Unions have organised an “Alltogether for the NHS” day today. I get the impression that this involves lobbying MPs – there is a tradition of lobbying MPs at their constituencies on a Friday.
Andrew Lansley’s Cambridgeshire office has been attacked. In an attack, thought to be last night, his Hardwick office was daubed with the slogans “Hands off our NHS” and “Tory Scum” and a window smashed.
A few recent news articles concerning the UK’s Conservative and Liberal-Democrat coalition government – the ConDem’s – brutal attack on the National Health Service.
Pulse – Government to amend NHS reforms as pressure on Lansley grows
Exclusive: The Government has revealed it plans to table a series of amendments to the health bill in the House of Lords, amid growing calls for a rethink from both within and outside the coalition.
The amendments will clarify plans for the role of private providers, include new details on NHS pricing and add additional rules on the transparency and accountability of GP commissioning groups.
Pulse also understands that the Government is considering a possible stay of execution for some PCT clusters beyond April 2013 – although this will not be directly addressed in the legislation.
The amendments to the bill are intended to stave off rebellion among disaffected Liberal Democrats, but Government sources stressed that this did not amount to a fundamental change in direction.
Trades Union Congress – Patients and staff will be the losers of NHS ‘reforms’
Just days after half a million people marched through London on the TUC’s March for the Alternative to protest against government spending cuts and public service ‘reforms’, union members and supporters of the health service will be out in force again today (Friday), in defence of the NHS.
Under the banner All Together for the NHS, unions, professional bodies and other campaigning groups are calling on the government to think again about the huge changes it intends to impose on the health service, as set out in the Health and Social Care Bill.
In towns and cities across the UK today, campaigners will either be visiting MPs in their constituency offices or holding lunchtime protests outside local hospitals to draw attention to the proposals which they believe will force NHS patients to the back of the queue and create a huge postcode lottery of access to treatment, where the poor and vulnerable will be the hardest hit.
Protests over NHS plans – Health – The Star
HEALTH workers in South Yorkshire are supporting a series of protests across the region and country today, fighting against cuts and changes in the NHS.
Demonstrations will be held in Sheffield and Rotherham as part of a national day of action campaigning against the government’s Health and Social Care Bill, which they believe will lead to the privatisation of health services.
They will join with other protesters across the country as they stage demonstrations in London, Nottingham, Bolton, Sunderland and Winchester.
Former health minister Lord Owen claims the radical overhaul of the NHS is “fatally flawed” as pressure mounts on David Cameron to ditch the controversial reform.
The former Westcountry MP argues plans to hand GPs up to £100 billion of the health budget and increase private sector involvement risks undermining “vital aspects and principles of the NHS”.
Lord Owen, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) founder, said the reforms would lead to an increase in litigation claims and damage the relationship between doctor and patient.
“There was no mention in either the Conservative or Liberal Democrat party manifestos of an intention to carry forward anything like this revolutionary change,” he claims.
Health Secretary’s Cambridgeshire office targeted by NHS protesters – News – Cambridge First
ANDREW Lansley, the Health Secretary, has been targeted by protesters angry at proposed reforms to the NHS.
In an attack, thought to be last night, his Hardwick office was daubed with the slogans “Hands off our NHS” and “Tory Scum” and a window smashed.
The protesters said they left a letter for Mr Lansley demanding for patients to be treated as patients and not consumers.
The attack comes in response to Government plans for the biggest overhaul of the NHS in its 63-year history.