Durham health cuts show need for new workers' party

SEVEN HUNDRED 'surplus' jobs were cut from Durham's NHS in the last year. Over 5,000 NHS staff received letters with their pay-slips last month asking them to take voluntary redundancy or early retirement. No compulsory redundancies have yet been announced but this worry is hanging over nurses' heads.

Hannah Walter

Staff report being unable to do their jobs properly due to under-staffing. Wards are being closed; hospitals are full; operating theatres are being shut while there are long waiting-lists for operations.

New Labour claim they want more 'care in the community'. People have the right to be looked after at home if they wish to be. However at the same time as hospital wards are closing and the number of hospital staff are cut, care in the community services are being reduced!

Local New Labour politicians claim to be against local NHS cuts but their party votes through these cuts on a national level. Labour today is a big business party. It was Gordon Brown that agreed the budgets that gave his big business pals huge tax cuts while selling off sections of the NHS on the basis that they were 'unaffordable'.

We need a new workers' party which will stand up in defence of the NHS and pensions and to fight against war and privatisation.

Campaign for a New Workers' Party public meeting hosted by the Socialist Party - Defend the NHS.

Speakers include Dr Jackie Grunsell, GP and Defend our NHS councillor.

7.30pm Tuesday 17 July, Elvet Riverside One (opposite Three Tuns Hotel), New Elvet, Durham.

Fighting low pay, defending jobs and services

Victory to the postal workers

Public support for Post Office counters strike

National Shop Stewards Network

Bob Crow calls for new party

National Shop Stewards Network conference: A good starting point for strengthening struggle

TGWU/Unite conference delegates cheer call for action on anti-trade union laws

Socialist Party NHS campaign

Action needed to save the NHS

Campaign saves Swansea Hospital

Sussex must fight back against NHS cuts

Durham health cuts show need for new workers' party

Wales

Wales Assembly coalition no answer to workers' problems

Cardiff: Fight school cuts and closures

Tales from the council chambers

Nurseries campaign embarrasses councillors

Southall Labour councillors cross floor

Council workers make a stand

Marxist analysis: history

The 'July days' - rich in lessons for today

Socialist Party news and analysis

London Underground derailment: Kick out dangerous profiteers!

Kwik Save workers betrayed by bosses and union

Socialist Party events

Socialist Party Youth and students

Socialist Party review

Political discourse can swing!

International socialist news and analysis

South Africa: union leaders call off biggest-ever strike

Slave-labour scandal in China

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