Leicester campaigns to save our NHS

March to defend Glenfield heart unit 11 February 2017 photo Steve Score, photo Steve Score (Click to enlarge)

Lyndsey Morgan, Leicester Socialist Party

As the general election goes into full swing, so do the Tory lies about the NHS. Boris Johnson claimed at the Tory party conference that they would build "40 new hospitals" in ten years.

That turned out to be untrue. They claim they will increase the number of GPs by 6,000 over the next five years. But they made a similar claim in 2015 to increase by 5,000 and there are now 1,500 less!

The Tories have also said they will fund the NHS by an extra £20.5 billion by 2024. This is a less than average increase for the NHS over its existence and comes after years of underfunding.

Some investment in hospital buildings that was held up for years by austerity measures has now been agreed. But it comes with a sting in the tail.

The government has promised £450 million for Leicestershire hospitals. We welcome money for new buildings. But years of cuts and swathes of professionals leaving the NHS means investment in buildings will result in very little improvement without enough staff to work in them!

People power saved the children's heart unit at Glenfield hospital in 2017 and those campaigners are now fighting to protect hospital services in Leicester.

Save Our NHS Leicestershire (SONHSL) has been warning for a long time that the trust's plans, involving the closure of one of the three acute hospitals in Leicester, mean no increase in the number of beds for decades to come, despite an ageing and growing population.

At a public meeting organised by the campaign, NHS England (which oversees the NHS budget) admitted that their plans for the reconfiguration are dependent on carers taking on more care in the home. With the pressure already on families due to austerity, many will not be able to take the extra strain.

In order to fight to see the full details of the plans and to protect our services, SONHSL will be holding a demonstration in the city centre at the clock tower on Saturday 16 November at midday. The Socialist Party has a proud record of fighting and saving NHS services. The fight continues!

Demonstrate 12 noon Saturday 16 November at Leicester clock tower, Leicester city centre

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Finance appeal

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.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
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.