The Socialist 25 October 2017

Tories punish the poor

Socialists must back Catalan struggle for self-determination

1967 Abortion Act reflected social changes

Kurdish referendum declared illegal

Universal Credit chaos: Tories punish the poor

Fearful Tories mull borrowing to build

Kids wait 18 months for mental healthcare

Profit-driven pesticide use now threatens life

Profiteering NHS counter-fraud firm in alleged case of... fraud

Them & us

What we saw: May on Facebook

Aslef members must reject poor Southern Rail offer

Arriva North West bus drivers strike over pay

NSSN meeting brings together workers in struggle

Manchester lecturers walk out

Hear from socialists involved in struggles the world over at the Socialism 2017 Saturday rally

Angry east London residents organise against threat to leisure centre

Trade unionists march to defend 650 local jobs

Bad Art's Leicester event

Storm Brian cannot withstand working-class anger

Well-deserved ridicule of Stalinism is impressive, funny but flawed

Film - Dennis Skinner: Nature of the Beast

New musical on life of Castro

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Kids wait 18 months for mental healthcare

Kick out cutters and profiteers

(Click to enlarge)

James Hunter, South Tyne and Wear Socialist Party

Children suffering from mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression, have to wait up to 18 months after referral to access care.

Even then there are further waiting times before children finally receive treatment, indicates a condemning report by NHS watchdog CQC.

One in five are told they cannot be seen within a reasonable timeframe, according to Young Minds. This includes anorexic children in England, who can be a dangerously low weight before receiving referral.

Overstretched child and adolescent services force some families to seek out private healthcare in desperation.

Catastrophic

These catastrophic delays are caused by intentional, chronic underfunding and understaffing of the NHS, as well as privatisation through PFI schemes and vultures like Virgin Care.

Mental illnesses benefit from early intervention - a collaborative approach that seeks to act as soon as possible before the onset of irreversible damage. Austerity will no doubt have contributed to the spike in the number of children self-harming.

The number of young people admitted to A&E with a psychiatric condition has more than doubled since the Conservatives took power in 2010. Record numbers now seek help from children's helplines over suicidal thoughts - up 15% from last year.

The Socialist Party says: kick out the bloodsuckers - scrap all PFIs! No more children to suffer for the sake of corporate profit and Tory greed!

Fund a fully nationalised health service, run under democratic workers' control and management, and free at the point of use. A socialist NHS could provide for everyone's needs at all times - no exceptions!

Socialism 2017 (11 and 12 November, central London)

Discussions include: 'Can NHS privatisation be stopped before it's too late?'