Is the NHS safe with Labour?

Rathfelder Mon Nov 06, 2006 at 07:26:57 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

The Tories seem to have a political lead on the NHS for the first time since 1944.  Where exactly is Labour health policy going?



An opportunity to discuss the future direction of the Labour Party's health policy.

Toynbee Hall 28 Commercial Street, London E1 6LS - nearest tube Aldgate East

10am - 3pm Saturday 2nd December 2006

With Prof Nick Bosanquet, and Dr Jacky Davis - who will have very different views about where we should be going.

Also Birmingham Saturday 11th November 2006
Leeds Saturday 9th December 2006

The Labour Party National Policy Forum consultation document on health has been released, and this will be part of our discussions.  You can read it at http://www.sochealth.co.uk/news/NPF2006c.htm The document centres around two
questions:

  1. How do we do more to empower patients?
  2. How do we help people lead healthier lives?

Are these the most important questions we should be asking?

Some of the other issues we might want to raise include the policy of permanent revolution in the NHS, the introduction of more commercial and voluntary sector care providers, payment by results, patient and public involvement, local accountability, whether mental health is really a priority ...

We may also want to think about the current EU consultation about healthcare across European borders.

You do not have to be a member of the Labour Party to attend, but you must be prepared to make constructive comments

Submissions are to be sent in by March 2007 to pip3.health@new.labour.org.uk. Anyone can send their comments, but we hope that a clear well argued submission from us will carry some weight.

Cost (This includes lunch specially imported from Brick Lane): £25 for non members, £10 for members of the Association (including members of affiliated organisations such as Amicus and Unison).  If you really cannot afford this please say so and we can waive the charge. Please use our booking form:
http://www.sochealth.co.uk/confs/Booking.htm

Martin Rathfelder
Director
Socialist Health Association
22 Blair Road
Manchester
M16 8NS
0870 013 0065
www.sochealth.co.uk


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Is the NHS safe with Labour? | 2 comments (2 topical)

Re: Is the NHS safe with Labour? (#1)

by Joe S on Tue Nov 07, 2006 at 10:30:29 AM GMT

The "problem" is one of expectation.

10 years ago radio phone ins were dominated by "I can't get my operation" stories.

Today it's "my (usually decrepit & expensive to renovate) local hospital is closing".

Never mind that the services that were undertaken in that location can now be done in GP surgeries or other primary care locations.


Re: Is the NHS safe with Labour? (#2)

by alexswanson on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:15:59 AM GMT

You're being hoist with your own petard, though, aren't you? When the Conservatives were in power, any closure of a hospital, any loss of a post or even a single bed was greeted by Labour with screaming hysteria as yet another example of "Tory cuts", enthusiastically supported by your friends in the broadcast media. Now this government is finding that such things are sometimes a good idea - but you have conditioned your supporters to believe they're indisputable evidence of finance-obsessed heartlessness.


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Is the NHS safe with Labour? | 2 comments (2 topical)