NHS campaigners must fight all cuts

On the NHS Jarrow March, I spoke to one of the organisers. The march was creating incredible awareness about selling off the NHS. I said we must oppose all cuts, that the anti-cuts movement and all defenders of the NHS should be clear that the NHS isn’t deemed as more important than other services offered.

The organiser then said that, although many agree with that position, the march was in fact a single issue campaign solely to defend the NHS.

Knock-on effect

But, working as a student nurse on the wards, you can see how cuts to other services have a direct effect on the NHS. Numerous hospital beds countrywide are filled with medically fit patients in beds because there aren’t the care packages in place to safely discharge them. Cuts to services for those with mental illnesses resulted in an increase in hospital admissions with increased medical problems.

This is a direct result of a lack of support. A lack of homeless support and shelters will result in more avoidable hospital admissions as people are forced to sleep on the streets due to the crisis of capitalism.

Cuts to what are termed as ‘luxury services’ show they are key in delivering effective care to society. All campaigners should stand united in calling for no cuts to any services.

Matt Whale