All of us will be affected, as the plans reach right across the country and into nearly every area of NHS services.
Patients will see their local GP services taken over by profit-led companies and lose the personal contact with a GP who knows you and your family. Access to treatment will differ depending on where you live. You could end up having to change GP or even move to get the care you need. All hospitals are being turned into independent businesses and will be free to offer priority care to patients who can afford to pay – a return to wealth-based healthcare.
The NHS is already making £20bn of tough savings. So when jobs and services are under threat and waiting lists likely to rise, why waste further precious funds on the NHS market. It already drains 14% of the health budget from patient services according to a Parliamentary committee.
NHS staff will suffer too. Hospitals will soon be outside of NHS agreements on terms and conditions. Pressure on pay, falling training standards and rising workloads are all likely. Staff shortages and falling morale will surely follow.
The NHS has public trust because it puts the public first. Its commitment to giving all of us access to safe and effective services, to treating us fairly and providing good value are some of the reasons why the NHS is the country’s most popular asset. So, in the face of the threat of the White Paper proposals, we are asking all NHS supporters to come together to protect the NHS and safeguard its future.”
UNISON, UNITE and the National Pensioner's Convention are supporting the petition and using their networks to promote it. We're also talking to a range of other trade unions and community organisations to get this message out as widely as we can and enlist support.
The consultation period for the White Paper ends on October 11, and it is important for those of us who are already aware and concerned to communicate our opposition to the proposals before then.
If you haven’t already done so, please fill in our E-Petition and encourage others to do so:
Help Our Campaign Get Publicity
Write to your local paper telling them about the implications of the White Paper and how it will mean cuts in jobs and services for your local NHS. Promote the online petition; extracts from our short article on the petition or extracts from our commentary.
Express Your Concerns Before The Consultation Ends On October 11
There is a downloadable consultation response form on the DoH website. Fill one in and return it by email or post to the addresses given at the end of the form. You could also let your MP know what you think:
We are still working with journalists on ways to raise public debate about the White Paper in the media. By starting to lobby MPs as they return from their Summer break we aim to make the future of the NHS a major issue during the party conference season.
Further campaign resources and articles are being added to our website and we will continue to provide you with regular updates on the White Paper and our campaign to protect the NHS.
Finally, it's worth noting the recent comments of pro-market commentator Roy Lilley, which also help to see the White Paper in its true light:
"Commissioning is going to be done by self-employed GPs with private sector help. All the NHS supply-side services will be in social enterprises [businesses that retain profit] that are outside the NHS and their balance sheet is outside the reach of the Treasury. Does this look like privatisation to you? Well, it should, because it is. Andrew Lansley has done, by stealth, what Mrs T and Tony Blair never dared to do."
But together we can stop this process - we can protect our NHS.
Once again, thank you for your help so far. It really is appreciated.
With thanks, Paul Evans Director, NHS Support Federation
