THE NHS is plummeting towards a two-tier system with very basic care
for all and good care for those who can pay.
Against the backdrop of this, the Keep Our NHS Public campaign held
their conference on 25 March.
When Socialist Party member Lois Austin spoke she called for the
conference to set a date for a demonstration to unite the campaigns
against attacks on the NHS.
Originally there was only one resolution to be voted on, a simple
pledge to carry on fighting, developing local campaigns and lobbying our
MPs. Then an amendment was moved from the floor calling on the campaign
to get the TUC to organise such a demonstration. The mood of the
conference was shown when the amendment was overwhelmingly carried.
There were trade union speakers as well as various GPs and MPs. Vague
pledges to fight back were made by trade unions UNISON and Amicus as
well as by former health secretary Frank Dobson MP.
But they put forward no strategy that would make use of the potential
mass organised strength that could be gathered behind this campaign. The
NHS crisis has been called Labour’s poll tax but the anger that
working-class people feel about the government’s policies must be
organised to be effective.
Other speakers recognised the need for something more. GP Ron Singer
– President of the Medical Practitioners’ Union – said how there is a
need for action: "I believe, in the form of strike action and
demonstrations".
The national demonstration must now be campaigned for urgently. If
the TUC drag their feet then Keep Our NHS Public should urge the health
unions to join with them to call it.
