Join us today!
Printable version
Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/573/7111
From The Socialist newspaper, 31 March 2009
No to privatised polyclinics
PROTESTERS TURNED up at the Waldron Health Centre in New Cross, south London, on the morning of 30 March to see New Labour health minister Alan Johnson inspect the new expanded centre.
They wanted to make it clear what they thought of his plans and those of Lewisham Primary Care Trust for private providers to run a new GP service there. These would mainly be huge health firms run for private profit.
Unfortunately, Johnson did not show up. The protesters did have suggestions as to why Johnson couldn't make it. Perhaps he was filling in his expense forms or even looking at blue movies!
On Saturday stalls, the campaign has so far gathered 1,000 signatures against these privatising 'polyclinic' proposals. These threaten not only the four popular GP services already working at the Waldron but also the basic principles of the NHS. The official, and hugely misleading, 'consultation' ends on 6 April.
The campaigners will keep on fighting this salami-style privatisation of our NHS. We don't want unaccountable private 'health care' companies running surgeries presently run by GPs. We will keep fighting for services to be improved by greater investment in GPs' clinics.
Roger Shrives
Why not click here to join the Socialist Party, or click here to donate to the Socialist Party.
In The Socialist 31 March 2009:
The G20 leaders have no solution to the crisis...
Youth Fight for Jobs conference
The grim reality of job-hunting
G20 protests
G20 Summit: Capitalism facing 'make or break'
Free market system killing our planet
Bail out workers, not Wall Street!
Socialist Party workplace news
Visteon workers occupy Belfast factory
Construction workers' protests continue
Socialist stands in Aslef leadership elections
College teachers strike in Eastbourne
Unison needs a fighting leadership: Leeds City Council
Socialist Party Marxist analysis
Economic crisis turning into political action
Socialist Party election campaign
Dave Nellist on the Politics Show
Socialist Party campaigns
Gordon Brown meets the bankers
Sack the bankers not the workers!
International socialist news and analysis
Now that the profits are drying up in the Indian software industry
Sweden: Socialist councillor viciously assaulted by Nazis
Home | The Socialist 31 March 2009 | Join the Socialist Party
2018