Richard Edwards (standing up) at the NHS campaigning meeting in North Walsham.

NHS campaigners raise “privatisation” concerns at public meeting

Sophie Wyllie Saturday, March 9, 2013
4:47 PM

Campaigners against the “privatisation” of the NHS heard today how North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb would be “watched like a hawk” over changes to the service.

The public meeting at North Walsham Community Centre, organised by Norfolk Coalition Against the Cuts, attracted nearly 100 people.

Other groups and organisations that were represented at the meeting were North Norfolk Against Cuts, Keep Our NHS Public and Unison.

It was held the day after local campaigners met with health minister Mr Lamb to hand over a national petition signed by more than 240,000 people as part of the 38 Degrees campaign.

The petition opposes the government’s section 75 plans to allow GP commissioners to open up every part of local health services to private companies.

After Friday’s meeting Mr Lamb said the coalition government had listened to concerns by agreeing to withdrawing and rewriting section 75 of the Health and Social Care Act.

Andy Cairns, secretary of North Norfolk Against Cuts, said at today’s meeting: “We need to keep up the pressure in order to make sure our NHS is fully funded.”

Richard Edwards, chairman of Norfolk Coalition Against the Cuts, said people still supported and valued the NHS.

“We are here defending what was started in 1945 and we are saying to Norman Lamb and the other ministers we are watching you like hawks. If we can replicate this meeting across the UK and other communities I think the NHS can be saved.”

After the meeting Mr Edwards said the attendance showed the level of concern and fear about the “privatisation” of the health service.

Mr Lamb said today he expected the amendment would be written by early next week.

He added: “I want to make it crystal clear that groups will be able to decide when it is appropriate to tender services. It will reinforce the value of integrating services and co-operating between providers of health and social care.”

The Health and Social Care Act will create five new GP-led Clinical Commissioning Groups in Norfolk from April 1, which will buy healthcare services from community providers.

6 comments

What has health minister and local constituency MP Norman Lamb done or said about the disgraceful, chaotic and incompetent cuts to services to the most vulnerable in society, which threaten both patient and public safety, by the self-serving bureaucrats at Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust? Not a word. Not a bloody word. Useless health minister and useless constituency MP. We won't forget when people die as a result and we won't forget at the next election.

Report this comment

Adrian

Thursday, March 14, 2013
Some dimwit on another thread recently wrote something like '13 years and nothing to show for it'. Well as Ingo points out, we are now getting back towards the sort of waiting times that were blighting lives, if not ending them, during 18 years of Thatcher and Major. What did you get from 13 years of Labour - waiting times were a thing of the past. After less than 3 years of tory-led cuts and reorganisation, they are back with a vengeance. Not a problem if you can afford to go private, and the tories wouldn't have it any other way. But the Lib Dems, might have hoped for more for them after all their impressive rhetoric pre 2010. Funny how they've changed, but less so if you are on the receiving end of their nutory policies.

Report this comment

Police Commissioner ???

Monday, March 11, 2013
A patient with an unexplained minor heart failure, occuring twice since the beginning of this year and diagnosed as paroxysmic atrial fibrillation was prescribed Bisoprolol, Flecanide and Pradaxa, after being out for the count in Hospital. Despite the cardiologist wanting to see him within six weeks, the person was first given first a 17 week waiting time, which after some days, was extended to a 32 week waiting time. This is mission creep and Mr. Lamb's coalition of minority party politicians has failed to sell us their vested interest sell off. Some 40% of politicians in both Houses have substantial interests in privatisation and voted for it, rubbing their hands with greed. The partial private system in France and Germany works well and I have suggested to that person to make use of it, as his long waiting time clearly is going over the prescribed time frame. The NHS is not safe under this coalition.

Report this comment

ingo wagenknecht

Sunday, March 10, 2013
The failure of the ambulance service alone should be enough to tell everyone that reforms to the NHS have to be handled with care. People and their lives depend on it - its not a sweetshop for Tory fingers to pilfer.

Report this comment

Richard Woods

Saturday, March 9, 2013
Be afraid, be very afraid. Far right nutter and Home Secretary Theresa May MP launched her leadership bid at a tory strategy conference today, where she spoke of giving the public 'freedom' from the burden of the state, and claimed that 'choice' was the key to public service reform, specifically giving everyone the same choices only currently availble to the wealthy (her words). I interpret this as meaning if they win the next general election, the NHS will be dumped and either you pay for healthcare or you don't get any.

Report this comment

Police Commissioner ???

Saturday, March 9, 2013
Norman Lamb should resign. He said he would if the government messed up the reforms. They are now having to rewrite them.

Report this comment

omnishambles

Saturday, March 9, 2013