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From The Socialist newspaper, 25 January 2017
Defiant mood at North Tyneside STP consultation
The Red Cross has declared a "humanitarian crisis" in the NHS, photo (public domain) (Click to enlarge)
William Jarrett and Tim Wall, Newcastle Socialist Party
A public 'engagement' meeting hosted by North Tyneside's Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), conducted by CCG chair Dr John Matthews and Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STP) lead officer Mark Adams, was held on 16 January.
Many participants were local people rightly concerned by the planned £22 billion of Tory cuts. Already, North Tyneside's A&E services have been relocated 15 miles away to Cramlington, an area well away from the main area of population.
And three walk-in centres are being merged into one - a massive blow to local services that Save North Tyneside NHS is campaigning to stop from happening in October.
Socialist Party members have played a leading role in the establishment and growth of the Save North Tyneside NHS. In just over two months the campaign has benefited from local and regional media attention, holding two public meetings, and welcoming new activists to its ranks.
STPs rub salt in an open wound, enraging the community. We received applause and cheers when we told Dr Matthews: "You're shutting two acute hospitals. There's no mention of that in your fancy graphs. And, what happens if we just say no? We'll oppose every cut, and we need Labour councillors to refuse to sign off this plan."
Socialist Party activist John Hoare was greeted with similar enthusiasm. He explained Britain is the sixth wealthiest nation on Earth, and workers pay for a crisis created by establishment politicians and their partners in banking and business, insisting "cancel PFI contracts instead!"
A BMA junior doctor and a Unison regional organiser both said their unions had not been properly consulted.
The campaign continues, with another public meeting on 11 February in North Shields library.
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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.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
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- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
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In The Socialist 25 January 2017:
What we think
NHS under attack
NHS SOS: Save the Women's Hospital
Defiant mood at North Tyneside STP consultation
Lancashire: Hospital workers protest consultation
Paignton: organising against hospital closure
Socialist Party news and analysis
Reject Surrey's 15% council tax increase
Bristol police taser own race relations adviser
2016 hottest year on record, air poisonous
Wales council votes to buy back homes
Isle of Wight independents resign over cuts
Come to the TUSC national conference 2017!
International socialist news and analysis
Huge anger internationally on marches against Trump
India: struggle against land grab in Pune
Workplace news and analysis
RMT determinedly continues Southern strike
Incensed BA cabin crew strike and protest over pay
Steely opposition growing to Tata pension offer
2017 Unite general secretary and executive elections
Socialist Party Marxist analysis
Don't we need competition to spur on progress?
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Huge anger against Trump across Britain
South London: march to save community centres
Obituary: Bernard Roome 1947-2017
Socialist readers' comments and reviews
Ed Balls: 'Speaking Out' for capitalism
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