All Campaigns subcategories:
NHS keywords:
Mental health
Highlight keywords |
Print this article
Search site for keywords: Mental health - Privatisation - Health - NHS - Cuts - GMB
Dispute against backdoor privatisation of mental health services
Save our NHS demo 4.3.17, photo Mary Finch (Click to enlarge)
NHS mental health worker
Jobs and services are at risk in a London mental health trust as a result of a planned restricting of the psychological therapies 'IAPT' service. These therapists provide intensive treatment to resolve post-traumatic stress disorder.
Mental health guidelines recommend that people suffering symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder such as nightmares and flashbacks require 'step three' high-intensity therapy if they are to recover.
In spite of the dire need for this therapy reflected in the lengthy waiting lists, there are plans to slash the step three service by removing five posts.
GMB union members do not agree with the restructuring proposals put forward by management. The trust plans to divert more service users who are on poverty wages or benefits, to a private counselling service as part of a 'mixed model of service provision'. This private counselling service costs £10-15 a session and offers a lesser level of support.
Our members do not accept that there is no money. GMB has discovered that money is coming from NHS England that can secure those jobs.
Cuts are being proposed in face-to-face services while highly paid management posts are not being threatened as part of the planned restructure. The trust is prepared to increase its investment in the private counselling service.
We can clearly see that the IAPT service is being cut back and shaped to carry less staff and offer less to patients in order to make it more profitable for private providers.
Our members have organised themselves, encouraged others to join our union and in doing so are giving a clear message to management that if these cuts go ahead we will enter into a dispute.
Donate to the Socialist Party
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.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
LATEST POSTS
12 May Stop Israeli state brutality
 |
9 May Post-election meetings
15 May Birmingham Socialist Party: How can we fight for socialist change and a new workers' party?
17 May Oxfordshire & Aylesbury Socialist Party: The role of the state
18 May Bristol North Socialist Party: Liverpool - history of socialist struggle
CONTACT US
Phone our national office on 020 8988 8777
Email: [email protected]
Locate your nearest Socialist Party branch Text your name and postcode to 07761 818 206
Regional Socialist Party organisers:
Eastern: 079 8202 1969
East Mids: 077 3797 8057
London: 075 4018 9052
North East: 078 4114 4890
North West 079 5437 6096
South West: 077 5979 6478
Southern: 078 3368 1910
Wales: 079 3539 1947
West Mids: 024 7655 5620
Yorkshire: 078 0983 9793
ABOUT US
ARCHIVE
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999