Protesters raise fears for future of NHS with march
Campaigners took to the streets in Bath last week to protest against a bill they fear will pave the way for the privatisation of the NHS.
Crowds assembled by the abbey in Kingston Place at 12pm to listen to speakers before setting off on a march through the city centre. Many people were wearing blue and some brought placards.
A Bath Campaigns spokesperson warned that the Health and Care Bill will strengthen the role of private companies and be “the last nail in the coffin” for the public NHS.
Speaker Paula Riseborough, a former NHS physiotherapist and spokesperson for Protect Our NHS Bath, said previously that her group strongly opposed the outsourcing of Bath and North East Somerset’s community health and care services to Virgin Care in 2017 but the council and local NHS leaders pressed ahead.
She said despite concerns about the firm’s performance its contract was extended for another three years – and then two weeks later it was taken over by a private equity firm.
“This is the slippery slope of NHS privatisation and is taking place across the NHS in England,” said Ms Riseborough.
Virgin Care was rebranded as HCRG Care Group. It has previously given commitments to honour the terms of contract and said patients will see no difference to services, which will be offered by the same teams. The council is conducting due diligence and looking closely at the contract.
The Bath Campaigns spokesperson
said: “Thanks to all who turned out to join us for the National Day of Action in opposition to the privatisation of the NHS, working with Protect Our NHS Bath, Unite the Union and Bristol Disability Equality Forum.
“Thanks also to fantastic speakers Lesley Mansell, Laura Welti, Paula Riseborough and Nicola James.
“Wonderful singing led by Adey and a great performance by the SOS NHS Team – Jess, Louise, Michelle and Sally. Thanks to Avon and Somerset Police for being so helpful and supportive.
“Thanks to all the volunteers
who helped to make it a success.”
The demo was part of a national day of action against the bill on February 26, which Unite the Union said would “seal in years of closures and downgrades designed to expand privatisation including ruthless cuts we’ve seen to medical and emergency services that have forced more people to pay for their health care and allowed more private companies to take over services and make decisions on budgets”.
Speaker Lesley Mansell, the Unite lead representative at Southmead Hospital, said: “The NHS is our jewel in the crown yet it is
under severe threat as it is being dismantled brick by brick. The government’s solution is to outsource it. But this is no solution to the skills gap and lack of staff and beds.”
Bath Campaigns’ four demands to protect the NHS are:
Deprivatise the NHS – public need not private profit
A £20billion ring-fenced emergency funding to avoid collapse
A five per cent annual funding boost for the next decade to return to 2010 service levels
A 15 per cent pay rise for all staff which represents a pay rise in real terms after a 10-year pay freeze and cost of living hikes.