ARCHIVES
Information about Hackney KONP past activities
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For detailed information about the Health and Care Bill, visit the KONP national website
Sign KONP's petition opposing the Health and Care Bill NOTE the Health and Care Bill 2021 deals with the reorganisation of the NHS into 42 separate Integrated Care Systems covering all England. There has been almost no coverage of this Bill in national media. Not to be confused with a completely separate Bill - the Health and Care Levy Bill 2021-22. This Bill which made headline news and sparked much debate in the national media - deals with funding, proposing an increase in NI contributions. |
No Palantir in Our NHS :
join us this Saturday 3rd Sept 2022 9:45am at Kenwood House
Palantir is huge and secretive US spy-tech corporate, front runner to get a huge contract to provide the underlying operating system for almost all the NHS. Alex Karp, Palantir CEO, is speaking at FT Festival Sat 3rd.
Join us to protest outside FT Festival site Kenwood House Gardens 9.45am NW3 7JR.
Sign the ‘No Palantir in our NHS’ petition at https://nopalantir.org.uk
More info on Palantir : https://www.ft.com/content/3f6f24f8-9e5c-42c3-8ae6-bfef5f953524
join us this Saturday 3rd Sept 2022 9:45am at Kenwood House
Palantir is huge and secretive US spy-tech corporate, front runner to get a huge contract to provide the underlying operating system for almost all the NHS. Alex Karp, Palantir CEO, is speaking at FT Festival Sat 3rd.
Join us to protest outside FT Festival site Kenwood House Gardens 9.45am NW3 7JR.
Sign the ‘No Palantir in our NHS’ petition at https://nopalantir.org.uk
More info on Palantir : https://www.ft.com/content/3f6f24f8-9e5c-42c3-8ae6-bfef5f953524
The Health and Care Bill 2021
The 2021 Health and Care Bill does nothing to solve the crises in funding, staffing shortages, mental health, and social care services, crumbling estate and other major problems facing the NHS. Instead, it enables increased involvement of the private sector. The Bill:
The 2021 Health and Care Bill does nothing to solve the crises in funding, staffing shortages, mental health, and social care services, crumbling estate and other major problems facing the NHS. Instead, it enables increased involvement of the private sector. The Bill:
- allows private companies (including many multi-national corporations accredited by NHS England) to sit on local ‘Integrated Care System’ (ICS) boards and their committees
- includes ‘discharge to assess’, a controversial policy placing increased demand on community services which are currently woefully inadequate.
- replaces the unacceptable market in healthcare with an, even worse, unregulated market
- grants massive powers to the Government to override local decision-makers
- puts a strict cap on funding. Already, the UK spends far less on healthcare than other comparable countries like France or Germany.
- greatly limits local democratic input and accountability for NHS provision
- promotes a ‘digital first’ approach to patient care, representing a major barrier for many because of lack of digital access or literacy, language barriers, learning disability etc.
- confirm NHS Digital’s power to share patients’ data with third parties, including a wide range of private companies, raising concerns for patients’ privacy.
- represents a threat to professional staffing and patient care, allowing greater use of less skilled staff and replacing professional expertise with digital applications.
- workforce 'flexibilities' will mean staff could be required to work at any other location within the ICS area.
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Don't privatise Homerton Hospital's pathology lab
Contractors building a new pathology lab at the Homerton have gone bust, leaving the Homerton with massive debts. There are huge questions to be answered about the contract with the builders - but most urgently, managers are now considering proposals to privatise the pathology services. Homerton pathology provides an excellent responsive and high quality service. Privatisation is a huge concern. Don't let them destroy our excellent local service. Sign the petition at the link. |
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No to any US Trade Treaty that includes the NHS
Trump managed to make unwelcome headlines for the Government by revealing that the NHS would be a target for a US-UK trade deal. KONP has responded to this with a petition demanding the Government excludes the NHS from any trade treaty. So long as NHS services are traded on the market no one can exclude any providers from bidding or protect the NHS from takeover by US healthcare and insurance multinationals. The proposed new NHS Integrated Care Provider (ICPs) organisations, which are set tobe procured through £multi-billion long-term Integrated Care Provider Contracts are designed to be particularly attractive to these healthcare giant predators. Please add your name to the KONP/Change petition demanding the Government excludes the NHS from Trade Treaties. |
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Naylor Report and Sell-off of NHS property and estates.
The Naylor Report of 2017 sets out proposals to sell off NHS property that is 'underused'. Naylor uses the Carter Review to decide what counts as 'inefficient use' - based on a crude measure of space used for clinical activities. So other use - like play rooms for children or facilities for visitors are 'inefficient'!. Click here to link to ELHCP's page on Estates. Scroll to the bottom of the page to download the Octoebr 2018 Estate Strategy.
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The Tories want to destroy our NHS. NHS England is driving the NHS towards a privatised and insurance-based system, leaving a defunded rump NHS for those who can't pay.
Since 2015, the NHS has been completely reorganised, and this has occurred completely under the radar, with no new legislation (and, arguably, illegally), no parliamentary scrutiny and no consultation with staff or local communities.
The 44 new Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships (STPs) across England are required to cut NHS spending by £22 billion by 2020 compared with 2015 spending levels.
Since 2015, the NHS has been completely reorganised, and this has occurred completely under the radar, with no new legislation (and, arguably, illegally), no parliamentary scrutiny and no consultation with staff or local communities.
The 44 new Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships (STPs) across England are required to cut NHS spending by £22 billion by 2020 compared with 2015 spending levels.
Government proposals for the NHS: Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) which are set to 'evolve into' Integrated Care Organisations (ICOs).
Government proposals will replace the publicly provided NHS with Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) and Integrated Care Organisations (ICOs). 'Integrated' is simply the new (cosier-sounding) name for 'Accountable' Care Organisations (ACOs). These are US-style commercial, non-NHS bodies, which are set to run health and social services without proper public consultation and without Parliamentary scrutiny. ICOs can be given full responsibility for running NHS and social care services, and will be governed solely by company and contract law, not by parliament. No one doubts the need for improved co-ordination of health and social care. But we want to see it delivered through directly provided state services - not by for profit companies.
Click here to hear what Dr Graham Winyard, former Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Medical Director, NHS England has to say about ACOs. (scroll down to below Chris Ham's presentation).
In Spring of 2018, ACOs will be the subject of a legal challenge through judicial review - with Allyson Pollock, Sue Richards and Graham Winyard amongst the claimants.
Government proposals will replace the publicly provided NHS with Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) and Integrated Care Organisations (ICOs). 'Integrated' is simply the new (cosier-sounding) name for 'Accountable' Care Organisations (ACOs). These are US-style commercial, non-NHS bodies, which are set to run health and social services without proper public consultation and without Parliamentary scrutiny. ICOs can be given full responsibility for running NHS and social care services, and will be governed solely by company and contract law, not by parliament. No one doubts the need for improved co-ordination of health and social care. But we want to see it delivered through directly provided state services - not by for profit companies.
Click here to hear what Dr Graham Winyard, former Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Medical Director, NHS England has to say about ACOs. (scroll down to below Chris Ham's presentation).
In Spring of 2018, ACOs will be the subject of a legal challenge through judicial review - with Allyson Pollock, Sue Richards and Graham Winyard amongst the claimants.
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Whistleblowing
NHS managers have spent more than £700,000 in legal costs trying to silence an NHS whistleblower who exposed dangerous under-staffing - they have argued that junior doctors do not have whistleblowing protection! Dr Chris Day continues to battle on behalf of all junior doctors and is seeking funding for yet another round of legal battles. Info here. |
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Alert over potential changes for Hackney's NHS
In late October 2018, East London Health & Care Partnership (ELHCP) quietly released a Strategic Estates Plan covering all NE London. This could involve huge changes in Hackney's NHS. including:
Hackney KONP demands full consultation engagement with the local community and involvement in any re-design of NHS services for Hackney people. |
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Restricting access to treatment- consultation
East London Health and Care Partnership is proposing to align commissioning policies across North East London. In some cases, this is not in line with NICE or Royal College recommendations and will mean restricting access to treatment. For instance proposals for cataract operations propose a visual acuity restriction - something NICE and the RCO oppose. Proposals remove GPs own clinical judgement and discretion - something specifically required by NICE. They also make no allowance for disabled, vulnerable and elderly patients who may not be able to self-care. |
The NE London STP is called the East London Health and Care Partnership (ELHCP). It covers Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham, City of London, Waltham Forest, Barking, Havering and Redbridge. The population of this area is set to grow by 18% - numbers equivalent to the City of Leicester, yet health bosses are tasked with making cuts of £850 million from a local health service which is on it's knees. The Royal London Hospital, built through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI), has saddled NE London NHS with massive debts, while social care has suffered up to 25% cuts since 2010. The A&E at King George's Hospital Romford, and 200 acute beds are set to close. This will have a major impact on the local community and put further pressure on other NE London services.
ELHCP proposals for Hackney could mean: Homerton Hospital downgraded from a District General Hospital (DGH) that currently offers a full range of treatment to an Elective (ie planned) Care Centre specialising in just one type of medicine - with Hackney residents having to travel to other parts of the ELHCP area for other routine treatments. Homerton's A&E could also be downgraded. Under current proposals, Hackney's mental health beds would be moved out of Homerton and out of Hackney to Mile End, meaning patients lose vital community contacts. ELHCP proposals could also see important NHS property and sites sold off to plug revenue gaps and used for housing rather than the NHS and social care services we need. Hackney KONP is calling for full community engagement and consultation over these plans.
Since 2017, NHS England requires STPs to move towards procuring huge 10-15yr £multi-billion commercial contracts for Integrated Care Providers (ICPs). These are single organisations combining all the health (and, often, social care) services across a Whilst we all want to see better integration of services, the Health & Social Care Act (2012) remains in place, requiring services to be put out to tender. The size and configuration of ACOs will be particularly attractive to giant healthcare corporates that run similar health organisations in the USA, so we risk wholesale takeover of the NHS by multinational corporates.
Meanwhile, following publication of the Naylor Report, NHS England has launched Project Phoenix, a joint venture with major corporations that involves the greatest firesale ever of hundreds of valuable NHS sites, and up to £5bn of private capital investment for new NHS developments - the 2017 version of the scandal that is PFI.
Many hospital trusts are transferring staff to wholly managed but private Subsidiary Companies ('SubCos') where wages, pension rights and other terms and conditions of employment can be cut.
Other initiatives including the private GP At Hand are offering a cut-down app-based GP service for patients and creating huge problems from traditional GPs by cherry-picking younger, fitter, and therefore less costly patients leaving traditional GPs managing patient with higher needs.
BUT WE AIM TO STOP THIS
The Labour Party Conference of September 2017 unanimously passed a motion pledging to campaign to reverse NHS cuts and privatisation and bring the NHS back into public ownership. We intend to hold them to that, including through demands on councils to oppose local cuts and plans for ACOs or ACSs. Labour Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell also pledged to abolish PFIs.
ELHCP proposals for Hackney could mean: Homerton Hospital downgraded from a District General Hospital (DGH) that currently offers a full range of treatment to an Elective (ie planned) Care Centre specialising in just one type of medicine - with Hackney residents having to travel to other parts of the ELHCP area for other routine treatments. Homerton's A&E could also be downgraded. Under current proposals, Hackney's mental health beds would be moved out of Homerton and out of Hackney to Mile End, meaning patients lose vital community contacts. ELHCP proposals could also see important NHS property and sites sold off to plug revenue gaps and used for housing rather than the NHS and social care services we need. Hackney KONP is calling for full community engagement and consultation over these plans.
Since 2017, NHS England requires STPs to move towards procuring huge 10-15yr £multi-billion commercial contracts for Integrated Care Providers (ICPs). These are single organisations combining all the health (and, often, social care) services across a Whilst we all want to see better integration of services, the Health & Social Care Act (2012) remains in place, requiring services to be put out to tender. The size and configuration of ACOs will be particularly attractive to giant healthcare corporates that run similar health organisations in the USA, so we risk wholesale takeover of the NHS by multinational corporates.
Meanwhile, following publication of the Naylor Report, NHS England has launched Project Phoenix, a joint venture with major corporations that involves the greatest firesale ever of hundreds of valuable NHS sites, and up to £5bn of private capital investment for new NHS developments - the 2017 version of the scandal that is PFI.
Many hospital trusts are transferring staff to wholly managed but private Subsidiary Companies ('SubCos') where wages, pension rights and other terms and conditions of employment can be cut.
Other initiatives including the private GP At Hand are offering a cut-down app-based GP service for patients and creating huge problems from traditional GPs by cherry-picking younger, fitter, and therefore less costly patients leaving traditional GPs managing patient with higher needs.
BUT WE AIM TO STOP THIS
- Campaigners across England and locally in NE London aim to stop this. Join our campaign groups
- Lobby your local councillors and MP. Demand that they oppose all cuts in services
- Demand an end to the market in NHS services; reverse privatisation
- No to the closure of King Georges A&E and closure of further beds at the hospital
The Labour Party Conference of September 2017 unanimously passed a motion pledging to campaign to reverse NHS cuts and privatisation and bring the NHS back into public ownership. We intend to hold them to that, including through demands on councils to oppose local cuts and plans for ACOs or ACSs. Labour Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell also pledged to abolish PFIs.
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US takeover of Hackney GP practice Feb 2021
Trowbridge GP Surgery in Hackney Wick is one of 39 surgeries that have been taken over by Operose, a subsidiary of the US healthcare giant Centene. Over 500,000 patients are now in practices owned by Centene. Services will suffer as part of the NHS funding to pay for care of these patients will now be syphoned off into private profit. See also Hackney Citizen. |
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THURSDAY 22 APRIL 2021
Join Keep Our NHS Public local groups to protest the take over of many NHS GP surgeries by Operose Health, owned by Centene, a US health company. NATIONAL event: Demonstration outside Centene headquarters Where: Operose Health HQ, 77 New Cavendish St, W1 6XB 3-4pm When: 3-4pm Thursday 22 April 2021 HACKNEY local event Protest against Operose take-over of Trowbridge Surgery, Hackney When: 3-4pm Thursday 22 April 2021 Where: Trowbridge Surgery, 18 Merriam Avenue, London, E9 5NE |
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Hackney Patients not Passport (PNP) event
Sat 23rd October 2021 12:00 start Stall with music, poetry, important information outside the Farmers’ Market, St. Paul’s Church. N16 7UY |
Homerton University Hospital Foundation Trust Special Members Meeting to deal with proposed changes to the constitution that will reduce members' rights.
Thursday 18th March 2021 at 5.30 pm
Members of HUHFT have been invited to a Special Members Meeting on Thursday 18th March to vote on amendments to the constitution. You may have received a letter through the post or an email from CES takepart@cesvotes.com on 8th March. Check your spam too.
The HUHFT letter briefly summarises the proposed changes but you can look at the current constitution here and the amended draft here.
To attend, YOU MUST REGISTER BEFORE THE MEETING by clicking
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wc7wyr2ASvqtz6fh1eXeZg . Please register now.
After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. More information on the meeting, Council of Governors and past papers is here.
The Board of Directors proposes that all amendments are taken in one vote, in which case we recommend you vote AGAINST. If taken individually, we recommend you vote against the following clauses relating to member involvement: 6.3; 11.9.2; 12.20; 12.24.2; 12:32; 13.2.1.2; 13.6
Thursday 18th March 2021 at 5.30 pm
Members of HUHFT have been invited to a Special Members Meeting on Thursday 18th March to vote on amendments to the constitution. You may have received a letter through the post or an email from CES takepart@cesvotes.com on 8th March. Check your spam too.
The HUHFT letter briefly summarises the proposed changes but you can look at the current constitution here and the amended draft here.
To attend, YOU MUST REGISTER BEFORE THE MEETING by clicking
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wc7wyr2ASvqtz6fh1eXeZg . Please register now.
After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. More information on the meeting, Council of Governors and past papers is here.
The Board of Directors proposes that all amendments are taken in one vote, in which case we recommend you vote AGAINST. If taken individually, we recommend you vote against the following clauses relating to member involvement: 6.3; 11.9.2; 12.20; 12.24.2; 12:32; 13.2.1.2; 13.6
keepournhspublic.com/social-care-crisis/Campaign for a National Care Support and Independent Living Service (NaCSILS) Joint campaign launched in October 2020 by Keep Our NHS Public and the Socialist Health Association
- Social care that is:
- fully funded through government investment and progressive taxation, free at the point of need and available to everyone living in this country
- Publicly provided and publicly accountable
- mandated nationally, locally delivered
- identifies and addresses the needs of informal carers
- National employee strategy fit for purpose
ACTION FOR A LOCAL TRACK AND TRACE - NOT A PENNY MORE TO SERCO:
18th Aug Day of Action on local track and trace- no more money to private companies
12.30 to 1.30 in front of Hackney Town Hall for socially distanced action, with face coverings.
Hackney KONP are joining the national call by We Own It for local Track and Trace. Tell the government to scrap failed contracts with SERCO and Sitel instead of renewing them. Give the £528m that it would cost to local authority Public Health teams.
18th Aug Day of Action on local track and trace- no more money to private companies
12.30 to 1.30 in front of Hackney Town Hall for socially distanced action, with face coverings.
Hackney KONP are joining the national call by We Own It for local Track and Trace. Tell the government to scrap failed contracts with SERCO and Sitel instead of renewing them. Give the £528m that it would cost to local authority Public Health teams.
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What is happening to migrants’ health and welfare under lockdown?
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Click the YouTube video right: Antonia Folivi, Hackney resident, talks about the privatisation of the NHS.
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KONP: SUPPORT ACTION 14TH & 19TH FEB 2020
SUPPORT STAFF AT HOMERTON HOSPITAL CLAIMING THE LONDON LIVING WAGE
Feb 14th 3.30 to 4.30pm outside main entrance to Homerton Hospital Homerton Row, Clapton, London E9 6SR
Feb 19th 5.30pm attend the joint council of Governors/Board meeting at the Hospital
Support staff at Homerton Hospital where support jobs have been outsourced to ISS. ISS claims it pays the London Living Wage - but many staff working at Homerton Hospital are still paid below this rate
SUPPORT STAFF AT HOMERTON HOSPITAL CLAIMING THE LONDON LIVING WAGE
Feb 14th 3.30 to 4.30pm outside main entrance to Homerton Hospital Homerton Row, Clapton, London E9 6SR
Feb 19th 5.30pm attend the joint council of Governors/Board meeting at the Hospital
Support staff at Homerton Hospital where support jobs have been outsourced to ISS. ISS claims it pays the London Living Wage - but many staff working at Homerton Hospital are still paid below this rate
GENERAL ELECTION DECEMBER 12TH 2019
KONP is not party-political - but we do have a huge interest in the outcome of the general election. Here's what the parties stand for:
KONP is not party-political - but we do have a huge interest in the outcome of the general election. Here's what the parties stand for:
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What did Hunt do to the NHS – and how has he got away with it?
July 2019 There are two stories about Jeremy Hunt. The nice, sensible guy whose only mistake was upsetting the junior doctors. And then, there’s the real story. Clink the link to this excellent summary from Caroline Molloy of Open Democracy - Our NHS. |
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How Come We Didn't Know - Exhibition in Parliament
Exhibition and meeting for MPs and local councillors HOUSE OF COMMONS, 13th MARCH 2019, 6:30-8.00pm Venue: Jubilee Room, House of Commons (wheelchair accessible) Please allow at least 30 mins for entry through security. Chair: Eleanor Smith MP (proposer of 2018 NHS Bill) Speakers: John McDonnell MP Shadow Chancellor, Tony O'Sullivan, Co-Chair of KONP, Prof. Allyson Pollock co-author of NHS Bill 2018 |
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How Come We Didn't Know
revised and updated photographic exhibition Winns Gallery, Lloyd Park, London E17 5JW Monday 4th - Wed 6th June Opening talk with Dr Jackie Applebee GP and health campaigner7-9pm Monday June 4th |
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Hackney Devolution Pilot Business Plan
November 2017 Read Hackney's proposals here "Delivering improvements to health and wellbeing through health and social care" Integration Hackney Devolution Partners report, November 2017 KONP's initial response is given opposite. |
Hackney KONPs questions and concerns about the devolution business plan. Details here
Hackney KONP has significant concerns about the proposals for future health and social care services in the borough, including:
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Counting the cost of Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) for public services and workers
Public meeting. Speakers include: John McDonnell, Labour Shadow Chancellor Helen Mercer from People vs PFI 7:15pm Thursday 8th Feb 2018 Harmony Hall, 10, Truro Rd, Walthamstow Also showing Marion Macalpine and Helen Mercer's new photographic exhibition about PFI |
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Does the UK spend too much on healthcare?
The government tells us it's becoming too expensive to fund our healthcare. But here is an OECD comparison (using latest figures from November 2017) of how UK spending on health (per head of population, in US$) compares with some other countries. |
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December 2017: Support the legal challenge by Professor Allyson Pollock, Stephen Hawkins and others to replacing the NHS with commercial contracts for Accountable Care Organisations (ACOs).
Four renowned individuals are seeking a judicial review to stop Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt and NHS England from introducing new commercial, non-NHS bodies to run health and social services without proper public consultation and without full Parliamentary scrutiny. |
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2018 Hackney campaigning
Come and leaflet with us about the NHS in Ian Duncan Smith's constituency (which is part of NEL STP area). IDS only has a 3,000 majority! Saturday 6th January 2018 Highams Park Station at 11am |
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Sustainability and Transformation Plans: A Motion
click above for a motion that you can take to your local political party branch, together with a background briefing on the STP programme. |
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STPs - A Dagger Pointed At The Heart Of The NHS
The effects will be devastating, with the closure of beds, of key units including paediatric, maternity and cardiovascular and of whole A&E departments which are now bearing the brunt of the cuts elsewhere in the NHS. Entire hospitals will close in The Black Country and in Leicestershire, while many others including Cheshire and Merseyside will have ‘fewer beds’. Diane Abbott speaking in Westminster debate, 14 Sept 2016 (links to article & full speech in Huff Post) |
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Public meeting:
WHO KILLED OUR NHS? A POLITICAL AUTOPSY organised by Hackney KONP and Hackney Momentum 7-9pm Tuesday 28th November Jack Dunning Community Hall Homerton Row London E9 6AJ Speakers: Vivek Kotecha, Centre for Health & Public Interest (CHPI) Dr Coral Jones (Hackney GP / KONP) |
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STPs - A Dagger Pointed At The Heart Of The NHS
The effects will be devastating, with the closure of beds, of key units including paediatric, maternity and cardiovascular and of whole A&E departments which are now bearing the brunt of the cuts elsewhere in the NHS. Entire hospitals will close in The Black Country and in Leicestershire, while many others including Cheshire and Merseyside will have ‘fewer beds’. Diane Abbott speaking in Westminster debate, 14 Sept 2016 (links to article & full speech in Huff Post) |
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Junior Doctors announce strike action protesting Government imposition of new contract
The Government's attempt to impose seven-day working without the resources to fund it. Current resources are insufficient to adequately fund the so-called five-day NHS. The mantra that the NHS must do more with less has become “the NHS must do much, much more with less”. |
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North East London Sustainability & Transformation Plan (STP) (aka Slash, Trash & Privatise plan). Still secret, by order of NHS England.
The local NE London plan is one of 44 covering all England. It is secret, by order of NHS England. The NE London plan involves three parts:
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NHAP: Over 28000 junior doctors cast their vote in the BMA's ballot about whether proposed industrial action over the proposed new proposed contract. The result was unprecedented and could not be clearer: 98% backed strike action, 99% backed some kind of industrial action in opposition to this contract. Junior doctors have been left with no choice but to take industrial action. The Government has not compromised on its crystal clear agenda to force junior doctors into working more hours for less pay, so that it can drive through its nonsensical "enhanced seven-day services" manifesto pledge in the face of a £22bn NHS efficiency savings program.
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We junior doctors must strike—but for the right reasons
Open Democracy: Our NHS article Neil Singh 6 October 2015 Our strike must make demands for broader systemic change in our health service—meaning better working conditions for all health workers, better care for our patients, and a rejection of privatisation—and couple itself to ongoing and future actions by other health workers. |
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The NHS is headed for a devolution iceberg - whilst MPs argue about deckchairs Greg Dropkin 22 December 2015
As private firms gather in the Titanic Hotel to discuss the profit opportunities arising from NHS devolution, only a few MPs are raising concerns in parliament about the coming healthcare lottery for the rest of us. |
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Support NHS nurse training - save nursing bursaries (Unite campaign).
The Tories plan to cut student nurses bursaries and replace them with loans. After August 2017 nursing courses will be fee paying, leaving students with more than £50,000 of debt if they undertake a three year degree. Saddling students with a lifetime of debt – which most of them will never be able to pay off – will massively deter those wanting to enter nursing and the other health professions covered by the bursary. It will affect people studying a range of professions including nursing, speech and language therapy, radiology, occupational therapy, mental health nursing and midwifery. |
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London NHS devolution - "It's obvious to all but gullible, power-grabbing councillors - this is about dumping blame for closures"John Lister 18 December 2015
Osborne's plans for London "devolution" look likely to lead to more hospital closures - and even less say for local people. |
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Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) co-sponsored the NHS Bill – based on the NHS Reinstatement Bill – the bill with have its second reading on 11 March 2016..
“It’s our NHS. Let’s not just protect it from being further destroyed but let’s take it back and ensure it’s completely publicly run and publicly accountable. Healthcare is a human right, not a privilege.” Jeremy Corbyn, March 2015 Lobby your MP now to demand support for this Bill. Help create an overwhelming demand for an end to NHS marketisation and privatisation and support for a reinstated, publicly provided and accountable NHS. |
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Labour must clean up the mess it made with PFI, and save the health service Jeremy Corbyn
'We have a duty to implement the democratic will of our party and remove the toxic burden of the private finance initiative from our NHS' |
NHS privatisation soars 500% in the last year, finds in-depth new study Paul Evans 30 April 2015
Don't be misled by one line denials of NHS privatisation based on old figures. The first in-depth analysis of the true impact of Cameron's health Act paints a shocking picture.
Don't be misled by one line denials of NHS privatisation based on old figures. The first in-depth analysis of the true impact of Cameron's health Act paints a shocking picture.
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BMA: We believe that a publicly-funded, publicly-provided service delivers the best patient care
Support the British Medical Association campaign to defend the NHS from attacks by politicians of all major parties. Click above to support. |
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The privatising cabal at the heart of our NHS: Tamasin Cave 31 March 2015
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Support the proposed NHS Bill from Allyson Pollock and Peter Roderick
(RENAMED from the NHS Reinstatement Bill 2015) Click link above to email MPs and parliamentary candidates to ask if they will support this Bill. Compare the NHS Reinstatement Bill with Labour / Clive Efford MP's proposals: click here |
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Drop the NHS Debt has been launched to campaign against PFI debts in the NHS. The Department of Health has 118 PFI schemes with a capital value of £11.6bn. However repayments on these contracts will amount to a staggering £79.1bn. Locally, Barts and the London have a PFI valued at £1.1bn with repayments of £7.1bn.
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Click for EU Citizen's campaign against TTIP
If TTIP passes, companies could sue our government if it passed laws to renationalise our NHS, or protect our health. This has already happened in other countries with similar deals. Slovakia was sued for trying to nationalise part of its healthcare service. And Australia is being sued for trying to introduce plain cigarette packets. TTIP isn't a hypothetical threat. It could destroy everything we've fought for. And it gets worse. If companies wanted to sue our government, they can do so in a secret court. There will be no public outcry about what they're trying to do because in most cases, we won't know it has happened until it's too late. This deal is so secretive, and the consequences so potentially far-reaching, that the Guardian labelled it 'a gunpowder plot against democracy'. If we don't get this deal debated in the open, we may never know the full scale of the havoc it could wreck. And we have to act now. Another round of negotiations is scheduled to happen next month. We have to make sure we can get a debate before much more progress is made. We're just 150,000 signatures short. Please sign the petition today and let's get TTIP out in the open. http://action.peoplesnhs.org/eu-ttip-debate |
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At what cost? Paying the price for the market in the English NHS. Feb 2015
The recurrent, annual costs of the market can be estimated (conservatively) at £4.5 billion. It is possible to have patient choice and high-quality health-care without the market. This Feb 2015 report by Calum Paton, Professor of Public Policy at Keele University explains how. |
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Hinchingbrooke Hospital: collapse of UK's first privatised NHS hospital deal. Jan 2015
In January 2015, Circle announced that it is pulling out of its flagship contract to manage this former NHS hospital. The contract for a private healthcare provider to take over an NHS hospital was the first of its kind. Circle blames a £5 million loss- despite sacking many nursing staff to reduce staffing costs - and an NHS crisis. However Circle were also facing a highly critical CQC report on standards of care, patient safety and inadequate medical care. Read Caroline Molloy's excellent article about the collapse here. This venture was termed a “mutual”, because the original “Partnership” structure gave consultants and GPs just under 50% of the “Partnership”. Recent restructuring of the company (“Project Reset”) mean that now “staff” only own 25%. Ultimate control, however, always resided with an offshore Holding Company majority owned by private equity firms. See article below on NHS mutualisation for more information. Click here to read letter to the Guardian from Hackney KONP's Marion Macalpine |
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Pathfinder Trusts: NHS Mutualisation: privatisation with a cosy name.
"The biggest denationalisation of health services ever announced by a health minister" Richard Blogger 17 December 2014 More hospitals - potentially all of them - will be run outside the NHS as so-called "mutuals", the government announced in the week before christmas. The recently announced list of ‘pathfinder trusts’ to explore mutual status, includes seven FTs. Hinchingbrook Hospital - see above - was run as a 'mutual'. Read Richard Blogger's account to see what that meant - and Caroline Molloy's article above to see the disastrous results for the NHS, patients and staff. |
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Hackney is set to run a London NHS Devolution pilot scheme
NHS campaigners are concerned that devo NHS will hasten privatisation. Devo will make it much easier for the government to cut funding for the NHS by making local councils rather than central government take responsibility for hospital and service closures. Despite ending the sharp 'purchaser' - 'provider' split, it will not end the market in NHS services. On the contrary, the NHS Regulator, Monitor, will demand that more and more services are tendered. And devo will carve the NHS (and social care services) up into local chunks that will be particularly attractive to giant US healthcare corporations. more information here: |
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The NHS Bill second reading: Friday 11th March central London The is Bill sponsored by Caroline Lucas MP. Talked out by fillibustering Tory MP. But many campaigners made our views known.
9.45 am handed in petition at Richmond House, Whitehall 11-1.30 Rally outside Parliament |
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Why it’s a problem that Labour didn’t show up to support the NHS Bill (National Health Action Party article, March 2016)
This is a story of corporate capture of our democratic processes. United Health, McKinsey, KPMG, PwC and others are making the decisions about our NHS. Three things MPs say about the NHS Bill - and why they are wrong CLIVE PEEDELL 25 March 2016 Open Democracy Our NHS article |
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NHS cuts - are we in it together?
Open Democracy article CAROLINE MOLLOY 23 March 2016 Downing Street was accused by another former minister of “massaging” NHS cuts figures this week – just as locally NHS bosses propose more sweeping cuts that are beginning to look like the worst ‘reorganisation’ yet. ...... Cash-strapped local health bosses there have suggested that they may in future no longer fund a wide list of procedures on the NHS for many patients, including hearing aids, cataract ops, vasectomies, and hip and knee operations. |
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Junior doctors are fighting for the NHS's life - as the Tories try to silence ALL health workers.
Open Democracy article Greg Dropkin 10 November 2015 Picture: Hackney KONP members supporting Homerton Hospital junior doctors on strike on 10 Feb 2016 Doctors and campaigners will picket outside Homerton Hospital on 26th & 27th April 2016 |
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Hackney KONP at Homerton Hospital supporting junior doctors strike, January and February 2016
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Wed 22 April 2015 Hackney KONP
NHS election hustings 7pm, Halkevi Centre, 31-33 Dalston Lane, E8 3DF. Chair: Jim Kelly (Chair, Unite London & East) Speakers: Diane Abbott MP: Labour, Hackney North Dr Gary Marlowe (C&H CCG) Heather Finlay: Green Party candidate Simon de Deney: Lib Dem Candidate Amy Gray: Conservative Brian Debus: TUSC |
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Day of action: Barts & The London PFI deal.
2.15pm Saturday 25th April 2015 Barts Health’s future is in the balance and this is our last chance to make a noise before the election. The Department of Health has 118 PFI schemes with a capital value of £11.6bn. Over time, the sum total of repayments will be £79.1bn. According to one calculation, two hospitals could have been built for the cost of just one, had public sources of finance been used. Barts and the London have a PFI valued at £1.1bn with repayments totalling £7.1bn. Come down to the Royal London Hospital on Whitechapel Rd for 2.15pm on Saturday 25th to welcome the open-top bus carrying the anti-PFI message. The bus is starting from Whipps Cross Hospital, going via Newham and then into Tower Hamlets to the Royal London Hospital (one of the main hospitals used by Hackney residents). Click here to sign the 38 degrees petition: |
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How Come We Didn't Know
Marion Macalpine (of Hackney KONP)'s photographic exhibition about NHS privatisation Last shown in Hackney at : Hackney Central Library (next to Hackney Town Hall) Reading Lane, E8 1GQ 18th-28th February 2015 For more details of the exhibition and information about other places in the UK where the exhibition has been shown, click here |
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The People's Convention for the NHS
Click to book tickets
Saturday, 11 April 2015 from 10:00 to 16:00 Emmanuel Centre; Marsham Street, SW1P 3DW The People's Convention for the NHS is an umbrella organisation supported by a number of groups including the People's Assembly, Keep Our NHS Public, People's March for the NHS and various trade unions and community campaigns. |
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A night of comedy at the Hackney Empire
28th March 2015 at 6.45pm With Stewart Lee, Wendy Wason, Francesca Martinez, Mark Steel, Lucy Porter, Rufus Hound, and a very special one off appearance from Spitting Image! More to come... click here for link to NHS in stitches short video |
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Tuesday 10th March 2015 7.30pm
Defend London's Health Service Public Rally: Hammersmith Town Hall, King St W6 9JU The Rally aims to make our demands to defend the NHS a key election issue. Bringing together people from across the capital including patients, health staff, campaigners and trade unionists can undermine divide and rule tactics of playing one hospital or service against another. Speakers include clinicians, campaigners and politicians serious about defending our NHS with more than warm words. Discussion will highlight campaigning action in the run up to the general election to win the fight to defend our health services. londonkeepournhspublic@gmail.com https://defendlondonsnhs.wordpress.com/ |
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NHS community voice: forum for City & Hackney NHS patients
Care.data Renewed proposals to share confidential NHS patient data Speakers: Robin Burgess: NHS England & Phil Booth: Med Confidential 25th February 2015: 6.30-8.30pm Well Street Surgery: 28 Shore Road, London E9 7TA Light refreshments will be provided |
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the Reinstate Charlotte campaign and others are sponsoring an evening conference on the topic of Raising Concerns and The Right to Speak Out. Open to all but you must book in advance (click for link to booking form)
February 12th, 6.30 for 7.00 start, BMA House, Tavistock Sq London WC1H 9JP. This meeting will hear from NHS whistle blowers and union reps who have been targeted for speaking out. Speakers: · Polly Toynbee, Guardian Columnist · Dr Kim Holt, Paediatrician and founder of Patients First · Tracey Boylin, Past NHS Trust HR director · Experts from NHS Employers and NHS Trade Unions |
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How Come We Didn't Know
Marion Macalpine (of Hackney KONP)'s photographic exhibition about NHS privatisation On show again in Hackney at : Hackney Central Library (next to Hackney Town Hall) Reading Lane, E8 1GQ 18th-28th February 2015 For more details of the exhibition and information about other places in the UK where the exhibition has been shown, click here |
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People v Barts Health PFI Click above for more information about the campaign against the Barts PFI scheme |
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Hinchingbrooke Hospital: letter to the Guardian from KONP's Marion Macalpine:
Dear Editor Tom Levitt blames the NHS for Circle abandoning its Hinchingbrooke Hospital contract (Guardian Public Manager 21.1.15). He spectacularly fails to mention that hours before Circle quit, the Care Quality Commission issued a devastating report giving Hinchingbrooke their worst rating, especially in ‘safety’, ‘caring’ and ‘leadership’. The report details infected catheters, unwashed hands, missing care plans, and vital medication rounds missed (http://www.cqc.org.uk/location/RQQ31/inspection-summary). Staff morale was amongst the lowest in the country (Lesson one from the Hinchingbrooke hospital scandal: beware the ‘mutual David Owen, Guardian,19.1.15) Moreover, Circle claimed to be a partnership with staff (http://www.circlepartnership.co.uk/about-circle). But Circle Partnership is controlled by Jersey-based Circle Holdings, itself owned by six venture capital and hedge funds, whose founders have donated very large sums to the Conservatives. Levitt is merely continuing the spin that falsely promoted Circle as a mutual that was the saviour of Hinchingbrooke. In so doing he is building his post parliamentary career (he stood down in the expenses scandal) as a consultant promoting ‘responsible capitalism’. Marion Macalpine and Diane Langford |
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Save Our Surgeries campaign meeting
7.30pm Wed November 26th Lauriston Primary School, Rutland Rd, London E9 7JS Speakers
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Launch of the People vs PFI campaign with conference on the 1st November 2014
The Private Finance Initiative (PFI) was cooked up by the government, banks and corporate accounting firms as way of making a profit by providing public services. It's all about making massive private sector profits from the money WE pay for public sector services. And now PFI debts are killing off our public services. People at the launch will learn the big picture of PFI, practical skills to challenge PFI locally and help plan the beginnings of a nationwide campaign to END PFI NOW. For more about the campaign and how to put pressure on your MP, click here. |
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Britain Needs a Payrise. TUC national demo. Saturday 18th October 2014
KONP delegation will meet outside Temple tube station, on the Embankment side at 11am. (Temple is between Embankment and St Paul's). Look for the big KONP balloon. |
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SATURDAY 06 SEPTEMBER:
999 PEOPLE’S MARCH FOR THE NHS JOIN THE MARCHERS IN London after marching 300 miles 11.45 Saturday lunch in Clissold Park, Hackney (bring food and drink to share with marchers) 14.00 March to Parliament 15.30 Rally in Trafalgar Square |
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Saturday July 5th 2014 Save Our GP surgeries march
Due to NHS cuts, your GP surgery could close! Assemble: 2pm, Saturday 5 July 2014 Altab Ali Park, Adler Street, London E1 Nearest tube: Aldgate East We marched through the streets of east London behind Nye Bevan, founder of the NHS. We had a double decker bus, music and street artists, and a rally at the end. What campaigners did • went to local surgeries to find out what they’re doing and offer to help. • Signed and circulatde the 38 Degrees petition: http://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/MPIG • Distributed leaflets and get petitions signed in your local area. • Booked coaches to bring people to east London. • Joined us on 5 July! 
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Council election success for Labour candidate and Hackney KONP member, Rosemary Sales
Rosemary gained top votes in the previously safe Tory ward of Stamford Hill West. Congratulations & we look forward to strong opposition to NHS privatisation within the council. Click for full Hackney results Did you know: City of London has a uniquely undemocratic voting system - businesses also have votes, based on the size of their workforce! Click here for more info |
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EAST LONDON SPECIALIST CANCER SERVICES TO CLOSE
proposals to move 5 specialist cancer services from Barts to University College Hospital More information here. |
he means more PRIVATE hospitals!
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30 May 2014 Today's Headlines
THROUGH THE SMOKE Saving local hospitals? Is Simon Stephens, new head of NHS England, a friend? Have NHS chiefs and government gone soft on NHS shakeup? Sadly, no! : the new push for small local hospitals is just the latest phase of privatisation. It's a way to rapidly introduce hundreds of small private hospitals into the 'NHS family' while greatly reducing local opposition to NHS cuts. Private hospitals get paid a standard NHS tarif - but cherry-pick their patients, leaving the NHS to manage complex cases. Refuse private! |
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Stand Up Against Austerity comedy benefit night at the Hammersmith Apollo on July 7 2014.
The People’s Assembly is holding a “Stand Up Against Austerity” comedy benefit night at the Hammersmith Apollo on July 7. Tickets are already on sale for the gig featuring the country’s best and most influential comics including Jo Brand, Shappi Khorsandi, Francesca Martinez, Kate Smurthwaite, Jeremy Hardy, Stewart Lee, Mark Steel, Jen Brister, Jason Manford, Marcus Brigstocke and Robin Ince. |
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WDM is calling for a national day of action against TTIP on July 12. If you want to get involved, send an email to activism@wdm.org.uk
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People's Assembly March: Demand the Alternative, London 21st June 2014.
No more austerity - demand the alternative National demonstration and free festival to protest austerity and privatisation Assemble 1pm, BBC HQ, Portland Place (Tube: Oxford Circus) NHS contingent: look out for huge white balloon and blue banner. We will march after the NUT, before Unite (red flags) for more information about our campaign links with the People's Assembly, click here For more details of the People's Assembly and march click here. |
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THURSDAY 5TH JUNE 2014 PATIENTS AND CLINICIANS MARCH TO SAVE OUR GP SURGERIES 12 Hackney GP practices face closure as government cuts MPIG funding for GPs in deprived areas. Click for more info about MPIG.
The “SAVE OUR SURGERIES” relay began at St Katherine’s Dock Practice, Nightingale House, 50 Thomas More St, London E1W 1UA at 2.30pm, ending with a rally at Kingsley Hall, Bromley by Bow at 6pm. Hundreds of patients and health workers marched from Tower Hamlets GP practice to GP practice carrying an image of Aneurin Bevan, founder of the NHS. GP surgeries will have static protests outside to receive the relay and pass Nye Bevan on! click here for link to 38degrees petition on MPIG funding. |
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5 June 2014 NHS staff day of action.
RCN joined with other health unions across the country to take part in a day of action protesting the Government’s unfair decision to refuse a 1% pay rise to the majority of NHS staff, and demanding safe staffing levels on all wards. There were protests outside major London Hospitals, including the Royal London, Whitechapel, and University College Hospital |
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7th MAY 2014: HACKNEY COUNCIL ELECTIONS - NHS PLEDGE & HUSTINGS
NHS Hustings meeting on 7th May. Report on what is happening in the NHS and to hear from candidates in the Hackney council elections what they will do to protect the NHS. Report of this meeting - click here Leading up to the elections, Hackney KONP asked candidates to sign a pledge to campaign against privatisation of the NHS To see the pledge, and names and wards of candidates who signed click here |
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Care.data - a Super PPG meeting for Hackney patients
Tuesday 29th April 2014, 6.30pm; Well Street Surgery, 28 Shore Rd, E9 7TA Are you worried what will happen to your medical information? The ‘care.data’ scheme means information from your GP medical records will be extracted. Many patients, doctors and health groups are very concerned how this information will be used. Come and find out what is happening and why Speakers: Robin Burgess Head of Intelligence for NHS London; Hackney GP, Dr Coral Jone; A Hackney patient WELL Consortium members are; Elsdale St Surgery, London Fields Medical Centre, Lower Clapton Group Practice, Sorsby Health Centre, The Greenhouse Surgery, Trowbridge Surgery, Well Street Surgery, Wick Health Centre KONPH Report of the meeting. Click here |
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Shirley Murgraff, founder member of Hackney Keep Our NHS Public receiving an award for her lifelong campaigning activities
Read report in the Hackney Citizen 9th October 2014 |
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MAY 2014 LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS: NHS PLEDGE
Read the NHS Pledge signed by Labour, Green and TUSC candidates in the election. Conservative and Lib Dem candidates refused to sign. NAMES OF CANDIDATES WHO SIGNED THE NHS PLEDGE Hackney KONP will be working to hold elected members to account for actions to support the pledge. |
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27 SEPTEMBER 2013.
CITY & HACKNEY DOCTORS AND PATIENTS TAKE BACK OUT-OF-HOURS SERVICE City and Hackney Urgent Healthcare Social Enterprise (CHUHSE), wins back the contract to provide Out of Hours care for their patients. |
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