I’ve been reading the book, NHS SOS, edited by Jacky Davis and Raymond Tallis, with growing fury. I bought it a week ago so I could learn a bit more about the Tories and Lib Dem’s privatisation of the National Health Service. The book provides a very detailed description of this process, and the very limited opposition Lansley’s wretched Health and Social Care bill received as it passed through the Commons. One of those, who actually stood by the NHS and fought it was David Owen, one of the founders of the SDP. And one of those, who added their crucial support to the bill, was his Lib Dem colleague, Shirley Williams.
As it stands, the bill effectively dissolves the NHS as a single administrative unit responsible for the entire country. The Secretary of State is no longer responsible for the Health Service as a whole, but merely in charge of commissioning. Vast areas of the NHS have been given over to private healthcare companies, and funding by private health insurers. The book also details how what remains of the state-run parts of the NHS are being deliberately starved of cash, which is now being funnelled to private healthcare providers.
And the government has also repealed the statutory duty of the NHS to provide a universal health service free of charge. Instead, the law has been amended so that fees may be charged for the following services:
* Services and facilities for pregnant women, women who are breast-feeding.
* Services for both younger and older children.
* services for the prevention of illness.
* Care of persons suffering from illness and their after-care.
* Ambulance services.
* Services for people with mental illness.
* Dental public health services.
* Sexual health services.
(See the above book, p. 194).
Which looks like just about every part of health care in this country.
This is part of a long campaign, going right back to Margaret Thatcher’s review of the Health Service and plans for the dismantlement of the welfare state in the 1980s.
It’s disgusting. And we must fight against it with every fibre of our beings.
Tags: 'Health and Social Care Bill', 'NHS - SOS', Ambulance, Andrew Lansley, Children, Conservatives, David Owen, Dentists, Fees, Jacky Davis, Lib-Dems, Margaret Thatcher, NHS, Private Health Insurance, Private Healthcare Providers, Raymond Tallis, SDP, Shirley Williams, the Sick, Welfare State, Women
Beastrabban\'s Weblog 
June 7, 2016 at 10:02 am |
The 2012 Health Act was in preparation since 2008 by the Tory party and private health providers. It was deliberately obscure and huge, to deter real investigation of the meaning if what were presented as innocuous sounding changes. Under Corbyn the Labour party have now started to fight back, with an Act to reverse the 2012 Act being put the the house. They will not stop until this has been reversed.
June 7, 2016 at 10:32 am |
Thanks, Florence. The book mentions that the act was deliberate obscure and tortuous in order to prevent those not trained in law from cottoning on to what they’re doing. And I’m really glad that Corbyn is fighting this. It’s another reason, no doubt, why the Tories and Blairites hate and fear him.
June 7, 2016 at 10:34 am |
Would like to share these blog’s on Facebook buy not possible!
June 7, 2016 at 12:15 pm |
Reblogged this on sdbast.