Those present heard from two excellent platform speakers – Mid Yorkshire Health Trust Unison branch secretary Adrian O’Malley* and Chris Moore coordinator of Stroud (Gloucester) Against Cuts. During the discussion which followed, Sue Hawkins from Support Stafford Hospital was also invited up to the platform to speak by Socialist Party Staffordshire organiser Andy Bentley who was asked to chair the event.
Adrian O’Malley explained how important it is that NHS workers fight back against the attacks they face to their jobs, pay and conditions. He outlined the often overlooked but important role that admin and clerical staff play in the day to day running of a hospital and how at his hospital they had to take nine days of strike action to stop, for now, pay cuts and compulsory redundancies.
Adrian also stressed how important it is that NHS workers and different campaigns around the country learn from each other and fight together to defend the NHS. He pointed to the protest march at the Tory Party Conference on 29 September organised by three of the largest trade unions – Unite, GMB and Unison – as an important opportunity to give a national focal point to the anger and massive opposition which exists against the Coalition government’s attempt to privatise and dismantle the NHS.
Chris Moore explained how a campaign in Gloucester, by using a legal challenge, had prevented eight community hospitals, community health services and around 3,000 staff being taken out of the NHS and pushed into a ‘social enterprise’ (ie another step towards privatisation). This was a significant victory but Chris warned against any reliance on legal means alone and stressed that in reality this victory had been won by the campaign that continued throughout the legal challenge.
Chris agreed with Adrian about the importance of the protest at the Tory conference but also stressed that “we need a trade union organised massive demonstration in the capital, London” and strike action if necessary to force a retreat by the government.
His account of the comments of a nurse he spoke to on a picket line received loud applause at the meeting. The nurse told Chris, “Taking strike action today didn’t cause anyone to die but not taking action will”
After the main speakers a lively debate took place with around twenty people taking the opportunity to speak or ask questions. Opening up the discussion Andy Bentley pointed out that the two speakers had outlined why this debate was so important. He said, “Even if those who have appointed themselves to administer judgement on Stafford Hospital decide to retain 100% of the current facilities along with the hard working heroes who work there, it will still face the threat posed to every other hospital – privatisation.”
Many expressed a frustration that nothing much had come from the Support Stafford Hospital (SSH) campaign leaders in the nine weeks since the 50,000 strong march. Sue Hawkins from SSH campaign complained that no one had been invited from the SSH group to the meeting to speak. Andy Bentley, pointed out that it was a public event so effectively everyone one was invited but asked Sue to come up to speak from the platform and was given as long as the other two invited speakers to address the meeting. Sue emphasised several times the inclusive nature of the SSH campaign and pointed out that anyone could look at their Facebook page or visit them in the Mall where they have their public campaign base.
But some complained that SSH doesn’t seem to have regular meetings where all campaign activists can attend and have a say in policy. Local teacher and Socialist Party member, Jim Reading, said he would be very keen to attend any such meetings and asked Sue if she “could supply details of when and where the campaign group met so that I and others could get involved”. (Note: no details have yet been supplied)
Labour councillor and SSH secretary Rowan Draper spoke to defend Stafford’s Tory MP Jeremy Lefroy’s role in the campaign but others highlighted that Lefroy was saying one thing to people in Stafford and then acting differently in Parliament. This feeling that Jeremy Lefroy was “riding both the fox and the hounds” by feigning concern for Stafford hospital so as to get re-elected whilst voting for the Coalition’s Heath and Social Care bill in Parliament was outlined in written leaflets circulated at the meeting.
Sue Hawkins and others from SSH stressed that the campaign to save Stafford hospital is and must remain ‘apolitical’ but others speakers disagreed – some citing the passing of the Health and Social Care Act as a political attack on the NHS carried out by a coalition government and the record of the previous Labour government who also put the NHS in hock to major construction companies.
A written question was passed to the chair which said, “How about asking the people whether it is a political issue”. It was also suggested from the floor that a vote should be taken. The result – an overwhelming majority voted that it is a political issue.
When summing up, Chris Moore highlighted the political character of the attacks on the NHS by explaining how successive Tory, Labour and now Coalition governments had all pursued policies which increased the role of private companies in the NHS. He suggested, “If you can’t find politicians or political parties who are actively campaigning against the threat posed by privatisation of the NHS then you should consider getting together to stand as anti- privatisation candidates yourselves.
If you would like to be added to the list of people who would like to receive information about future meetings please call or text your name and email address to 07845893607
- Below is an extract from the leaflet advertising the public meeting;
Step Up the Fight to Defend Stafford Hospital and the NHS!
A former GP wrote to the Independent last week saying that the National Health Service (NHS),
“is being intentionally destroyed in order that the sick and injured can be fully exploited for private profit. Doctors, nurses and even patients are being systematically demonised to facilitate the process and shift blame from government”. “Wake up! Get angry!”
We agree!
Through ‘efficiency savings’, job cuts, A&E and ward closures, PFI privatisations, Foundation Trusts and, in England, the government’s Health and Social Care Act, previous Labour governments and now the Coalition are systematically dismantling the NHS to benefit private profit vultures.
People are angry about this assault on a vital public service. But anger alone won’t be enough to stop this privatisation juggernaut. NHS workers and users need to get organised to fight for a fully funded, publicly owned NHS run in the interests of all not the profits of a few.
No to cuts, closures or privatisation!
