NHS reforms

I am acting today.

I too fear that they will find a way of getting the changes through that they want with all the dire consequences we fear. We need to put pressure on the Liberal part of the coalition to fulfill their promise to stop any privatization.

I watch these decisions with horror, from a distance (Australia). We have a good NHS here, though many people also take out private insurance. I don't know why.

Medicare, as we call ours, has served us well. My husband has had two knee replacements and I've had two carpel tunnel operations plus a gyno procedure, all without excessive waiting lists. There is zero to pay when you go to hospital, and many GPs 'bulk bill' which means you have zero to pay.

I think the only way to stop these deforms (my word for reforms that actually take us backwards) is for Clegg to force an early election by breaking the coalition,as it looks to me as if Cameron thinks being stubborn is a sign of being strong. It isn't. His changes seem to me (again, from a distance) to be based on idealism not necessity.

I would fight against it tooth and nail.

I have also signed a petition and given a modest donation to one of the organisations consolidating such protests. The problem is I do not have any faith in the Coalition's promise to listen. I think they will carry on regardless and put a clever spin on the changes, to make them seem more palatable. I fear they will be opening a small back door, as opposed to a big front door, entrance for privitisation.

I have also signed the petition against the government's nhs bill. You only need to look at the USA to see what privatatisation of a health service does to the poorer in a country. It's ok if you have money and can afford health care but if you haven't the result can be dire. Long may we protect our NHS for which we faught so hard to gain and need to fight to maintain.