Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/736/15363
From The Socialist newspaper, 3 October 2012
Save Greater Manchester mental healthcare
Matt Kilsby, Salford Socialist Party
More than 100 service users, trade unionists, workers and members of the public attended a public meeting on 1 October to discuss and build the campaign to save mental health services in Salford and Manchester.
As previously reported in the Socialist, Greater Manchester West NHS Mental Health Trust is pressing ahead with proposals to cut jobs and remove vital drop-in services and community groups for service users across Salford. This is before service users are consulted.
In Manchester, a 20% funding cut will cost around 40 jobs and affect over 3,000 service users.
After the meeting was addressed by Steve North, Socialist Party member and secretary of Salford Unison local government branch, angry service users queued up to explain why these attacks on mental health services are so despicable.
Vee Ball, a carer for her husband and prominent activist in the recently formed United Services Users Committee, told the meeting that the services under threat are absolutely vital.
If not for the drop-in centres and community groups, there would be no respite for carers and service users. Vee added that "our campaign to keep our services is about saving lives".
The meeting was clear that we need to unite our campaign across Salford and Manchester to ensure that the working class and the most vulnerable in our cities are not made to pay the price for the failure of capitalism.
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In The Socialist 3 October 2012:
Education news & analysis
Tory education policy: 'This is just about making cuts isn't it?'
Building the fightback in the universities
Suspended student union president continues fight for reinstatement
NUT activists prepare for action
Barnfield College, Luton: Kick private profit out of education
Partial victory for international students at London Metropolitan
No to slave labour in universities
International socialist news and analysis
Europe: Class struggle returns with a bang
South Africa: Solidarity with miners
Algerian war of independence 1954-1962
Socialist Party NHS campaigning
Action against Profit From Illness!
South West NHS workers want action against 'pay cartel'
Save Greater Manchester mental healthcare
Cut the Con-Dems - not our NHS!
Socialist Party workplace news
Bin workers calling indefinite strike brought results
Day of Action to save HMRC nurseries
Crossrail flashmob blocks London's Oxford Street
Arts and culture workers need to fight back
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
The fight of all our lives - For a 24-hour general strike
Councillors must resist all Tory cuts
Thousands march for an independent Scotland
Rape is No Joke campaign discussed
Socialist Party news and analysis
Scotland: Lamont throws Labour Party into crisis
Sickened by Labour conference? Build the anti-cuts alternative!
Council tax benefit - new and not improved
Squatting conviction paves way for rise in homelessness
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