KONP has recently agreed a new a position paper. Click here to see it.
In Hackney we are working on developing our demands. Here is a draft that we think covers the changes we believe are needed for the NHS, including areas covered in the KONP position paper. We recognise that this document as a whole will not be useful for public campaigning. We would expect different campaigns might highlight just a few areas at any one time, and the wording will need to be amended to march the purpose and audience of each campaign. Some areas are more technical or obscure. Other demand will be understood by everyone.
We would welcome your comments on both the content and the wording. In particular, we would be interested to hear your views on whether to urge 'renationalisation' of the NHS - on the basis that we're not concerned only with private providers: - foundation trust status also removes hospitals and services from the full democratic control and accountability we seek.
Hackney Keep Our NHS Public
Draft Demands for 2014-15, for comment and discussion
Renationalise the NHS
In Hackney we are working on developing our demands. Here is a draft that we think covers the changes we believe are needed for the NHS, including areas covered in the KONP position paper. We recognise that this document as a whole will not be useful for public campaigning. We would expect different campaigns might highlight just a few areas at any one time, and the wording will need to be amended to march the purpose and audience of each campaign. Some areas are more technical or obscure. Other demand will be understood by everyone.
We would welcome your comments on both the content and the wording. In particular, we would be interested to hear your views on whether to urge 'renationalisation' of the NHS - on the basis that we're not concerned only with private providers: - foundation trust status also removes hospitals and services from the full democratic control and accountability we seek.
Hackney Keep Our NHS Public
Draft Demands for 2014-15, for comment and discussion
Renationalise the NHS
- Restore the NHS to a service that is publicly funded, publicly provided and publicly accountable
- Bring foundation trusts back into full public ownership as a regionally co-ordinated and managed service
- Bring privatised health services back into public ownership
- Abolish the purchaser-provider split, as they have done in Wales and Scotland
- Repeal all legislation that requires services to be tendered
- Restore the NHS to a condition that exempts it from treaties such as Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP)
- Bring NHS spend up to the average for similar economies (based on % of GDP spend),
- Save £10bn (current costs) - £25bn (post 2020 costs) by ejecting the market
- Invest these savings to restore a patient-focus
- Free the NHS of excessive and spiralling PFI debt charges (investigate PFI contracts; prosecute corrupt PFI deals, renegotiate non-corrupt contracts for fair value and seek compensation)
- Renationalise to avoid massively wasteful transaction and legal costs of tendering services
- End the contracts that divert NHS resources into massive private profit
- End the sale of NHS assets except on the basis of the McKinsey QIPP plan
- Remove the power of NHS Foundation Trusts to raise capital
- Restore the duty on the Secretary of State to provide a comprehensive health service
- Bring the NHS under honest democratic control, regionally and nationally
- Require complete transparency for all NHS spending; outlaw ‘commercial confidentiality’ get outs on all public spending
- Remove the right of politicians with financial ties to private healthcare corporations, think tanks, lobby groups or insurance providers with healthcare links – nationally or internationally - to vote on NHS and healthcare issues; compulsory declaration of all healthcare interests
- Value and support NHS staff; replace the bullying and privatising culture with one that incentivises good patient care and rewards staff for their work
- Engage professionals, managers and patients as partners in a joint endeavour to bring all services into line with best NHS and international practice
- Put cooperation and collaboration between services, effective clinical pathways and patient-centred healthcare at the heart of all service planning
- Value high quality healthcare for all, free at the point of delivery, as an essential part of a decent society. End the scapegoating of older people, migrants and those in poor health. Recognise the contributions these groups have made and continue to make.
