Don’t let Blair wreck the NHS

Job cuts soar

Don’t let Blair wreck the NHS

MORE THAN 7,000 hospital job cuts have been announced in the last
few weeks. And this devastating fact is not the end of the story. Job
cuts could go as high as 24,000, as more hospitals and trusts go into
deficit.

NHS bosses wring their hands and say they’re sorry that "some
job losses have been necessary".

But the reality is that NHS resources are being frittered away on
expensive schemes designed to line the pockets of private companies.

Instead of repairing the damage that decades of underfunding and
neglect has done to the NHS, New Labour is just further opening up one
of our most precious assets to the profiteers.

But there is a fight back in many areas.

Socialist Party member and local GP Jackie Grunsell is standing in
the local elections in Huddersfield.

"It is almost impossible to knock on a door and find someone
who hasn’t heard about the attacks on local health services" she
says.

"The government are standing by while hospitals sack staff
claiming it is due to a deficit crisis, caused by a few poor managers
in local areas.

"In reality the £700 million NHS debt is peanuts to them.
They could easily wipe it out in the same way they have just given
£5.1 billion subsidy to get British Energy (a private company) out of
financial trouble.

"The sad fact is this government wants these job losses and
cuts to take place to pave the way for further marketisation of our
health care. We can’t stand by and let this happen.

"A national demonstration and industrial action are
becoming more urgent."


  • No more cuts and privatisation. Take back all the privatised
    NHS services into public ownership – we fought for them, we paid for
    them, we should run them democratically for the benefit of all.

  • Link all the community and trade union campaigns together –
    first in a national demonstration, then in strike action.

  • Nationalise the pharmaceutical and supply industries and use
    the profits to rebuild the health service into something we can be
    proud of.