed, all Councillors even if they are not facing an election this year….and if there is no knock on the door, please click here for email addresses of current Councillors….

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

a) What will you do to encourage local NHS commissioning services to keep healthcare within the NHS? (Over the last decade, £96 billion has been paid to private companies for NHS services – privatisation puts profits before patients).

b) How will you work to increase democracy in local health structures?  (The Health and Care Bill reduces the contributions of councillors and local people on NHS decision-making bodies)

c) What are you doing to fight for fair pay for all NHS staff?  (The current pay offer of 3% is derisory and unacceptable. It is not surprising that there are 100,000 vacancies in the NHS – an average nurse in the UK has lost 20% of income over the past 10 years)

….and please let us know responses at konpnortheast@gmail.com – thank you!

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20th April 2022 – Order NOW!! 

𝐍𝐇𝐒 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐄𝐆𝐄 The fight to save it in the age of Covid – Edited by John Lister (Health Campaigns Together) and Jacky Davis (KONP), with a foreword by Michael Rosen….

Published 19 May 2022 and PRE-ORDER NOW from https://merlinpress.co.uk

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14th April 2022 – “Rebuild Our NHS” Campaign – out and about in Wallsend and Tynemouth

Further to the KONPNE Campaign meeting last week, today saw our first leafletting session of the “Rebuild Our NHS” campaign. We made a very good start in Wallsend town centre and in Tynemouth – and the challenge now is for much further distribution, far and wide. We need your help.

Please click here to order free leaflets from “We Own It” – these will be posted to your address, for you to deliver to houses in your street or locality, or for you to distribute via an organisational street stall, etc.

You can read up on the background to ICSs on our website here  and remember: If we don’t fight to protect our NHS, we will always lose. But if we fight we have a chance of winning.

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14th April 2022 – Socialist Health Association

Great to be invited to speak at tonights SHA North East meeting, alongside Coral Jones from London. Much discussion and many ideas generated regarding possible ways forward, especially with regard to challenging some of the issues associated with the proposed Integrated Care System. It will be great to carry out further Campaign work together in the future.

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7th April 2022 – Monthly KONPNE campaign meeting

Discussions and planning regarding the “We Own It” Rebuild Our NHS campaign, Integrated Care Systems, asking questions at forthcoming Full Council meetings, Livi, digital access to health, Hassockfield and TUC demonstrations, and the start of a KONPNE activists WhatsApp group =  a busy meeting. The notes from this meeting are here – these are open and available for all to read. 

Our next monthly meeting will take place on Thursday 12th May at 7pm via Zoom – this is a week later than usual due to the local elections. Please join with us – all welcome. Further information about this meeting and details for joining via Zoom is here.

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2nd April 2022 – Cost of Living March and Rally, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Today’s Cost of Living Crisis demonstrations is the fourth in a series of protests organised by the People’s Assembly, and supported by trade unions, community, and campaign groups, including KONPNE. As the Tories’ cost of living crisis continues, we continue to protest.

We must not let the Tory government make us pay for their Cost Of Living Crisis – collectively we must continue to fight back and force the changes we need.
Crucial that we join forces to keep up the pressure on the government.

Many thanks to North East Peoples Assembly for organising. Contact:  peoplesassemblyne@gmail.com

Read the report in the Chronicle here

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24th March 2022 – Rebuild Our NHS; Get Private Profiteers Out

Great that John Whalley, KONPNE Steering Group member, was invited to speak as one of the panellists at the national  launch of the new “We Own It” Campaign. Rebuild our NHS is one of the most ambitious campaigns ever launched by WOI, and will enable unprecedented pressure to be placed on local NHS leaders to kick private companies out of local NHS bodies and put local people first.

Locally, this Campaign will involve supporting people in the North East and North Cumbria to send 3000 emails to the chair of the “North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System” (ICS) + leafletting + newspaper and radio coverage. The same actions will also take place, regionally, with regard to the other 41 ICSs across England.

At the national launch rally this evening, NHS campaigners from across the country spoke about why action on the local level is effective. Pamela Sloan who helped stop the closure of a local A&E in Chorley reminded us: “mosquitoes are tiny, but together they can run a mighty buffalo mad”. Len Hockey, a Unite workplace rep, spoke about how they won their fight to get Serco-employed hospital workers in London insourced into the NHS just last month. Mike Forster and Louise Irvine spoke about how they won fights in Huddersfield (West Yorkshire) and in Lewisham (South East London) respectively, to save their local hospitals. Speaking about health campaigning in the North East, John Whalley highlighted the recent successful “SOS NHS” day of action; the event, at Longsands, Tynemouth, centred around raising public awareness and engagement, and involved speakers, local musicians, poets and public participation in a “sand sculpture” – this beach event was a “first” for KONPNE….

KONPNE will be prioritising the Rebuild Our NHS Campaign over the next few weeks. To get involved immediately, please use this link https://weownit.org.uk/find-my-nhs  then add your postcode and send the prepared email to the ICS chair….and please share this link with your family, friends, colleagues and contacts on your social media too. KONPNE will also be arranging some local events to get this message out to the public – we will let you know places and times.

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9th March 2022 – Surfing in North Tyneside?

Moving away from Longsands to a very different kind of surfing….North Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group has recently commissioned Northumbria University to carry out a survey relating to residents access to digital technology. The researchers comment that “we want to gather as much information on digital technology use to inform a digital plan for North Tyneside. This information will also be used to help to shape how people access future services. When referring to digital technology, we mean the devices used to access the internet, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktop computers, smart speakers, etc.”

Whilst there is a place for digital technology in public services, it is crucial that quality of healthcare is not undermined. The prolonged underfunding of the NHS, staff shortages, and the ongoing cuts to services, coupled with the Covid pandemic, have all impacted on the NHS, and the increased use of digital technology must not be used as an inadequate quick-fix. Nor must it be used as a backdoor for increased NHS privatisation. We are aware that, in early 2020, the very same North Tyneside CCG awarded the private company “Livi” an initial contract to carry out virtual consultations in Primary Care. This company has very recently been given a 5 year contract, and all is undoubtedly part of a very slippery privatisation slope: Livi claims to be Europe’s largest digital healthcare provider – see here.

So, North Tyneside residents, please fill out the survey at the following link: https://northumbria.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/resident-survey     

Question 34 is freetext, and supporters of KONPNE have recorded their huge concern about the health inequalities that may be heightened through increased digital technology (some patients can’t use such technology, or can’t afford to use it), the decreased continuity of care brought about through virtual consultations with private health companies, and the misdiagnoses (symptoms are more accurately assessed at a face-to-face consultation). And, of course, the reality that many digital healthcare platforms are underpinned by finance from private companies, all eager to placate the shareholder…  Other supporters may wish to highlight these and other important issues.

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5th March 2022 – We Won’t Pay for the Crisis

Many thanks to North East Peoples Assembly for inviting KONPNE to speak at today’s Cost of Living Crisis Rally in Newcastle – inflation and rising prices are squeezing wages with no pay rise in sight for healthcare staff, all working tirelessly within services which face relentless cuts or privatisation. This Government does not care.

Speakers included Matt Perry (UCU), Steve Swainston (PCS NEC),Tay Pitman (Green Party), Bill Corcoran (NUFC Fans Food Bank), Tony Dowling (People’s Assembly) and Jude Letham (KONPNE).

Jude Letham, KONPNE Co-ordinator, Cost of Living Crisis Rally in Newcastle, 5th March 2022: “Please do not leave campaigning for the NHS to someone else. If you want an NHS, you must become an NHS campaigner. Start this week: sign the SOS NHS petition, follow KONPNE on social media and talk to family and friends about what is happening to the NHS”

Click here for the news coverage and video from The Chronicle

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4th March 2022 – Some excellent news….

KONPNE sends huge congratulations to the striking workers at Barts Hospital who have now won their long fight to be brought back in house. Hundreds of cleaners, porters, security guards and domestic staff are to benefit from NHS pay, terms and conditions – these staff will be transferred across to join the existing Barts Health staff as NHS employees under the Agenda for Change (AfC) conditions – clickherefor info.

Outsourced workers at St George’s Hospital have also won sick pay alongside their NHS colleagues after prolonged pressure from the GMB union too. 

The truth is that campaigning works, Government’s and organisations can and often are forced to make U-Turns and are occasionally even pushed from office. Public consciousness can and does frequently shift and arguments are won.

Never give up the fight…. 

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3rd March 2022 – KONPNE speaks

Wide-ranging discussions and planning at tonights meeting – feedback on the “SOS NHS” campaign and actions of last Saturday, updates on the Health and Care Bill and a possible refocus away from the Parliamentary process and onto local “Integrated care Systems”, North Tyneside CCG survey, Patients Not Passports update, discussion around campaign funds, and dates for future speakers and rallies. It’s looking like a busy Spring and Summer ahead!  The notes from this meeting are here – open for all to read.

Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 7th April at 7pm via Zoom – please join with us – all welcome. Further information about this meeting and details for joining via Zoom is here.

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Congratulations to all at the KONP Sunderland and District group for this absolutely amazing piece of artwork!!

Created as part of the SOS NHS national Day of Action, this took residents and visitors to Seaburn by surprise, and led to many conversations.

Whose NHS?

#OURNHS

CLICK HERE

to read the article in the Shields Gazette

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TO #OURNHS, with from Tynemouth

All Photos with kind permission of Mark Husmann

Part of the SOS NHS national Day of Action (click here for details), 

WE DEMAND:

(1) Approve emergency funding of £20 billion to save lives this winter

(2) Invest in a fully publicly owned NHS & guarantee free healthcare for future generations

(3) Pay staff properly: without fair pay, staffing shortages will cost lives

Organised and supported by local residents and by “Keep Our NHS Public North East”, the beach event at Tynemouth was a first for KONPNE!!

A celebration of #OURNHS, but with a very serious message relayed through a mix of superb music, poetry, speeches and a HUGE human sculpture in the sand for #OURNHS….all buffeted by a gentle wind, much sun (especially early on) and a little chill (especially towards the end). Many thanks to all who turned up to make the event so successful…..

Speeches:

**Dr Helen Groom (Retired GP, NHS campaigner and member of the “No to Hassockfield Campaign”)  **Julia Charlton (Retired Nurse Tutor / Academic)  **message from Gail Ward (Disabled People Against Cuts / Protect Tynedale NHS)  **Joe Kirwin (Councillor and chair of North Tyneside health scrutiny committee)  **William Jarrett (Unite, Newcastle Hospitals Branch)  **message from a GP  **Tony Dowling (North East Peoples Assembly)  **Sean Fahey (North East Pensioners Association)  **Jude Letham (Keep Our NHS Public North East)

Poetry:

**Harry Gallagher – Cullercoats poet. His book “Northern Lights” is a love letter to the people of the North, a region often buffeted and battered by stormy conditions but which in the end always prevails

**Joan Hewitt (Award-winning Tynemouth poet. Joan read a poem by Michael Rosen, whose treatment during a Covid- induced coma and long recovery left him with enormous gratitude to NHS staff.

fantastic acoustic sets:

**Pete Shaw – Artist and singer songwriter, Pete has appeared at the Cambridge Folk Festival, Brampton Live, WOMAD and many other festivals and venues across the UK. He is locally loved for his brilliant guitar- playing , warmth and cheeky humour

**Jimmy Ince – well-known and loved on the northeast music scene for his acoustic versions of standards, recents and rap, all delivered with a highly-individual twist.

and special thanks to:

**Mark Husmann – photographer extraordinaire

**Joan Hewitt – for boundless energy in event planning and organisation

CLICK HERE

to read the report from Chronicle Online

WE DEMAND:

(1) Approve emergency funding of £20 billion to save lives this winter

(2) Invest in a fully publicly owned NHS & guarantee free healthcare for future generations

(3) Pay staff properly: without fair pay, staffing shortages will cost lives

The details of local North East events planned by KONPNE will be posted here (if your group or organisation is also planning an event for the Day of Action, please let us know, and we will be pleased to publicise)

Kill The Bill National Day of Action – Rally at the Monument, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Is there anything more deserving of protest than a plan to infringe the right to protest?

Voting on the Police and Crime Bill takes place in the Lords next week and THIS BILL MUST BE STOPPED.   KONPNE were proud to speak at the Kill The Bill Rally in Newcastle today, and many thanks to North East Peoples Assembly, Stand Up to Racism North East, Resist Ncl and Extinction Rebellion North East for organising the event. A great turn out – and, now, we expect our representatives in London to do the right thing by voting to uphold democracy and human rights.

Jude Letham, Co-ordinator, spoke on behalf of KONPNE.  Click here  to watch (most of) the speech on video, and click here for a written version

Click here for more info about the Police and Crime Bill

KONPNE Co-ordinator Jude Letham speaks at the Kill the Bill Rally, 15th January 2022

Monthly meeting this evening – but much shortened (30 mins) and at an earlier time, so that supporters may attend the national KONP online rally. A brief discussion on plans to support the forthcoming climate change march and rally in Newcastle, plus updates on the campaigns re Livi and the Health and Care Bill.

Notes from the KONPNE meeting this evening are here

A link to the national KONP rally is here – some powerful speeches. Rally hosted by “Keep Our NHS Public”, “NHS Workers Say No” and “NHS Staff Voices”

All are welcome at the 2nd December KONPNE meeting – next month at the usual time of 7pm, and lasting for 1 hr 30mins – log in details are here. We meet on the first Thursday of every month.

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This morning, KONPNE were proud to support the Newcastle group of “Patients Not Passports” in campaigning against the charging of asylum seekers and refugees for NHS services.

Pictured outside the iconic Whitley Bay Dome, Clare Bethell from the “Patients Not Passports” group said: “My work with asylum seekers with Care for Calais has shown me that migrants and asylum seekers in need of health care will not use the NHS for mental health issues, pregnancy or infectious diseases care because they know that they will be sent a bill for thousands of pounds. When they don’t pay, our hospital trusts send the debt collectors after them. When they try and register with GPs they are often asked for a myriad of documents to prove who they are and where they live, which they don’t have. They then become more unwell and need more care than they would have done. We must stop patient charging in the NHS and return to an NHS with no Borders.”

#patientsnotpassports #medact #nobordersinthenhs #refugeeswelcomehere #setherfree #migrantsorganise #careforcalais #NEAR

More information about the “Patients Not Passports” week of action is here  and information about the Hostile Environment is on our webpage here

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We will be taking part in the ‘We Own It’  Day of Action to oppose the “Health & Care Bill” (or “NHS Corporate Takeover Bill”, as it is more accurately known).

Find out more about the ‘We Own It’ Day of Action here

On Saturday 30th October, campaigners are asked to take a selfie (wearing a Richard Branson mask or vampire teeth) at a local landmark, alongside a message about private health companies sucking the life out of the NHS, and then to post it on social media with tags to ourselves.

….. or, alternatively, members of KONP North East Steering Group will be briefly visiting Blyth (10.30am), Consett (12.30pm) and Bishop Auckland (2pm) – please join us for a group photo  – more details plus addresses (for photos) are on our events page here. 

Find out more about the Bill on our website here

Photo: KONPNE action last year: Blood-sucking private companies at Grey’s Monument, Newcastle October 2020

Much discussed at tonights meeting, including further Campaign plans to fight against the provisions of the Health and Care Bill, and an update on Livi –  the privatisation in North Tyneside Primary Care.

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

Our next meeting will take place on Thursday 4th November (always the first Thursday of the month) – details are here

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Forming part of the national Day of Action called by the campaign group “We Own It”, members of “KONP North East” and “KONP Sunderland” met in a very hot and sunny Newcastle city centre, rolled up their sleeves, and demonstrated how the government’s new NHS legislation (The Health and Care Bill 2021) is a tug of war between private companies and our NHS in England.  The usual suspects were represented – Centene, Virgin, Serco – plus the local newcomer, Livi, which is a private healthcare company offering virtual appointments in GP practices in North Tyneside….for info, Livi claims to be Europe’s largest digital healthcare provider….currently with a one-year contract in North Tyneside primary care…. This must be stopped.

Johnson was also at the Monument, attempting to appease NHS staff with a miserly 1%, and even HRH couldn’t help with the George medal; the medal was appreciated – but it doesn’t pay the bills…..

And our message was, obviously, well-received in the North East today.  Huge thanks to people in Newcastle who jumped at the opportunity to join in and clearly knew which tug of war team to join. It is crucial that we continue to join forces to bring an end to the lucrative contracts to healthcare companies which, of course, involves a cut of the cash going to the pockets of shareholders. And, it is also crucial that the professionals who work in our NHS receive a fair wage – the 1% offer is, in short, an insult.

Some street theatre, but with a very serious message. Back in Parliament, the government is pushing ahead with its Health and Care Bill. The NHS needs us more than ever: this legislation includes so many dangerous changes….like letting PRIVATE COMPANIES sit on NHS boards, where they’ll have a say on people’s care and how NHS money is spent ?!?!   Unbelievable – but true.

The NHS has just turned 73 – and if you want it to be with us for another 73 years, then this Bill must be amended. Write to your MP now, sign the petitions, download and share the leaflets: all at https://konpnortheast.com/ics/

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Our SINCERE THANKS go to ALL staff at hospitals, health centres, clinics and surgeries throughout the North East. Wherever you are based, we offer a sincere THANK YOU for your care and commitment throughout 2020 from all at Keep Our NHS Public North East. 

December 2020: Outside Hexham General Hospital | opposite Freeman Hospital | at Sunderland Royal Hospital | outside Sunderland Minster | entrance to Queen Elizabeths Hospital, Gateshead | entrance at Blyth Community Hospital / Health Centre | opposite the RVI, Newcastle upon Tyne | Adjacent to the Health Centre, Whitley Bay | opposite the entrance to James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough | near Richardson Community Hospital, Barnard Castle | on Rake Lane, outside North Tyneside General Hospital | South Tyneside General Hospital | main entrance, University Hospital of North Durham | outside Wansbeck General Hospital, Ashington 

Please click the following links to see the thank you video on youtube, on facebook and on twitter  …..and please share and retweet!!  It’s the very least we can all do.

(Video music: www.bensound.com  track: Inspire)

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14th December 2020 – Christmas message for Dehenna Davison MP (Bishop Auckland) ….and all North East MPs

Constituents are expecting ALL 22 North East MPs, from Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle up to Berwick-upon-Tweed, to vote in favour of the Amendments to the Trade Bill which will protect our NHS. MPs may rest assured that constituents are following the situation very closely….

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8th December 2020 – House of Lords backs the NHS

Some good news this morning – the Lords have voted in favour of an Amendment that would block any trade deal that undermines the NHS’s ability to provide free services or control drug prices. The amendment states there could be no trade deal which “in any way undermines or restricts” the ability of authorities to “provide a comprehensive publicly funded health service free at the point of delivery,” or “regulate and control the pricing and reimbursement systems for the purchase of medicines or medical devices”.

Baroness Thornton stated: “These are national assets which must not be put in jeopardy or squandered in whatever the future holds for UK trade with the world. While the Government have repeatedly pledged that the NHS is not on the table in trade negotiations, we know that there have been detailed conversations between UK and US negotiators, revealing that health services have been discussed.  The US is probing the UK’s health insurance system and has made clear its desire for the UK to change its drug pricing mechanism.”

It is now CRUCIAL that all MPs now vote in favour of these Amendments when the vote returns to the Commons in early 2021. When this Bill was discussed in the Commons in July 2020, SIX North East MPs voted AGAINST amendments which would have provided some degree of protection to the NHS – this is not acceptable and, this time round, all MPs must do the right thing.

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED WITH THE CAMPAIGN – click here

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7th December 2020 – with “We Own It” in Blyth

Great to be part of the “We Own It” initiative in Blyth this morning – delivering a Christmas card to the local MP…

DEAR IAN LEVY MP – ALL WE WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS FOR YOU TO PROTECT OUR NHS FROM TRADE DEALS BY VOTING FOR THE SCRUTINY AND NHS PROTECTION AMENDMENTS IN THE TRADE BILL

Important to note that, when the Trade Bill was voted on in the Commons in July this year, Mr Levy was one of six North East MP who, indeed, voted AGAINST Amendments which would have provided some degree of protection to our NHS. The vote will be returning to the Commons again early in the New Year 2021 and we trust that, on this occasion, Mr Levy will be doing the right thing  for the people of Blyth and for the future of the NHS. MPs need to ensure that this Bill does not open up the NHS to further sell-offs and take-overs by multinationals…

…and as for this “Boris Johnson” this morning – he’s giving a clue to his preferred direction of travel? Blyth constituents are watching the situation very closely.

More info is here

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3rd December 2020 – KONPNE speaks

Much discussion and plans made, as we approach the Christmas period: a focus on the Trade Bill continues, with our lobby now shifting from the Lords to the Commons (see here), much good work is ongoing regarding challenging the unjust NHS charges to migrants (here) and, in the wake of the moves to privatisation in Primary Care in North Tyneside (Livi), we are still asking questions at Full Council meetings and alerting local Councillors to appalling privatisation developments (here), plus our installation of end of year THANKYOU BANNERS outside hospitals throughout the North East region ….and some dates for the 2021 diary: we are aiming to have KONPNE meetings on the first Thursday of every month at 7pm, currently via Zoom….Book it in now!!

Our next meeting will take place on 7th January 2021 (here). All are welcome.

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KONPNE member John Whalley put the following question to the full meeting of North Tyneside Council, at the full Council meeting on 26th November 2020. The question focused on North Tyneside CCG commissioning the private firm “Livi” to provide virtual GP appointments on a one year pilot basis.

Question to NT Council – Nov 2020 revised

Councillor Margaret Hall responded on behalf of the Council, and her response is recorded here, at part 9: https://democracy.northtyneside.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=2144

The video of the meeting is here (go to 38:40 mins): https://youtu.be/f5mh4pcZ9VE

In response to the question, Councillor Hall made the North Tyneside Council position very clear in stating that “North Tyneside Council is 100% opposed to any privatisation of the NHS and as long as Labour remain in control of North Tyneside Council it shall remain opposed to any privatisation of our precious NHS”.

Regarding Livi, Councillor Hall went on to say that “The evaluation of the pilot will be under the full scrutiny of all committee members. We agree that North Tyneside CCG should not be putting healthcare into the hands of profit-making companies. They also know that new and changed services in our local NHS always get the close attention of North Tyneside Council. This has been demonstrated by the Adult Social Care, Health and Wellbeing Sub Committee calling in the CCG’s Livi pilot for scrutiny. We’ve seen this year exploitation of the NHS by private businesses for huge profits by friends of government. A great example of how not to trust commercial arrangements”.

KONPNE: Councillor Hall has made the position of North Tyneside Council very clear regarding Livi. The Livi contract will be up for evaluation in the early part of 2021, representatives of North Tyneside Council are on the evaluation group, and we expect these people to stand up and be counted regarding this important matter

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20th November 2020 – NHS is already part-privatised

In todays Metro – more info here

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16th November 2020 – email to Healthwatch North Tyneside

As we are all too well aware, lucrative contracts are increasingly being awarded to private businesses and corporations for healthcare, with the subsequent erosion and rundown of the NHS. North Tyneside CCG is no stranger to this process, having recently handed over an undisclosed sum to “Livi”, an international digital healthcare company, to provide virtual GP appointments to patients in North Tyneside.

Livi? Livid, more like. KONPNE has emailed North Tyneside CCG, North Tyneside Council, and others….and Healthwatch North Tyneside is the latest organisation to be contacted by us to ascertain their views and to mobilise support – see our email here….

We need your support…. click here for information, to see the rest of our communications and to join in with the Campaign

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4th November 2020 – KONPNE questions Northumberland County Council

Northumberland resident Richard Spedding, on behalf of KONPNE, questioned Northumberland County Councillors about NHS privatisation at the full Council meeting today. Two questions were read out at the Council meeting, and Cllr Veronica Jones (Conservative, Councillor for Ponteland West, Cabinet member for Adult Wellbeing, and Health and Wellbeing Board member) provided responses. Click here for details:

Question, and response from Cllr Jones – Northumberland County Council 4.11.20

Needless to say, KONPNE will be communicating with Cllr Jones (cc rest of the Northumberland Council) regarding her inadequate response. There appear to exist inconsistencies between Cllr Jones overview of NHS funding and the Channel Four fact check (click here regarding the Tory claims of investing £33.9 billion) and we also need to remind Cllr Jones about the REAL direction of travel re Integrated Care Systems (very sadly, ICSs WILL MOST CERTAINLY shift the balance between public and private services – not this year, but fast forward to the time of large-scale takeovers by multinational corporations, made possible through the creation of this very same ICS system). We suggest that Cllr Jones reads our KONPNE briefing paper We Need To Be Worried about the NHS Long Term Plan, Integrated Care Systems and Primary Care Networks

Members of KONPNE are active in putting similar questions to the six other Councils in the North East – click here for details 

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12th November 2020 – In North West Durham

Great to take part in discussions this evening about campaigning for a publicly provided NHS. NW Durham CLP arranged this event, and friends from the Socialist Health Association also spoke. A very lively evening, many questions and much interest.

Please contact us at konpnortheast@gmail.com if you would like a speaker (plus optional slide presentation) – all can be done via Zoom – and we will do our very best to assist. See here for details.

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3rd November 2020 – Tomorrow: our question to Northumberland County Council

Prompted by the recent growth in “outsourcing” (aka NHS privatisation) by North Tyneside CCG, members of KONPNE are putting questions to local North East Councils about NHS privatisation in their area. Next up is Northumberland County Council, with a question put to the full Council by KONPNE member Richard Spedding. This will be read out and responded to by a Council officer. Read the question here. The meeting will take place online on Wednesday 4th November – public questions are scheduled for 2.45pm, immediately before the full Council meeting. You can follow the question live at this link.

A question was also submitted to Newcastle City Council for consideration at the Newcastle full Council meeting on the same day, but our question was declined, as they felt it to be similar to a question asked by us at the Newcastle full Council meeting in March this year – we disagree, and will be following up on this with a view to putting our question to Newcastle in November or the New Year.

See here  (towards the bottom of the page) for the questions already presented to Gateshead and Sunderland Councils at their full Council meetings in September, plus their responses, and see also the emails to North Tyneside, South Tyneside and County Durham Councils.

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30th October 2020 – The Vampires are Out

KEEP OUR NHS PUBLIC NORTH EAST show a true horror story at Grey’s Monument, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Halloween 2020. The Vampires are out – sucking the lifeblood from our NHS……

Click here

to see the KONPNE Halloween video – but be warned….this is a REAL horror story

24th October 2020 – Nightmare at the Monument

Click on photos to enlarge

SUCKING THE LIFEBLOOD FROM OUR NHS – Private multinational companies such as Serco, Sital and Deloitte are gaining increasing numbers of contracts to try to carry out health-related work. It is clear that the sudden onset of Covid 19 has provided the cover for many such contracts to be handed over by the Government, often without scrutiny or competition. We should be expanding our NHS to undertake additional health related work and not continually running to the private sector who have shown time and time again that they do not have the expertise.

WANT TO HEAR A DOUBLE HORROR STORY? – At the same time, Johnson and Trump are keen to work out a trade deal, discussions are well in progress and, in the Trade Bill which is currently going through Parliament, the NHS is NOT excluded. This paves the way for large-scale take overs by by US private companies, reduced access to medication, the harvesting of our UK patient data by US firms and the lowering of standards in medication, technology, and the numbers / skills / pay and conditions of staff.

NHS R.I.P? TIME IS RUNNING SHORT – Click here for information about what YOU can do now.

This morning, as part of the National Day of Action against the US Trade Deal, KONPNE dressed in Halloween costume on Saturday to get the point across – but this really is now a matter of huge concern, and your assistance is needed.

23rd October 2020 – Remote Rebels 3

Great Remote Rebels 3 gig this weekend from Peoples Assembly North East. Many thanks David McAllister, Alix Alixandra and Bethany Elan for fantastic singing, Theresa Easton for the campaign update and Tony Dowling for hosting.

Many thanks also for inviting KONPNE to speak – KONPNE Steering Group member John Whalley describes the Tory negligence regarding the NHS and Covid 19 at 1:23…  click here to watch

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22nd October 2020 – KONPNE Press release

17th October 2020 – No to Serco Newcastle

KONPNE joined with Peoples Assembly North East outside SERCO offices in Newcastle to demand: “Scrap Serco – Hands Off Our NHS”

btw….Serco’s CEO is the brother of a former Tory MP.  His partner is a Tory Party donor. And Serco’s former spin doctor is the Tory Minister for Health…. 

Parliament recently voted on Test and Trace going to local public health teams, not Serco. The Tories voted it down.

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15th October 2020 – KONPNE Zooms

Great to meet up with everyone tonight for the October KONPNE meeting. Feedback on the range of actions re the “LIVI” privatisation in North Tyneside and also the Trade Bill – and plans made for further (socially-distanced and safe) actions over the next month. Feedback also from our friends in the neighbouring Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign. Notes from this meeting are here

There is much happening in the North East – click here for details. Details regarding the November KONPNE meeting will also be posted in the same place.

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13th October 2020 – “Not about profit….”

Great range of speakers in tonights webinar, including Jude Letham (Co-ordinator, KONPNE), Martin Gannon (Leader, Gateshead Council), Keir Howe (GMB Northern Region NHS lead), Stacey Richardson (NHS Staff Nurse) and Dr George Rae (North Tyneside GP and BMA Chair).

All speakers confirmed the need to keep our NHS public and to stop the outsourcing – it is clear that Covid-19 has thrown a light on the ongoing underfunding and privatisation by stealth of our NHS.

“The NHS is about service and caring, and is NOT about profit. We never ever want to lose that value”    Dr George Rae, North Tyneside GP and BMA Chair

The link to the event is here. Many thanks to Tony and Peoples Assembly North East for organising tonights very lively event.

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7th October 2020 – GP speaks out against privatisation in North Tyneside

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1st October 2020 – Morpeth

Great to meet up with members of Morpeth and Pegswood Branch Labour Party, and to have the opportunity to share the KONPNE powerpoint regarding NHS privatisation. Many thanks for inviting us and for a very interesting discussion. Participants spoke of their own experiences – one person spoke of a sense of shock at the extent of privatisation within our health services, and another person described his experience as a Type 1 diabetic where he now needs to pay £250 per month for an insulin pump as it did not meet the NHS funding criteria, despite the pump being recommended by medical staff…

Members of KONPNE are willing to present the powerpoint and lead a discussion via zoom with all North East groups – political, social, religious, leisure…all welcome. Let us know at konpnortheast@gmail.com and we will do our best to assist.

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25th September 2020 – Hiding behind a logo…..

Letter in todays Metro – We need to fix test and trace. Local public health teams and our NHS must be put back in charge of testing and contact tracing…and a clear message from KONP North East and @keepnhspublic and @We_OwnIt: You’re hiding behind a logo @MattHancock

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24th September 2020 – North Tyneside privatisation reported by national media

Sharon Barbour, BBC, reports on the privatisation currently taking place within North Tyneside GP surgeries, as commissioned by North Tyneside CCG: see here

and the issue is also reported in the Health Campaigns Together news bulletin here (page 4) 

….and we keep coming back to the fundamental question – why is the funding provided to this private company not being invested in local, existing primary care services? It is clearly a cost-cutting exercise, increasing macro privatisation and undermining localised provision….

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23rd September 2020 – Sunderland respond

Question: What is Sunderland Council doing to prevent the steady and insidious NHS privatisation process and how will you ensure that the local “Integrated Care System” involves changes based on health and social need, rather than being driven by financial considerations that lead to further outsourcing to the private sector?

Cllr Geoff Walker responded to this question about NHS privatisation put to the the Council by KONP Sunderland this evening. He confirmed that Sunderland City Council does not support the systematic privatisation of the NHS, is committed to an internal commissioning of services, and referred to a number of initiatives that the Council is involved in. He stated “I think our involvement in integrated health  and social care clearly  demonstrates our commitment to an agenda of collaboration and co-operation aimed at avoiding wealth extraction by the private sector”.

A transcription of Cllr Walkers response is here:  Answer to KONP question from Sunderland City Council 23 09 2020 and we have no doubt that KONP Sunderland will be following up Cllr Walkers response in some detail.

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20th September 2020 – Sunderland City Council

Prompted by “Livi” and the recent growth in “outsourcing” (aka NHS privatisation) in North Tyneside – see posts below –  members of KONPNE are putting questions to local North East Councils about privatisation in their area.

Sunderland KONP’s Laura Murrell and Dr Pam Wortley have presented the following question and information sheet, and a response is expected from Sunderland Council at the full Council meeting on Wednesday 23rd September 2020 at 4pm.

Live streamed here: https://youtu.be/X9R-j-J3o4U

Question to Sunderland City Council from KONP Sunderland and District

Question to Sunderland Council additional information 23 09 2020

Plus more to follow – Newcastle City Council (7th October), Northumberland County Council (4th November) and information to key Councillors in North Tyneside, South Tyneside and County Durham – links to follow…

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17th September 2020 – KONPNE at Gateshead Council

Prompted by growing NHS privatisation across the region, members of KONPNE are currently in the process of putting questions to Councillors at full council meetings across the North East. First up was Gateshead Council this afternoon when Tony Dowling, KONPNE member and Gateshead resident, addressed the Council regarding the escalating privatisation within the NHS and then asked the following question:

What is the council doing to prevent the steady and insidious NHS privatisation process as mentioned, and what will Gateshead Council do to ensure that the local “Integrated Care System” involves changes based on health and social need, rather than being driven by financial considerations that lead to further outsourcing to the private sector. 

Tony also asked:

“The local “Integrated Care System” can be made to look good on paper – no one would argue with phrases such as “greater collaboration” and “patient-centred care” – but some risks only become apparent when the “Integrated Care System” is seen within the context of the planned, strategic dismantling of the healthcare system. Does Gateshead Council commission risk assessments regarding service changes in health provision – and do these risk assessments relate to privatisation? Members of KONPNE are keen that our Council representatives see the over-all picture and ask difficult questions, so that the NHS remains for all constituents and for future generations”.  

A full response was provided by Councillor Lynne Caffrey, Chair of Gateshead Health and Wellbeing Board, which KONPNE looks forward to considering further in detail. As part of her verbal response, Cllr Caffrey commented that Gateshead Council is doing lots to guard against privatisation and, verbally and in writing, she stated that “Gateshead Council is fully committed to the NHS as a public service”. Regarding the alarming news that North Tyneside CCG have commissioned a private company, Livi, to provide virtual appointments across primary care in North Tyneside, Cllr Caffrey confirmed that “the local strategy is to introduce the option for Gateshead patients to consult with GPs via video if they choose to, but that video consultation will be with a local practice and a local practitioner as part of the primary care service that is already commissioned. We have no plans to commission any outside services”.

Our statement and questions are here: Question to Gateshead Council Sept 2020

Cllr Caffreys response is here: Question Response By Councillor Caffrey, Gateshead

KONPNE will now consider Cllr Caffreys response in detail, and we intend to reply with copies to Gateshead Councillors.

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15th September 2020 – KONPNE questions full Council meeting

Prompted by the recent growth in “outsourcing” (aka NHS privatisation), members of KONPNE are putting questions to local North East Councils about privatisation in their area.

Follow our question and Council responses live, as Tony Dowling, KONPNE member and Gateshead resident, puts a question to the full council meeting of Gateshead Council on Thursday 17th September at 2.30pm.

Follow live on youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYDGr1rlFmM&ab_channel=GatesheadMBC

Plus more to follow – Dr Pam Wortley and the team at Keep Our NHS Public Sunderland have prepared a question for the full Sunderland City Council meeting on Wednesday 23rd September – links to follow…

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14th September 2020 – NHS privatisation in North Tyneside primary care – “Livi”

KONPNE has now written to both North Tyneside MPs, checked out the times for formal questions to be put to the seven NE Councils (the first question will be put to Gateshead Council at the full council meeting on Thursday this week – more info to follow), has written to the Chronicle, Journal and local papers, and is in the process of getting more information from North Tyneside CCG via a “Freedom of Information” request….what can you do -> please click here for information about ways of getting involved.

The letter to local papers:

I am writing on behalf of the local campaign group, ‘Keep Our NHS Public – North East’.

I am very concerned about the creeping privatisation of the NHS which is occurring at this present time. Recently, North Tyneside residents received letters inviting them to sign up to an app from a private Swedish company, Livi, working in partnership with North Tyneside CCG. This would enable GP patients to get video appointments provided they had a Smart phone or laptop with the correct software. All of this happened without consultation with the North Tyneside councillors, our local representatives. Unless stopped, this pilot development in North Tyneside may well spread to other parts of the North East. Further information concerning this situation can be accessed from our website https://konpnortheast.com/privatisation/primary-care/. 

In taking out a contract with this private company the taxes from our hard earned money are being misused, without our knowledge, to pay private companies to make a profit from our misfortune and ill-health. If this service became the norm then those people without access to technology or who are unable to use it would potentially be denied access to some GP services.

The service from Livi is currently ‘free’ and optional for N. Tyneside residents, but for how long? There is a cost though, as our taxes are benefitting this company. One hundred percent of the monies allocated to the NHS should go directly to the NHS to provide much needed healthcare and not to profit companies overseas. During the COVID pandemic we have been witnessing the NHS struggle to provide a full healthcare service. Many people have seen their operations and treatments postponed. Meanwhile the Government is funding private companies rather than invest in our British NHS, pay our NHS workers a decent wage and provide them with adequate PPE for safe working.

Telephone and video appointments can be a helpful way of having a first contact with your GP for some but not all clinical situations during our current COVID pandemic and many of our NHS GPs have been able to provide this service without payment to private companies. When we can return to ‘normal’ most people will want to be able to have that valuable contact with their own GP at the surgery where they feel comfortable and can have a full consultation.
Now is the time to stand up and stop this privatisation which we neither need nor want.

Yours faithfully
(KONPNE member)
Keep Our NHS Public North East

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3rd September 2020 – Livid…

A very active KONPNE meeting this evening, with much discussion and campaign planning centring around * Trade Bill (see here)  *the private company “Livi” contracted to provide GP consultations in North Tyneside (much happening – social media and website posts to be added shortly) *access to A+E  *powerpoint presentation on privatisation  *forthcoming events

The notes from the meeting are here: 3.9.20 – KONPNE notes of meeting

Your help is needed – please contact konpnortheast@gmail.com to get involved in the campaign

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28th August 2020 – North Tyneside on the slippery privatisation slope

The private firm Livi has been awarded a contract to carry out virtual consultations in Primary Care in North Tyneside. Whilst this is claimed to be a pilot scheme, and it is to be seen as an addition to the usual GP clinical work, it is undoubtedly part of a very slippery privatisation slope.

KONPNE strongly objects to this insidious privatisation of the NHS. Apart from the central fact that North Tyneside CCG should not be wasting taxpayers money by contracting out to private, profit making companies with shareholders, a number of key issues need to be answered as a matter of urgency – click here to find out more, plus ways of helping.

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26th August 2020 – NE Councillors & Public Health express concern about restructure

Health and Wellbeing Board Chairs from across the region have come together to express concern at the Government’s decision to restructure Public Health England and to hand over key responsibilities to a new body with no clear idea of what it will do or how it will be governed.

“The National Institute for Health Protection appears to be an organisation set outside of the NHS but with a crucial role to play in the health of our communities,” said Cllr Lynne Caffrey, Chair of the Gateshead Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB), who coordinated a letter to both the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock.

The letter from 10 of the region’s 12 HWB Chairs from across political parties, expressed their surprise at the changes being proposed in the middle of a pandemic. It also asks for the expertise of local councils in dealing with many aspects of public health, including infectious disease outbreaks, to be recognised and for any new structures or systems to be set up to be co-designed with local authorities. Cllr Caffrey, said: “We believe we need to focus on maintaining the local capability, capacity and skills, to keep the effective working relationships already established and for us to have a system in place that is best able to protect the communities we represent.”

This view is shared by Directors of Public Health (DsPH) across the region and, as leaders of local systems they have experienced at first-hand the vital role that regional Public Health England (PHE) teams play in protecting the health and wellbeing of local communities and that they do not wish to lose this regional expertise. Amanda Healy, Durham’s Director of Public Health and chair of the North East Association of Directors of Public Health, said: “Our regional PHE colleagues have played a critical role in our local response to Covid-19. As such, any proposal to dismantle these arrangements now, particularly ahead of winter, present a real risk to protecting the health and wellbeing of our community. It is also vital that people understand the breadth of remit that PHE has across healthcare public health, health improvement and health inequalities. We would strongly recommend that any restructuring protects these functions which have a central role across Local Government and the NHS. We have all be involved with many re-organisations over the years and while, at times, there have been benefits, we also understand the immense upheaval and disruption they create. Given the pressure we are all currently under we, as Directors of Public Health across the North East, are extremely concerned that this disruption may adversely affect our ability to protect our communities from Covid and indeed other infectious diseases as we come towards the winter months.”

Read the Chronicle article here

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18th August 2020 – Scrap the contracts for Serco and Sitel

Privatised track and trace has been a 2020 disaster that is costing lives. It’s now time to put local public health teams in charge of the whole system – they have the tools and the local knowledge they need to do this vital work before any second wave this winter. Now they need the money.

Speaking outside Newcastle Civic Centre on the “We Own It” national day of action on Track and Trace Contracts, Dr Helen Groom, GP and member of KONP North East, stated: 

“Don’t be fooled – the Tories are now beginning to overtly privatise our NHS. Public Health England is now being merged with the failed Serco / Sitel. £528 million of your money is being given to this company which couldn’t even run track and trace properly in the first place” 

David McAllister, North East Peoples Assembly, stated:

“We stand against all privatisation and cuts to public services – the NHS is a major part of that.We are here supporting health workers who are standing in the way of private companies making a killing out of our public services”

….and now watch the youtube video from Newcastle upon Tyne today:  https://youtu.be/WCTDa-FC1fw

It is clear that Hancock needs to scrap Serco and Sitels failed contracts now instead of renewing them. The government must give the £528 million allocated for these contract extension to local authorities and Public Health England teams instead.

Couldn’t make the Newcastle event today? Then it’s crucial that you sign the “Save Lives, Scrap Serco” petition here….and please pass it on to all of your contacts….. https://weownit.org.uk/save-lives-scrap-serco-now

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9th August 2020 – Sedgefield MP fails to support Amendment that would protect the NHS

9th August 2020 – Blyth MP fails to support Amendment that would protect the NHS

8th August 2020 – Pay justice for health care workers

Crucial for KONPNE to be at the socially-distanced march and rally in Newcastle today, in support of pay justice for health service workers. Poor rates of pay have contributed to the recruitment and retention crisis in the NHS, and workers shouldn’t have to wait until April 2021 for a pay review. Clapping on a Thursday night does not put food on the table. A great turnout at the march, speeches from health care workers, and also our first post-lockdown opportunity for a brief catch up with friends at Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign and Sunderland KONP.

A Chronicle report, pictures and video is here

5th August 2020 – KONPNE at Cullercoats Branch Labour Party

Many thanks to Cullercoats Branch Labour Party for the invitation to meet up with members tonight via Zoom – we were asked to present our new powerpoint on NHS privatisation in the North East, and this was followed by questions and discussion. It is great to have your support, and the support of other political parties in the North East.

KONPNE does not align itself to any one political party – we have members from most political parties (or none), and it remains very important for us to welcome all people who support a publicly funded and publicly provided NHS. Very recently, we have developed powerpoint images and text to accompany our presentations – we have found that this makes the presentation more engaging and interesting. If your group (be that political, social, educational, or religious….most gatherings, in fact!) would like a speaker / presentation to describe NHS privatisation in the North East, then please get in touch at konpnortheast@gmail.com , and we will do our best to assist.

4th August 2020 – KONPNE on Zoom

Our agenda included an update from the Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign, information about the forthcoming NHS Workers Pay Protest on Saturday (information here), an overview of the Campaign work so far regarding NHS charges to migrants (see here) and details about the recently updated KONPNE presentations on NHS privatisation in the North East. Most of the agenda and discussion centred around the Trade Bill and possible campaign initiatives (here), including lobbying the Lords and maintaining a focus on contacting local MPs….following our meeting tonight, we have updated our campaign strategy regarding this – please watch out for the details.

3rd August 2020 – NHS privatisation in the North East

KONPNE has devised a 30 minute Powerpoint presentation summarising the privatisation of the NHS in the North East, which can be delivered via Zoom. The presentation has been trialled successfully with several groups and has been followed by questions and answers. If you know of any groups that would like to book this presentation for a meeting: political, social, religious or any other interested group, please contact us at konpnortheast@gmail.com. Thank you

Please click here for further details

31st July 2020 – KONPNE and Unite Community Branch

Great to be invited to a Zoom meet up with members of the NE Unite Community Branch, for an overview of the Campaign and discussion. Together we are stronger, and it is good to have your support.

This meeting saw the third trip out for our newly updated powerpoint presentation on NHS Privatisation in the North East. This presentation is available to other groups and organisations, and KONPNE members are invited to present it, at the moment via Zoom. If you are not an attender at our meetings, please get in touch with us at konpnortheast@gmail.com, and we will do our very best to arrange a speaker.

20th July 2020 – Trade Bill now at the Lords

Further to the appalling voting at the Commons today, we are now reviewing the Campaign, with a focus on the Lords. Check out the page here for specific details about the passage of the Bill so far through Parliament, and actions to take. We are considering all options re the Lords, and will update supporters when we clarify and agree our way forward. Thank you. 

8th July 2020 – 2 min Trade Bill video now published by KONPNE

URGENT: Please watch – then share or tweet this video to all of your contacts….The Trade Bill will be debated in Parliament in July 2020, and it is CRUCIAL that we contact our MPs NOW

youtube: https://youtu.be/lgKa7IShjeI

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NHSPublicNorthEast

twitter: https://twitter.com/KONPNorthEast 

Accompanying track Rumble is from www.bensound.com

6th July 2020 – North East Bylines

Excellent article from Giuseppe Bignardi in North East Bylines re Saturday action in Newcastle.
Thanks, Giuseppe.

Please click here:     https://northeastbylines.co.uk/troubled-birthday-4-the-nhs/

5th July 2020 – Across the North East….

5th July 2020 – 72yrs young

Today we CELEBRATE but we also PROTECT.

We need to KEEP OUR NHS PUBLIC – or we will lose it. 

Dr. Helen Groom (GP) said;-   “The things that have worked during the COVID 19 pandemic have been the ones organised by the NHS – our hospitals have’t closed, and we have, so far, had enough ITU beds. The things that haven’t, PPE procurement, testing, contact tracing and most tragically our care homes, are all contracted out to private companies. We call
on the government to SAVE the NHS from current trade bill and privatisation discussions, FUND the NHS to 11% of GDP, bringing us to average and not below average as we are currently, and to STOP migrant charging. This weekend we ask every member of the public not only to clap or take the knee but to write/email/tweet their
MP, Matt Hancock and Boris Johnson with those 3 messages”

Jude Letham co-ordinator of Keep Our NHS Public North East said;-  “We have a state-of-the-art pathology lab in Gateshead but tests from IKEA 5 miles away were sent to Milton Keynes and often didn’t return. Big multinational private companies such as SODEXA, Capita, PWC and Deloitte and have been given £1.7 billion pounds worth of contracts in the last 3 months 1 . Serco got £49 million for call centres, PESTFIX £109 million for supply and delivery of PPE. Keep our NHS Public say give this PUBLIC tax payer’s money to the NHS. We need to act now to remove the NHS from the current trade talks and prevent the US companies from taking more of those contracts and implementing US style health care.”

Tony Dowling People’s Assembly said;-   “Mental health and care services have been devastated by cuts in funding and contracting out to private companies where share holders count, not patients. It’s essential that the NHS is saved from the current trade talks, that privatisation stops, and that we stop migrant charging which prevents ill people from seeking treatment. We’re asking all members of the public to do their bit and to write, email, tweet their MP, especially Conservative ones, to say SAVE, FUND, STOP. A tsunami of public opinion reaching all of our politicians is what the NHS and care services need this weekend.”

4th July 2020 –  Full report and video from Chronicle Live

Please click here 

4th July 2020 – Celebrations on the Toon

HAPPY 72nd BIRTHDAY NHS!! AND MANY MANY HAPPY RETURNS!!!
Today we CELEBRATE – but we also need to PROTECT against cuts, outsourcing, the Trade Bill, and the hostile environment.
72 years ago, the NHS was established in a war-ravaged Britain – now, 72 years later, we need to rebuild and restore the founding vision of the NHS.
But, for today, it’s birthday celebrations on the Toon – KONPNE and Peoples Assembly NE have (socially distanced, and numbers strictly limited!) celebrations at the Millenium Bridge, The Monument and outside the RVI.
And massive thanks to Wendy, Alizon and Theresa for huge assistance with artwork!!! 😃😃😃

Click on any image to enlarge