I’ve lived here for 22 years, and have dual USA/UK citizenship. What has happened with the NHS has been distressing for me. I am 100% in agreement that privatisation doesn’t help patients or staff - but I assure you, it is helping someone- or it wouldn’t be happening to the level it’s happening. The curious silence from the labour government about this reeks of complicity. I hope I don’t sound negative (I am negative I suppose) but I see privatisation gaining momentum and I literally don’t know what to do about it. People seem resigned. I appreciate your hard work. Is there hope do you think?
I think the majority of people oppose it, and so there definitely is hope, but we need to get organised! (Currently thinking a lot about how this could be possible!)
I wrote to Wes Streeting some months ago explaining my concerns about the NHS and specifically about privatisation. I didn’t get any response. This man seems to have decided that privatisation of the NHS is ‘reforming’ it and is not listening to concerns from the public. He is arrogant and rigid. He needs to be challenged more vigorously, otherwise he will continue privatisation which I fear will eventually lead to the demise of the NHS. I cannot see any value in privatising any parts of the NHS having experienced this myself and being more than unimpressed by my treatment. It is a waste of money which could be spent more effectively in the NHS itself. Privatising departments and resources within the NHS is divisive leading to ‘unjoined-up care’ which does nothing helpful to the NHS which is already struggling from 14yrs of Tory decimation. I suspect also that the commissioners will always tend to go for cheap options which once contracts come to an end costs will rise. Keeping all NHS services in the public sector would help return to a proper, decent, well-run and consolidated health service.
You’re right Angie- privatisation doesn’t help patients, or staff, or the integrity of the service itself. The only people it helps are shareholders of private healthcare companies!
There is to be no mandate for privatisation. It has never been in any party manifesto so has never been voted on in an election. Therefore it lacks any legitimacy and should be called out for the corruption it is.
We watched Owen Jones' broadcast from the Labour conference. We saw a young man get roughed up and thrown out (he was left with bruising on his neck and wrist) for daring to speak up for Palestinians. We heard defences of freebies for wealthy ministers alongside defences of cuts to the living standards of the poor. What can we expect from this corrupt and arrogant front bench of which Wes Streeting is such a perfect example? We can only hope that our campaign gains such a head of steam that it scares these wretches into doing the right thing. We cannot lose our NHS.
Hi Shiraz! I didn’t hear Owen Jones’ reporting - I’ll go back and have a listen. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens over the next few months isn’t it? The new government haven’t had much of a honeymoon period!
Sadly, self-serving senior politicians, and plans to continue the privatisation of our NHS, were exactly my expectations of this government prior to the election. Labour in name only, with few traditional Labour values at heart!
My guess to your question is that it could very well indicate a quiet influx of more pro-private individuals, a cowing of anyone who wants to speak out on this matter in fear of Starmer’s sharp axe or perhaps just a tired and resigned attitude among members, weary after so many years of asking for ful public funding.
The shareholders benefit - and unfortunately politics and corporate interests sit too closely (in my opinion). We need to strongly resist this because it’s not in the interests of the public!
Mmyep. The private sector never has 'spare capacity', because 'spare' is another word for 'waste' - wages and maintanence costs paid for without customers serviced. That's what just-in-time inventory gets you. Streeting is just peddling bullshit to cover for the push to privatise the NHS so his big donors can profit off the process.
“Free at the point of use” is always code for privatization. Except, after a few years a user fee will be tacked on “to dissuade abusers of the system”, then the user fees go up until people can’t afford them and the insurance companies come in to cover the user fees - at a fee of course. Wes Streeting clearly knows all this and clearly has it as his agenda. That’s why he gets so angry when he’s called out. He thought he was smart enough to sneak this by without anyone noticing. Good work Julia.
Where I disagree is the 2nd last paragraph "There are reasons to be hopeful..." I cannot see any signs of this. The final paragraph could have been taken from my "manifesto".
Whilst everything I have heard from this government could easily be interpreted as a continuation of the previous one, I am waiting for 30 October and the budget...without wealth and tax rises on those with incomes in excess of £50k annually there will be NO CHANGE.
The NHS crisis continues with my GP surgery sending emails saying "make an appointment" BUT having no slots available for at least six weeks (this being the period covered on their website); are the administrators just bots run by AI with no human management? Has this changed recently for anyone else?
I sense that they are working under extreme pressure; my previous GP, who was excellent at trying to do his best for his patients despite Whitehall interference, often intimated how he was frustrated by the diktats but would sometimes ignore them when he thought it was the best course of action.
I’ve lived here for 22 years, and have dual USA/UK citizenship. What has happened with the NHS has been distressing for me. I am 100% in agreement that privatisation doesn’t help patients or staff - but I assure you, it is helping someone- or it wouldn’t be happening to the level it’s happening. The curious silence from the labour government about this reeks of complicity. I hope I don’t sound negative (I am negative I suppose) but I see privatisation gaining momentum and I literally don’t know what to do about it. People seem resigned. I appreciate your hard work. Is there hope do you think?
I think the majority of people oppose it, and so there definitely is hope, but we need to get organised! (Currently thinking a lot about how this could be possible!)
I wrote to Wes Streeting some months ago explaining my concerns about the NHS and specifically about privatisation. I didn’t get any response. This man seems to have decided that privatisation of the NHS is ‘reforming’ it and is not listening to concerns from the public. He is arrogant and rigid. He needs to be challenged more vigorously, otherwise he will continue privatisation which I fear will eventually lead to the demise of the NHS. I cannot see any value in privatising any parts of the NHS having experienced this myself and being more than unimpressed by my treatment. It is a waste of money which could be spent more effectively in the NHS itself. Privatising departments and resources within the NHS is divisive leading to ‘unjoined-up care’ which does nothing helpful to the NHS which is already struggling from 14yrs of Tory decimation. I suspect also that the commissioners will always tend to go for cheap options which once contracts come to an end costs will rise. Keeping all NHS services in the public sector would help return to a proper, decent, well-run and consolidated health service.
You’re right Angie- privatisation doesn’t help patients, or staff, or the integrity of the service itself. The only people it helps are shareholders of private healthcare companies!
There is to be no mandate for privatisation. It has never been in any party manifesto so has never been voted on in an election. Therefore it lacks any legitimacy and should be called out for the corruption it is.
I agree that it completely lacks legitimacy. The ‘reforms’ repeatedly pushed through by politicians just fragment the service and make things worse!
We watched Owen Jones' broadcast from the Labour conference. We saw a young man get roughed up and thrown out (he was left with bruising on his neck and wrist) for daring to speak up for Palestinians. We heard defences of freebies for wealthy ministers alongside defences of cuts to the living standards of the poor. What can we expect from this corrupt and arrogant front bench of which Wes Streeting is such a perfect example? We can only hope that our campaign gains such a head of steam that it scares these wretches into doing the right thing. We cannot lose our NHS.
Hi Shiraz! I didn’t hear Owen Jones’ reporting - I’ll go back and have a listen. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens over the next few months isn’t it? The new government haven’t had much of a honeymoon period!
Sadly, self-serving senior politicians, and plans to continue the privatisation of our NHS, were exactly my expectations of this government prior to the election. Labour in name only, with few traditional Labour values at heart!
It’s very concerning to see this happen isn’t it. We definitely don’t need yet more privatisation!
My guess to your question is that it could very well indicate a quiet influx of more pro-private individuals, a cowing of anyone who wants to speak out on this matter in fear of Starmer’s sharp axe or perhaps just a tired and resigned attitude among members, weary after so many years of asking for ful public funding.
The shareholders benefit - and unfortunately politics and corporate interests sit too closely (in my opinion). We need to strongly resist this because it’s not in the interests of the public!
Mmyep. The private sector never has 'spare capacity', because 'spare' is another word for 'waste' - wages and maintanence costs paid for without customers serviced. That's what just-in-time inventory gets you. Streeting is just peddling bullshit to cover for the push to privatise the NHS so his big donors can profit off the process.
I agree . Why isn’t everyone jump in up and down at this . Private sector won’t do it for free . Wasting more money and
Making sure the private sector makes
£££. No one ever considers that private sector not
Scrutinised !!! No ITU . No access to doctors at night . No blood to transfuse . I would refuse to risky . Private sector only
Offer the simple quick stuff . Won’t help
Anyone with serious major problems . Everyone should be so angry . But apathy
Is everywhere . I want to scream 😱
“Free at the point of use” is always code for privatization. Except, after a few years a user fee will be tacked on “to dissuade abusers of the system”, then the user fees go up until people can’t afford them and the insurance companies come in to cover the user fees - at a fee of course. Wes Streeting clearly knows all this and clearly has it as his agenda. That’s why he gets so angry when he’s called out. He thought he was smart enough to sneak this by without anyone noticing. Good work Julia.
The first few paragraphs - https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/sep/27/britain-sick-answer-benefits-crackdown - I agree with...I wish there was a mention of tens of millions of people, including pensioners, who are inactive due to poverty.
Where I disagree is the 2nd last paragraph "There are reasons to be hopeful..." I cannot see any signs of this. The final paragraph could have been taken from my "manifesto".
Whilst everything I have heard from this government could easily be interpreted as a continuation of the previous one, I am waiting for 30 October and the budget...without wealth and tax rises on those with incomes in excess of £50k annually there will be NO CHANGE.
The NHS crisis continues with my GP surgery sending emails saying "make an appointment" BUT having no slots available for at least six weeks (this being the period covered on their website); are the administrators just bots run by AI with no human management? Has this changed recently for anyone else?
The GP services are under enormous pressure, and the staff are often demonised in the press. None of this has been caused by GPs or the other staff.
I sense that they are working under extreme pressure; my previous GP, who was excellent at trying to do his best for his patients despite Whitehall interference, often intimated how he was frustrated by the diktats but would sometimes ignore them when he thought it was the best course of action.