NHS staff unite in protest against government policies
pharmafile | November 1, 2006 | News story | |
NHS employees from across England gathered in Westminster to protest against government reforms and cuts to the health service, which they say are already damaging patient care.
The alliance, called NHS Together brings together NHS employees from across the spectrum, from cleaners to consultants, to nurses and physiotherapists.
Leaders of the healthcare unions and professional bodies, including the Royal College of Nursing and the BMA, are demanding a halt to reforms, including the privatisation of some services and cuts to other areas, such as A&E and midwifery services.
General Secretary of the RCN, Beverly Malone said: "We acknowledge that there has been significant progress in patient care. We know that there has been progress because we have been the ones delivering it – our hard work turned the government's proposals into reality. Which is why we don't want the progress to be progress reversed."
Malone called for further planned reforms to be halted and for the government to stop ignoring or sidelining the very people best placed to make the reforms work.
Dave Prentis, General Secretary of healthcare workers union Unison, said the current crisis over jobs in the NHS was a disgrace, saying figures show that 80% of new nurses and physiotherapists who qualified in June in London have been unable to find a job in the health service.
Referring to comments made by health secretary Patricia Hewitt, earlier this year, that the NHS was enjoying its best year ever, he commented: "People were mystified by the health secretary's claim it was the best year for the NHS.
"It is the best year for private companies taking over the NHS." adding: "This was hardly the view of patients whose services faced cuts."
Stephen Campion, chief executive of the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association, told the NHS Together meeting: "The tragedy is that the health unions and the government, while so close in recognising the need for change, are very close to one of the most divisive and damaging relationships since [the] bad days of the 1980s."
Mandy Robotham, a midwife from Stroud in Gloucestershire urged NHS professionals facing cuts to services to follow the example of her local community and health workers and fight cutbacks and closures.
She says local campaigning means the Stroud Maternity Hospital is safe for now thanks to large-scale support from the community and an organised campaign.
"Stroud is a small town with a huge campaigning heart," she said.
"In short, we were vocal and we were visible and would not go away."
The TUC commissioned a public opinion poll to coincide with the rally, which suggests the government's NHS policies have become deeply unpopular with many voters.
The YouGov poll found nearly 75% rejected the increase of competition in the NHS, with a similar majority agreeing that the government should stop re-organising the health service and let NHS staff get on with improving patient care.
Despite the protests, government ministers have pledged to continue with reforms, saying they will deliver better services for patients and better value for money for taxpayers.
As the protests took place in Westminster, Lord Warner, the government health minister for reform, urged PCT leaders to embrace alternative providers in primary care.
Addressing the National Association of Primary Care conference in Harrogate, Lord Warner said private companies could help improve service, even if their local areas had "under-doctored" areas or not.
Barking and Dagenham PCT became the first local authority to commission a private company to provide GP services earlier this year, the deal being brokered by the government.
Elsewhere in the England, there has been reluctance to introduce contestability to primary care services. Local opposition to a similar proposal in Derbyshire eventually succeeded in blocking private providers being used by taking the case to court.
