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From The Socialist newspaper, 19 October 2016
Devon: Campaigning against community hospitals closures
Demonstrating against NHS cuts in Grantham, 3.9.16, photo Gary Freeman (Click to enlarge)
Sean Brogan, Exeter Socialist Party
'Once you lose them - you will never get them back', this was the stark warning in a letter published in a local Devon paper. The letter refers to the current consultation period taking place on the closures of community hospitals with the loss of hundreds of beds. The 'alternative' is community care in people's homes.
This is being met by widespread resistance despite the fact that the 'consultation' is regarded as a sham - a done deal - a word to be laughed at!
All elements of a democratic say as to whether people want their local hospitals closed or not, seem to have been removed. But these proposals have been met with resistance all over Devon.
In Paignton, a town with a population of 50,000, the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has been forced to hold five extra meetings. People have been locked out of overflowing meetings. Ashburton and Buckfastleigh residents have forced the CCG to hold another meeting in a bigger venue.
Services run-down
The closures and cut backs are being applied all over Devon. North Devon District Hospital is seeing a run-down of its maternity services which will mean a drive to Exeter for pregnant mums.
The newly formed Socialist Party branch in South Devon has been on the streets getting hundreds of signatures and leafleting. People have seen so-called community care in action - ten minute visits if you are lucky.
As was pointed out in last week's Socialist, children's services in Devon are already in the hands of Virgin Care. The attacks and privatisation of the NHS are becoming a daily reality. Socialists in South Devon are part of the resistance to that threat.
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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
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In The Socialist 19 October 2016:
Socialist Party news and analysis
Teachers working 60 hours need strikes, not studies
Health campaigns demonstrate together in 'one fight'
NHS cancer and dementia drugs 'unaffordable'
What we think
No backtracks, no compromises: we must fight for real democracy in the Labour Party
TUSC discusses new tasks after Corbyn victory
Workplace news and analysis
Sheffield bin striker slams privatised refuse bosses
Newsquest strike: Bosses realise 'contraints' of scab labour
London Underground cleaners protest pay cut
Support the 'Kinsley 3' cleaners in pay fight
International socialist news and analysis
Syria: horror deepens in Aleppo
Socialist history
Aberfan: a disaster that should never have happened
Suez 1956: the decline of British imperialism and rise of the colonial revolution
Black History Month
The radical life of Paul Robeson
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Butterfields housing victory: "We showed that if you stick together and fight you can win"
Can you donate to the Socialism 2016 appeal?
Cheshire and Merseyside: Huge NHS cuts and privatisation planned
Devon: Campaigning against community hospitals closures
Bristol: Millions of pounds of "horrifically unpalatable" cuts
Socialist readers' comments and reviews
Moving, funny and inspiring tribute to working class heroism
Film review: Deepwater Horizon
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