' NHS: stop privatisation, save the health service
Conference notes
The rising tide of cuts and privatisation engulfing the NHS.
That, following junior doctors’ vote rejecting Jeremy Hunt’s unsafe, unfair contract, the BMA’s Junior Doctors’ executive voted (11 August) for escalating strikes from early September; subsequently, the ‘risk register’ on Hunt’s so-called “seven-day NHS” plan was leaked.
The sudden closure of Grantham’s A&E (10 August) due to staff shortages; similar situations nationwide.
St Helen’s CCG’s proposal (9 August) to suspend all non-urgent care for four months! Although the decision was reversed, the Royal College of Surgeons predicts such problems becoming “commonplace” without increased funding and ending resource-draining, market-driven bureaucratisation.
Conference commits Labour to
Wholeheartedly supporting junior doctors’ and health workers’ fight to defend themselves and the NHS.
Exposing and fighting rolling privatisation and cuts, including the “Sustainability and Transformation Plans”.
Rolling renationalisation of clinical, ancillary and back-office services; creating a universal, comprehensive, publicly-owned, -run and -accountable, and free (including prescriptions, dentistry, optical care) NHS.
Nationalising social care along the same lines: a free, public system.
Fully publicly funding both, including by reversing expensive and wasteful privatisation and marketisation; increasing taxes on the rich and corporations; borrowing to invest where necessary.
Ending PFI; liberating the NHS from debt.
Reversing attacks on migrants’ rights to healthcare.
Opposing any “trade deal” aiding privatisation of public services or assets.
Improving workers’ pay, rights, training and say; restoring bursaries; safe staffing levels.
Tackling causes of ill health by reversing “austerity”.
Legislation furthering these goals.
Campaigning with unions, health campaigns, the “NHS Bill” initiative.'
Anything wrong with this going to Conference?