Government’s NHS silence in Queens Speech speaks volumes
On the day that 71 NHS leaders are urging all political parties to act to ensure the survival of the NHS, this government’s NHS silence in the Queens Speech speaks volumes. (Dr Clive Peedell) More than 60 chief executives of NHS trusts have today called on the three main parties to start producing solutions to help the NHS survive. In a letter to the Guardian, they warn that the NHS is at risk of ceasing to be a universal service that is free at the point of need. The full letter can be read here: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jun/04/addressing-huge-challenges-facing-nhs/> And in an editorial, the Guardian insists more money must be made available for the NHS, while calling out NHS privatisation and Andrew Lansley’s undemocratic Health & Social Care Act. It says the NHS is “the issue the politicians must not duck in the election campaign that’s launched with the Queen’s speech”. Clearly the Tories and Lib Dems are not only ducking the issue – but they’re chicken. That’s because they know any focus on the NHS is bad news for them electorally. (Dr Clive Peedell) The full Guardian editorial is here: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jun/04/nhs-money-matters-editorial/> But we would respectfully ask the Guardian to: Stop holding up Hinchingbrooke Hospital as a model of the benefits of privatisation. There are many reasons why this is not the case: http://nhap.org/dont-fooled-circle-transformed-hinchinbrooke-hospital//> Remember that the NHA Party was launched precisely because a new party was and is needed to defend the NHS and come up with practical ways to improve it. Please refer to our NHS Action Plan: http://nhap.org/action-plan//>
5 Jun 2014 - 07:54 by WDNF	National | comments (0)