Welcome to Newham Save Our NHS
Photo: Andy Thornley/ The Londonist.
Photo: Andy Thornley/ The Londonist.
Newham Save Our NHS is a group of Newham residents campaigning to protect our National Health Service from increasing privatisation. We have been in existence since 2012. Our Organising Meeting gets together every month and we welcome all Newham residents in our campaign.
Newham Save our NHS continues to work together, with other groups and with the community, during this time of Corona virus. Our Organising Committee coninues to meet monthly online. We are all volunteers and we will work like this during the crisis. We want to thank all the carers in the community and all NHS staff for their work during the Corona virus pandemic. If you would like to contact our group about our activities, please use our Facebook page or email newsonhs@gmail.com. We will do our best to respond as quickly as possible.
Photo - Ferha Farooqui
Newham Save our NHS is working on a number of important local and regional issues related to the NHS and health issues. If you would like to know more about the campaigns we are currently involved in, please contact us via our group email newsonhs@gmail.com. We will do our best to respond as quickly as possible.
Members of our NewhamSaveOurNHS Group attended the Parliamentary vote on the Health & Social Care Bill in November with thousands of others! We are concerned that the Bill will further fragment the NHS in England into around 40 Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), open publicly funded services even further to profit-seeking private sector companies, and lead to cuts, closures and rationing of health services.
Newham Save our NHS is pleased to be supporting Lambeth and Southwark 'Patients not Passports' meeting on Thursday 20th May at 7.30pm, calling for an end to the Hostile Environment in the NHS.
Join on Zoom, Thursday 20 May at 7.30
Click here to register
The speakers will be:
Aliya Yule, Migrants Organise
Shazia Munir, GP. Health Inclusion Team
Rosamund Mykura, Newham Save Our NHS
Florence Eshalomi, MP for Vauxhall
Join on Zoom, Thursday 20 May at 7.30
Click here to register
The speakers will be:
Aliya Yule, Migrants Organise
Shazia Munir, GP. Health Inclusion Team
Rosamund Mykura, Newham Save Our NHS
Florence Eshalomi, MP for Vauxhall
Newham Save Our NHS (NEWSON)
'Local Test and Trace' campaign, still crucial during the vaccine rollout..
Monthly briefing April 28th 2021
Not only consistent, but supported by widespread reports of public health principles, we conclude our monthly reports with an analysis of our year-long campaign for Newham Council to get the resources it needs for what is known to work in a pandemic – local test and trace.
Scroll through this website for our previous monthly updates on March 28th2021, February 28th 2021, January 27th 2021, December 28th 2020, November 27th 2020, October 26th 2020, September 26th 2020, August 26th 2020, July 25th 2020, June 25th 2020 and 31st May 2020.
https://newhamsaveournhs.weebly.com/
The good news.
Newham Council, the Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz, Jason Strelitz and the Newham Public Health team, Newham GPs, Barts Health and Newham residents are to be congratulated on their response to the difficult circumstances of the Covid -19 pandemic in one of the most diverse, but deprived London boroughs. Early on and throughout the pandemic, the council rightly identified the need for resources to come to Newham council to fulfil the public health needs of one of London’s large boroughs which has a population of approx. 350,000 people, the size of a city. During the last year the mayor repeatedly spoke out stressing the local requirements. See the BBC clip, with Newham mayor, starting at 30 seconds in
https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews/videos/are-poorer-people-being-helped-enough-to-self-isolate/140286404493440/
Excellent local research by Newham council public health team and the University of East London
‘Insights to understand resident’s thoughts and experiences of Test, Trace, Isolate.
‘What helps, what gets in the way of being able to self isolate?’ (Feb 2021)
This study showed that Newham residents were most concerned about loss of job and financial security, which links to reluctance to get tested. (In Newham 50% of children live in poverty. 27% of employees in the borough are paid under the national statutory minimum wage.)
Newham council called for action:
Job security needs to be improved and all residents should expect to have the living wage.
The national support payment to isolate should be in line with the Furlough scheme (i.e. 80% of salary or £500 whichever is the higher amount). A narrow conversation about eligibility of the support payment is insufficient.
A locally run Self Isolation Support Service would ensure that all positive cases receive regular welfare calls to give advice and link to support (incl. mental health support services, Newham Food Alliance, Befriending Service etc.).
https://www.newham.gov.uk/downloads/file/2855/test-trace-isolate-newham-insight-report-2021
Excellent national research by the TUC backed up Newham council’s earlier call for action.
The TUC report 'Covid-19 and Insecure Work’(April 16th2021) showed insecure jobs doubled the risk of dying from corona virus. But 67% of insecure workers said they got no pay when off sick.
So how can they self-isolate? This lack of provision makes it impossible for poorer areas to keep Corona virus rates low.
The TUC rightly point out that the Covid -19 pandemic is likely to remain. People need to be paid to take time off work if necessary, otherwise testing is not followed through to the next stage which is supported isolation.
www.tuc.org.uk/research-analysis/reports/covid-19-and-insecure-work
The bad news
Problems leading into the Covid-19 pandemic:
Unfortunately, government austerity had already privatized care homes and social care. The NHS in England was also weakened with wasteful top-down reorganization and privatisation. NHS beds were cut, staff shortages abounded, capital investment was refused.
Problems during the pandemic:
Covid-19 appeared in early in 2020. Government took dogmatic decisions on privatization. GPs were not told who had Covid. Delayed lockdowns were not followed by appropriate public health measures to avoid the next lockdown. The new government offered inexperience, secrecy, delay, short-termism, lies, false optimism based on ‘feel good’ stories, corruption around private contracts, plus shameless ignoring of both public health experts and local council leaders who spoke out in support of vulnerable and sick people. English public health expertise went to waste and is still arrogantly ignored. As a result 150,000 people in the UK have died of Covid.
The future
With residents’ successful compliance with the recent 2021 lockdown, the Newham Covid-19 infection rate in the week to 17thApril 2021 is down to 33 cases per 100,000 people. But the worldwide Covid infection rate is the highest ever this week. No one is safe worldwide until we are all safe.If government gives local public health teams the money to run the range of support systems for maintaining life without lockdown, then other structures will manage to isolate people before case rates shoot up. (See details in last line below.)
Conclusion
The money is there, but it is wrongly used eg £37 billion for a whole year already wasted on failed non-NHS Test and Trace.
The NHS is there and staff have done us proud. The NHS is our no 1 asset. Vaccination (funded largely by public money) has worked because the NHS is running it.
If government refuses residents in deprived areas like Newham financial support to isolate, then government condemns these poorer areas to ongoing cycles of rising infections.
This will also mean the NHS remains a Covid-19 service, unable to treat the 5 million people left on NHS waiting lists (April 2021) after one year of Covid-19.
Our campaign for Local Test and Trace has largely failed, but the failure is government policy.
The public health knowledge is there for government in an easy-read one and a half pages:
A ‘Sustainable Suppression’ Strategy for Keeping Society Open. (Feb 2021)
https://www.independentsage.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Strategy-document-Final.pdf
'Local Test and Trace' campaign, still crucial during the vaccine rollout..
Monthly briefing April 28th 2021
Not only consistent, but supported by widespread reports of public health principles, we conclude our monthly reports with an analysis of our year-long campaign for Newham Council to get the resources it needs for what is known to work in a pandemic – local test and trace.
Scroll through this website for our previous monthly updates on March 28th2021, February 28th 2021, January 27th 2021, December 28th 2020, November 27th 2020, October 26th 2020, September 26th 2020, August 26th 2020, July 25th 2020, June 25th 2020 and 31st May 2020.
https://newhamsaveournhs.weebly.com/
The good news.
Newham Council, the Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz, Jason Strelitz and the Newham Public Health team, Newham GPs, Barts Health and Newham residents are to be congratulated on their response to the difficult circumstances of the Covid -19 pandemic in one of the most diverse, but deprived London boroughs. Early on and throughout the pandemic, the council rightly identified the need for resources to come to Newham council to fulfil the public health needs of one of London’s large boroughs which has a population of approx. 350,000 people, the size of a city. During the last year the mayor repeatedly spoke out stressing the local requirements. See the BBC clip, with Newham mayor, starting at 30 seconds in
https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews/videos/are-poorer-people-being-helped-enough-to-self-isolate/140286404493440/
Excellent local research by Newham council public health team and the University of East London
‘Insights to understand resident’s thoughts and experiences of Test, Trace, Isolate.
‘What helps, what gets in the way of being able to self isolate?’ (Feb 2021)
This study showed that Newham residents were most concerned about loss of job and financial security, which links to reluctance to get tested. (In Newham 50% of children live in poverty. 27% of employees in the borough are paid under the national statutory minimum wage.)
Newham council called for action:
Job security needs to be improved and all residents should expect to have the living wage.
The national support payment to isolate should be in line with the Furlough scheme (i.e. 80% of salary or £500 whichever is the higher amount). A narrow conversation about eligibility of the support payment is insufficient.
A locally run Self Isolation Support Service would ensure that all positive cases receive regular welfare calls to give advice and link to support (incl. mental health support services, Newham Food Alliance, Befriending Service etc.).
https://www.newham.gov.uk/downloads/file/2855/test-trace-isolate-newham-insight-report-2021
Excellent national research by the TUC backed up Newham council’s earlier call for action.
The TUC report 'Covid-19 and Insecure Work’(April 16th2021) showed insecure jobs doubled the risk of dying from corona virus. But 67% of insecure workers said they got no pay when off sick.
So how can they self-isolate? This lack of provision makes it impossible for poorer areas to keep Corona virus rates low.
The TUC rightly point out that the Covid -19 pandemic is likely to remain. People need to be paid to take time off work if necessary, otherwise testing is not followed through to the next stage which is supported isolation.
www.tuc.org.uk/research-analysis/reports/covid-19-and-insecure-work
The bad news
Problems leading into the Covid-19 pandemic:
Unfortunately, government austerity had already privatized care homes and social care. The NHS in England was also weakened with wasteful top-down reorganization and privatisation. NHS beds were cut, staff shortages abounded, capital investment was refused.
Problems during the pandemic:
Covid-19 appeared in early in 2020. Government took dogmatic decisions on privatization. GPs were not told who had Covid. Delayed lockdowns were not followed by appropriate public health measures to avoid the next lockdown. The new government offered inexperience, secrecy, delay, short-termism, lies, false optimism based on ‘feel good’ stories, corruption around private contracts, plus shameless ignoring of both public health experts and local council leaders who spoke out in support of vulnerable and sick people. English public health expertise went to waste and is still arrogantly ignored. As a result 150,000 people in the UK have died of Covid.
The future
With residents’ successful compliance with the recent 2021 lockdown, the Newham Covid-19 infection rate in the week to 17thApril 2021 is down to 33 cases per 100,000 people. But the worldwide Covid infection rate is the highest ever this week. No one is safe worldwide until we are all safe.If government gives local public health teams the money to run the range of support systems for maintaining life without lockdown, then other structures will manage to isolate people before case rates shoot up. (See details in last line below.)
Conclusion
The money is there, but it is wrongly used eg £37 billion for a whole year already wasted on failed non-NHS Test and Trace.
The NHS is there and staff have done us proud. The NHS is our no 1 asset. Vaccination (funded largely by public money) has worked because the NHS is running it.
If government refuses residents in deprived areas like Newham financial support to isolate, then government condemns these poorer areas to ongoing cycles of rising infections.
This will also mean the NHS remains a Covid-19 service, unable to treat the 5 million people left on NHS waiting lists (April 2021) after one year of Covid-19.
Our campaign for Local Test and Trace has largely failed, but the failure is government policy.
The public health knowledge is there for government in an easy-read one and a half pages:
A ‘Sustainable Suppression’ Strategy for Keeping Society Open. (Feb 2021)
https://www.independentsage.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Strategy-document-Final.pdf
Stop the corporate takeover of GP surgeries -
Invitation to a Zoom meeting 8 April, 7pm
In February, campaigners discovered that Operose Health, a subsidiary of the US health insurance giant, the Centene Corporation, had taken over 49 GP surgery sites in London and the South East, including six in Newham.
GP surgeries are now a key battleground in the ongoing privatisation of the NHS.
Hear from local and national campaigners about how this has happened and how it links in with wider privatisation. Ask questions and discuss what action we can take.
Thursday 8th April, 7pm
Register for the meeting: https://bit.ly/3sEwSAv
More on the situation in Newham: https://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/health/newham-surgeries-sale-warning-from-campaigners-7812854
National petition: https://weownit.org.uk/act-now/stop-sell-49-gp-practices
Invitation to a Zoom meeting 8 April, 7pm
In February, campaigners discovered that Operose Health, a subsidiary of the US health insurance giant, the Centene Corporation, had taken over 49 GP surgery sites in London and the South East, including six in Newham.
GP surgeries are now a key battleground in the ongoing privatisation of the NHS.
Hear from local and national campaigners about how this has happened and how it links in with wider privatisation. Ask questions and discuss what action we can take.
Thursday 8th April, 7pm
Register for the meeting: https://bit.ly/3sEwSAv
More on the situation in Newham: https://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/health/newham-surgeries-sale-warning-from-campaigners-7812854
National petition: https://weownit.org.uk/act-now/stop-sell-49-gp-practices
Newham Save Our NHS (NEWSON)
'Local Test and Trace' campaign, March 28th 2021.
This is the eleventh monthly briefing from Newham Save our NHS on our campaign for 'Local test and Trace.'
Next month will be the last in this series, concluding our year-long, remarkably consistent campaign for our council to get the resources it needs for what is known to work – local test and trace.
Scroll through this website for our previous monthly updates on February 28th 2021, January 27th 2021, December 28th 2020, November 27th 2020, October 26th 2020, September 26th 2020, August 26th 2020, July 25th 2020, June 25th 2020 and 31st May 2020.
Good news that in Newham in the week until the 20th March 2021 positive cases of Covid-19 had fallen to 40 per 100,000 people.
Nationally cases are flat and positivity rates are falling.
There have been 126,000 deaths, many of which could have been avoided if Government listened to advice.
The virus is different now with the English variant B117 virus being much more infectious than in the first lockdown. The South African variant is in the UK and it may evade vaccines. So why are people in Newham still held back by lack of funds to help us to self -isolate if we have Covid-19, or if we have been in touch with Covid-19 ?
Lack of trust with data delay.
Government has the ‘Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies’ (SAGE) to advise on pandemic plans for Covid-19. Yet SAGE minutes (notes) on their meetings are published on average 49 days after the meeting, said a damning report (15th March 2021) by a committee of MPs. Volunteer scientists from the ‘Independent SAGE’ group have fortunately filled the gap, sharing data publicly, at their weekly meeting. https://www.independentsage.org/
National Test and Trace is still not working
Mirroring concerns expressed consistently by Newham Council, a parliament committee highlighted errors (10th March 2021) that local councils and the NHS GPs ‘were not more directly involved in testing and tracing at the outset, given their existing networks, experience and expertise.’ Even now, one year on from the pandemic, there is ‘no evidence’ to show that the government’s privatised £22billion Test and Trace programme in England (which is run by the health Minister’s friend Didi Harding) has contributed to a fall in infections.
The problem is not going to the pub; it is breaking transmission of infection.
A missing pillar of support for ending lockdown safely during a vaccine rollout is local test, trace and isolate, which has completely dropped off the government radar this month. Newham has been let down by this all year and the unnecessary loss of life continues, at a reduced rate.
Vaccine rollout
The prime minister loves two things this month, firstly the vaccine rollout which has been a tremendous success, because our GPs and the NHS are running it and not a government crony like Dido Harding. By 26th March 2021 the Newham vaccination centre at Excel, run by Barts NHS Trust had vaccinated 50,000 people, plus more at Newham Hospital. Newham GPs continue to offer first and second doses. Well done NHS.
Vaccine passport
Having previously said no to this, government now talks it up as a feel-good factor for going to busy settings, instead of addressing important public health basics like supported isolation and backwards contact tracing. It may work for travelling abroad, but ethical issues mean it is not right to require an identity card with health status for daily life. This leads to discrimination, and there will always be groups, eg pregnant women, who may be advised not to have the vaccine. We do not even know how long vaccine immunity lasts. A so-called ’vaccine passport’ can also give a false sense of security in risky settings.
‘Roadmap’
Secondly, the prime minister loves his ‘Roadmap’ which may be turning in to a one-way street with full-speed ahead. But it was actually designed to have five-week gaps to give scientists time to collect data and see the trends. Government does not learn and easily forgets how easily things go wrong, yet the return of silly, disrespectful jokes, loose words and conflicting messages about working at home or going back to the office, encourages earlier mixing. This confusion can actually increase anxiety, as well as infections.
Warning
Meanwhile, England’s chief medical officer warns (10th March 2021) that it is ‘completely unrealistic to pretend that this just goes away and there will be no more deaths.’ Covid-19 infections of children in years 7-11 in England are reported (26th March 2021) by the Office for National Statistics. (ONS) Numbers of children in school years 7 to 11 in England testing positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) increased in the week ending 20 March 2021. This increase may be related to having more children in schools, without the government bothering to improve the schools’ basic public health requirements of more space and smaller classes.
Summary
The Newham public has been great at following the rules and has succeeded in their third lockdown to lower Covid-19 infections from huge levels. Government now needs to step up to the mark and give Newham Council the resources they need. Our local public health teams can then address vaccine hesitancy by listening and talking to people locally, not by national ‘nudges’ such as a vaccine passport, alongside the raft of public health measures discussed above. If you would like to take part in the on-line survey from Keep Our NHS Public (KONP) on the personal impact of the pandemic on our health, work and wellbeing you can take part here.
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/peoplescovidinquiry
'Local Test and Trace' campaign, March 28th 2021.
This is the eleventh monthly briefing from Newham Save our NHS on our campaign for 'Local test and Trace.'
Next month will be the last in this series, concluding our year-long, remarkably consistent campaign for our council to get the resources it needs for what is known to work – local test and trace.
Scroll through this website for our previous monthly updates on February 28th 2021, January 27th 2021, December 28th 2020, November 27th 2020, October 26th 2020, September 26th 2020, August 26th 2020, July 25th 2020, June 25th 2020 and 31st May 2020.
Good news that in Newham in the week until the 20th March 2021 positive cases of Covid-19 had fallen to 40 per 100,000 people.
Nationally cases are flat and positivity rates are falling.
There have been 126,000 deaths, many of which could have been avoided if Government listened to advice.
The virus is different now with the English variant B117 virus being much more infectious than in the first lockdown. The South African variant is in the UK and it may evade vaccines. So why are people in Newham still held back by lack of funds to help us to self -isolate if we have Covid-19, or if we have been in touch with Covid-19 ?
Lack of trust with data delay.
Government has the ‘Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies’ (SAGE) to advise on pandemic plans for Covid-19. Yet SAGE minutes (notes) on their meetings are published on average 49 days after the meeting, said a damning report (15th March 2021) by a committee of MPs. Volunteer scientists from the ‘Independent SAGE’ group have fortunately filled the gap, sharing data publicly, at their weekly meeting. https://www.independentsage.org/
National Test and Trace is still not working
Mirroring concerns expressed consistently by Newham Council, a parliament committee highlighted errors (10th March 2021) that local councils and the NHS GPs ‘were not more directly involved in testing and tracing at the outset, given their existing networks, experience and expertise.’ Even now, one year on from the pandemic, there is ‘no evidence’ to show that the government’s privatised £22billion Test and Trace programme in England (which is run by the health Minister’s friend Didi Harding) has contributed to a fall in infections.
The problem is not going to the pub; it is breaking transmission of infection.
A missing pillar of support for ending lockdown safely during a vaccine rollout is local test, trace and isolate, which has completely dropped off the government radar this month. Newham has been let down by this all year and the unnecessary loss of life continues, at a reduced rate.
Vaccine rollout
The prime minister loves two things this month, firstly the vaccine rollout which has been a tremendous success, because our GPs and the NHS are running it and not a government crony like Dido Harding. By 26th March 2021 the Newham vaccination centre at Excel, run by Barts NHS Trust had vaccinated 50,000 people, plus more at Newham Hospital. Newham GPs continue to offer first and second doses. Well done NHS.
Vaccine passport
Having previously said no to this, government now talks it up as a feel-good factor for going to busy settings, instead of addressing important public health basics like supported isolation and backwards contact tracing. It may work for travelling abroad, but ethical issues mean it is not right to require an identity card with health status for daily life. This leads to discrimination, and there will always be groups, eg pregnant women, who may be advised not to have the vaccine. We do not even know how long vaccine immunity lasts. A so-called ’vaccine passport’ can also give a false sense of security in risky settings.
‘Roadmap’
Secondly, the prime minister loves his ‘Roadmap’ which may be turning in to a one-way street with full-speed ahead. But it was actually designed to have five-week gaps to give scientists time to collect data and see the trends. Government does not learn and easily forgets how easily things go wrong, yet the return of silly, disrespectful jokes, loose words and conflicting messages about working at home or going back to the office, encourages earlier mixing. This confusion can actually increase anxiety, as well as infections.
Warning
Meanwhile, England’s chief medical officer warns (10th March 2021) that it is ‘completely unrealistic to pretend that this just goes away and there will be no more deaths.’ Covid-19 infections of children in years 7-11 in England are reported (26th March 2021) by the Office for National Statistics. (ONS) Numbers of children in school years 7 to 11 in England testing positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) increased in the week ending 20 March 2021. This increase may be related to having more children in schools, without the government bothering to improve the schools’ basic public health requirements of more space and smaller classes.
Summary
The Newham public has been great at following the rules and has succeeded in their third lockdown to lower Covid-19 infections from huge levels. Government now needs to step up to the mark and give Newham Council the resources they need. Our local public health teams can then address vaccine hesitancy by listening and talking to people locally, not by national ‘nudges’ such as a vaccine passport, alongside the raft of public health measures discussed above. If you would like to take part in the on-line survey from Keep Our NHS Public (KONP) on the personal impact of the pandemic on our health, work and wellbeing you can take part here.
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/peoplescovidinquiry
'Cease, Opt-out, Reduce.' How government plans evolved, to make a more Hostile Environment in the NHS.
Welcome to our long read, which has been highlighted on the Keep Our NHS public website today, March 18th 2021.
https://keepournhspublic.com/identity-checking-nhs-four-years-on/
March 18th 2021: Newham Save our NHS evaluates a Dept of Health report revealed by a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. This report has not yet been found on the government website. It is in D o H FOI-1209340.
'Department of Health Cost Recovery ID Checking Pilot'
Final Report December 2017 Ipsos Public Affairs'
1.Introduction
2. Ten omissions from the 'Department of Health Cost Recovery ID Checking Pilot' December 2017
3. An even more Hostile Environment in the NHS four years on.
4. Conclusion. What next?
5. Notes
Introduction
Institutional racism
Institutional racism is being embedded in the NHS 'Hostile Environment' say NHS campaigners, arising from the government obsession to find and harass patients who it considers not 'ordinarily resident.' No wonder, says Newham Save Our NHS, that our Freedom of Information (FOI) request was blocked when we wanted to read the Dec 2017 report, which is the second of two Ipsos Dept of Health (DoH) reports in 2017 on the same topic.
The earlier January 2017 report had already been published and recommended,
" ... high-migrant areas may provide the largest gains in the short-term."
See note 1 at the end of this report for the two separate (DoH) 2017 reports on the same topic.
Secrecy from Dept of Health and NHS Trusts.
We are not aware that the D of Health has published the Dec 2017 report except as a FOI response, even now in 2021. Access to this Dec 2017 report was refused by the UK Dept of Health (DoH) despite repeated FOI requests to the DoH from NHS campaigners between 2018 and 2020. The answer to the 2018 FOI came three weeks after a complaint to the Information Commissioner and coverage on the Keep our NHS Public (KONP) website in August 2020
https://keepournhspublic.com/patient-identity-checking-pilot-suppressed/
Windrush Timing of the 2017 NHS ID checking pilot
The pilot was at the same time as 'Hostile Environment' Windrush victims in England were being harassed, detained without trial, or even like innocent victim, Paulette Wilson, sent in October 2017 to the Deportation Centre at Heathrow.
Warning posters about patient charging appeared in NHS Hospitals in 2017.
This DoH 'ID Checking Pilot' ran for 3 months from July/August 2107,
This pilot took place seven months after the precursor report: 'Overseas visitor and migrant NHS cost recovery evaluation.' Jan 2017 IPSOS MORI
Shocking priorities of the Dec. 2017 pilot (page 17.) (Our ABC added for clarity.)
A " ... patients would begin to accept being asked to provide two forms of ID and that the process would be normalised amongst both patients and staff."
B. " ... should increase the number of ceased treatments ..."
C. " ... they could opt out of the treatment if they do not wish to pay."
D. " ... with more ceased treatments there will be reduced demand on services."
E. " expected to lead to increased numbers of visitors and migrants charged for medical care. "
F. " ... increase the monetary value of medical costs being recovered by the NHS.."
Structure of the ID checking NHS pilot
The above consequences A-F were designed to be achieved by the following:
Each of 18 (eight in London) unnamed NHS trusts in the pilot was to run two 'pilot service lines' one of which was to be Maternity. Each trust was to check to the identity (photo ID) and current residency status (proof of address) of patients in those two 'pilot service lines.'
Newham save Our NHS discovered in 2018, after repeatedly asking questions in 2018 at Barts Board meetings. that Barts NHS Trust, which runs Newham Hospital, was one of these anonymous trusts, which had secretly implemented the pilot in Newham Hospital Maternity.
Such was the 'normalisation', Barts even carried on asking pregnant women for ID when the pilot ended. This is despite the 2017 pilot describing as a possible unintended consequence, (page 17) ' ...people may have been deterred from seeking the care they needed, leading to worsened public health outcomes.'
Propaganda in future is recommended in the 2017 report 'ID checks could only be successful if they were normalised amongst patients and staff. To achieve this there would need to be a serious programme of communication which included drawing on national media outlets to build general awareness.' (page 93)
2. Ten omissions from the 'Department of Health Cost Recovery ID Checking Pilot' December 2017
1. The misleading title omits to mention it is about NHS patient charging and the Hostile Environment. Despite the title emphasising 'Cost Recovery,'' the report does not include information on 'costs' recovered by the NHS.
2. Patients were misled. There is no mention in the 172 pages of these NHS patients being invited to take part in the 2017 NHS Pilot. It appears to have been inflicted on them, but there is no evidence that they could, or did, opt out of this experiment. There is no evidence that patients were told that 'cease' 'opt-out' and 'reduce' (page 17) were the intended consequences of the pilot.
3. Charging Regulation ignored. The report omits to say that asking patients for ID is not part of the regulations on patient charging; see the parliamentary reply to a written question from Lyn Brown MP (West Ham), described in the note at end of page. Despite ID not being required under the NHS patient charging regulations, thousands of NHS patients were sent letters and required to bring ID.
4. Why was the emphasis on maternity units, with all Trusts in the 2017 pilot obliged to carry out ID checks there? This is not explained.
5. The patient experience is not a parameter of the report.
6. Ethnicity is not mentioned.
7. Health inequality is not mentioned.
8. Equality impact assessment is not mentioned.
9. Gender is not mentioned despite the strong emphasis on Maternity. Paternity is not an issue. No men are asked for ID, or invoiced or charged when their baby is born in hospital. Women and / or mothers can be charged for NHS pregnancy care and for childbirth in an NHS Hospital.
10. No analysis is given on data in the report showing that one location of ID checking (maternity) had a huge impact on the numbers charged at one unamed Trust (Trust 9) compared to ID checking at the same trust (Trust 9) in a different location (Renal.) Trust 9's ID checking was carried out on over 100% more patients in Renal ID checking than in Maternity ID checking. But Renal invoiced less than 10% of the numbers that maternity invoiced in the same trust .
3. An even more Hostile Environment in the NHS four years on.
Three new methods.
Or, how to make more money from NHS patient charging by wide initial screening, followed by targetted invoicing of fewer patients for more expensive procedures.
In 2017 Trusts encouraged 'normalisation' of NHS patient charging by suggesting they were laboriously asking every patient at reception the 12 month trigger question about length of time lived in the UK. In the 2017 pilot 'All patients were to be asked for their ID to avoid discrimination.' (page 14) This is not proof of being 'ordinarily resident,' but could lead to investigation by NHS staff, of that patient's entitlement to free care. The 2017 report recommends (page 92) that in order to catch ex-pats ineligible for free NHS care, the ‘12 months question’ would need to continue to be asked alongside the ID check. It is not known if targetting of ex-pats continues.
Three new methods, not discussed in the 2017 report, are in use by 2020 in Barts NHS Trust. For a. and b. Please see also Barts Board Papers July 2020 (page 194-200) Overseas Visitors Annual Report
https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n14532.pdf&ver=25775
a. Advance contact-tracing by phone. See also Note 3 on 'MESH.'
'Efficient' large scale (but of unknown size) DoH supplied data-crunching methods linked to the NHS spine and to the Home Office allow targetted names on the huge NHS hospital waiting lists to be contact-traced, in advance by phone.
Targetted (How? by racial profiling? by post-code? by name?) names are pro-actively interrogated verbally by phone in advance before the patient sets foot in the hospital. This 'early engagement' by phone is found to provide more data than writing letters telling people to bring ID.
b. Transfer of 'Burden of proof' from the Trust's responsibility to make reasonable efforts to find out who is 'ordinarily resident,' given instead to the individual prospective patient to 'prove' entitlement to free care in advance. This patient trap is used despite the Barts Trust 2017 ID checking pilot in Newham hospital maternity pilot showing 29% of patients in the 2017 pilot did not have any ID. Nor is any ID a requirement of the regulations. With the more serious national examples of Windrush victims who were subjected to 'Burden of proof 'it is a a sad indictment and a more hostile development for this to have leaked down from the Home Office into our NHS hospitals.
House of commons. Joint committee on Human Rights, Windrush generation Detention Report 27th June2018
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt201719/jtselect/jtrights/1034/1034.pdf
c. The Secretary of State for Health has approved the denial of free NHS care by means of speculative invoicing for NHS care of patients for whom the Trust has no evidence to refuse them free care, This is described as both 'normal practice' and 'Unfortunately, that may mean that invoices are sometimes sent to patients who are eligible for free care.'
Please see DoH ministerial correspondence 9th March 2020 : DE-1206542 to Dr Jackie Applebee.
Barts Trust for example in 2018-2019 invoiced 290 patients for maternity care at Newham Hospital even though they were entitled to free care.
4. Conclusion. What next?
The NHS has only been reporting its workforce race inequality for six years. But the NHS has never measured its patient race inequality. This must be reported. The 'Department of Health Cost Recovery ID Checking Pilot' Final Report December 2017 continued to ignore the patient experience, whilst reinforcing structural, built-in racism in the NHS.
Things are moving in response to Covid-19 exposure of health inequality, of which the NHS Hostile Environment is part. The English NHS has a new research body, the NHS 'Race and Health Observatory.' Local councils' Joint Health Scrutiny Committee in north-east London have said ( 5thMarch 2020) that NHS patient charging should be abandoned. All English council health scrutiny committees should be approached to do the same. Questions should be asked at all NHS Trust Boards, whether or not they are in high migrant areas, because NHS Trusts may wrongly exclude patients euphemistically named as 'Overseas Visitor' as nothing to do with institutional racism in the NHS. Questions need to be asked at all NHS Trust AGMs.
The NHS Race And Health Observatory has been approached by Newham Save Our NHS to examine the devastating impact of NHS patient charging. The Observatory must examine the impact of, for example in Barts NHS Trust, the 'Cease, Opt-out, Reduce' aims being now achieved firstly by phone-call interrogation of unknown numbers of targetted waiting-list patients and secondly, how selective invoicing makes more money from NHS patient charging, by invoicing fewer patients for more expensive procedures.
Note 1. NHS Hostile Environment. Patient charging
IPSOS published two reports in 2017 for the D o H
A. January 2017 report is not the main subject of this analysis by health campaigners.
'Overseas visitor and migrant NHS cost recovery evaluation' January 2017
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-overseas-visitor-and-migrant-nhs-cost-recovery
This is on the government website.
Report by the market research company Ipsos MORI evaluating the overseas visitor and migrant NHS cost recovery programme.
This has two separate booklets, a main report (86 pages)and appendices (15 pages.)page 69 recommendation in Jan 2017:"Senior-level buy-in continues to present a barrier to OVMs in driving process and behaviour change. Renewed efforts are likely to be required by DH, NHS England, NHS Improvement and other arms-length bodies to emphasise the importance of cost recovery. Focussing efforts on Trusts in high visitor or high-migrant areas may provide the largest gains in the short-term." Appendices (15 pages) : Overseas Visitor and Migrant NHS Cost Recovery Programme Formative Evaluation – Appendices to final report Prepared for the Department of Health by Ipsos MORI Jan 2017
B. December 2017 Report is the main subject of this analysis by health campaigners.
'Department of Health Cost Recovery ID Checking Pilot' Final Report December 2017 Ipsos Public Affairs'"2017 Ipsos. This 172 page report has not yet been found on the government D o H website.It is in Department of Health (DoH) Freedom of information FOI-1209340 24th August 2020.
Note 2 ID checking is not part of the NHS patient charging regulations. UK Parliament Written Questions and Answers https://members.parliament.uk/member/1583/writtenquestions?page=38#expand-1109488
"Q Asked by Lyn Brown (West Ham) Asked on: 03 April 2019 Department of Health and Social Care Maternity Services: Proof of Identity Commons 240539 To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2019 to Question 233538 on Maternity Services: Proof of Identity, what information his Department holds on whether people have (a) delayed seeking or (b) been deterred from seeking NHS services as a result of identification checking.
A. Answered by Stephen Hammond on 11th April 2019. National Health Service staff do not have a legal obligation to check a patient’s identification and asking for, or providing, ID is not a requirement of the Charging Regulations. The pilot that took place between May and October 2017, of which 19 trusts participated in trialled the effectiveness of asking for two forms of identification from patients in improving the identification of chargeable patients. The pilot considered, amongst other things, whether requesting two forms of identity deterred or prevented patients who did not have proof of identity documents but were entitled to NHS services free of charge from accessing healthcare.
A few cases were highlighted where overseas patients may have been deterred from accessing treatment due to the ID checking, although analysis of the available data did not show adverse impacts on cancellation and did not attend rates. The Department does not hold any other information on whether people have delayed or deterred from seeking NHS services and there has been no further work on identification pilots undertaken by the Department."
Note 3.Identifying overseas visitors: User guide to the Message Exchange for Social Care & Health (MESH) August 2019.
https://improvement.nhs.uk/documents/5923/OVM_MESH_user_guide.pdf
This 16 page guide takes Overseas Visitors Managers (OVMs) click by click through making searches via the spine portal (Spine supports the IT infrastructure for health and social care in England, joining together over 23,000 healthcare IT systems in 20,500 organisations. It shares the Electronic Prescription Service, Summary Care Record and the e-Referral Service.)
The MESH guide offers:
'proactive ID of visitors in advance'
'Enhances upfront charging and waiting list reductions'
'submitting thousands of NHS numbers and dates of births takes minutes'
'Increases ID and posssible income'
'bulk visitor and migration information'
OVMs can then get an excel daily report up to a max of 5000 records.
Welcome to our long read, which has been highlighted on the Keep Our NHS public website today, March 18th 2021.
https://keepournhspublic.com/identity-checking-nhs-four-years-on/
March 18th 2021: Newham Save our NHS evaluates a Dept of Health report revealed by a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. This report has not yet been found on the government website. It is in D o H FOI-1209340.
'Department of Health Cost Recovery ID Checking Pilot'
Final Report December 2017 Ipsos Public Affairs'
1.Introduction
2. Ten omissions from the 'Department of Health Cost Recovery ID Checking Pilot' December 2017
3. An even more Hostile Environment in the NHS four years on.
4. Conclusion. What next?
5. Notes
Introduction
Institutional racism
Institutional racism is being embedded in the NHS 'Hostile Environment' say NHS campaigners, arising from the government obsession to find and harass patients who it considers not 'ordinarily resident.' No wonder, says Newham Save Our NHS, that our Freedom of Information (FOI) request was blocked when we wanted to read the Dec 2017 report, which is the second of two Ipsos Dept of Health (DoH) reports in 2017 on the same topic.
The earlier January 2017 report had already been published and recommended,
" ... high-migrant areas may provide the largest gains in the short-term."
See note 1 at the end of this report for the two separate (DoH) 2017 reports on the same topic.
Secrecy from Dept of Health and NHS Trusts.
We are not aware that the D of Health has published the Dec 2017 report except as a FOI response, even now in 2021. Access to this Dec 2017 report was refused by the UK Dept of Health (DoH) despite repeated FOI requests to the DoH from NHS campaigners between 2018 and 2020. The answer to the 2018 FOI came three weeks after a complaint to the Information Commissioner and coverage on the Keep our NHS Public (KONP) website in August 2020
https://keepournhspublic.com/patient-identity-checking-pilot-suppressed/
Windrush Timing of the 2017 NHS ID checking pilot
The pilot was at the same time as 'Hostile Environment' Windrush victims in England were being harassed, detained without trial, or even like innocent victim, Paulette Wilson, sent in October 2017 to the Deportation Centre at Heathrow.
Warning posters about patient charging appeared in NHS Hospitals in 2017.
This DoH 'ID Checking Pilot' ran for 3 months from July/August 2107,
This pilot took place seven months after the precursor report: 'Overseas visitor and migrant NHS cost recovery evaluation.' Jan 2017 IPSOS MORI
Shocking priorities of the Dec. 2017 pilot (page 17.) (Our ABC added for clarity.)
A " ... patients would begin to accept being asked to provide two forms of ID and that the process would be normalised amongst both patients and staff."
B. " ... should increase the number of ceased treatments ..."
C. " ... they could opt out of the treatment if they do not wish to pay."
D. " ... with more ceased treatments there will be reduced demand on services."
E. " expected to lead to increased numbers of visitors and migrants charged for medical care. "
F. " ... increase the monetary value of medical costs being recovered by the NHS.."
Structure of the ID checking NHS pilot
The above consequences A-F were designed to be achieved by the following:
Each of 18 (eight in London) unnamed NHS trusts in the pilot was to run two 'pilot service lines' one of which was to be Maternity. Each trust was to check to the identity (photo ID) and current residency status (proof of address) of patients in those two 'pilot service lines.'
Newham save Our NHS discovered in 2018, after repeatedly asking questions in 2018 at Barts Board meetings. that Barts NHS Trust, which runs Newham Hospital, was one of these anonymous trusts, which had secretly implemented the pilot in Newham Hospital Maternity.
Such was the 'normalisation', Barts even carried on asking pregnant women for ID when the pilot ended. This is despite the 2017 pilot describing as a possible unintended consequence, (page 17) ' ...people may have been deterred from seeking the care they needed, leading to worsened public health outcomes.'
Propaganda in future is recommended in the 2017 report 'ID checks could only be successful if they were normalised amongst patients and staff. To achieve this there would need to be a serious programme of communication which included drawing on national media outlets to build general awareness.' (page 93)
2. Ten omissions from the 'Department of Health Cost Recovery ID Checking Pilot' December 2017
1. The misleading title omits to mention it is about NHS patient charging and the Hostile Environment. Despite the title emphasising 'Cost Recovery,'' the report does not include information on 'costs' recovered by the NHS.
2. Patients were misled. There is no mention in the 172 pages of these NHS patients being invited to take part in the 2017 NHS Pilot. It appears to have been inflicted on them, but there is no evidence that they could, or did, opt out of this experiment. There is no evidence that patients were told that 'cease' 'opt-out' and 'reduce' (page 17) were the intended consequences of the pilot.
3. Charging Regulation ignored. The report omits to say that asking patients for ID is not part of the regulations on patient charging; see the parliamentary reply to a written question from Lyn Brown MP (West Ham), described in the note at end of page. Despite ID not being required under the NHS patient charging regulations, thousands of NHS patients were sent letters and required to bring ID.
4. Why was the emphasis on maternity units, with all Trusts in the 2017 pilot obliged to carry out ID checks there? This is not explained.
5. The patient experience is not a parameter of the report.
6. Ethnicity is not mentioned.
7. Health inequality is not mentioned.
8. Equality impact assessment is not mentioned.
9. Gender is not mentioned despite the strong emphasis on Maternity. Paternity is not an issue. No men are asked for ID, or invoiced or charged when their baby is born in hospital. Women and / or mothers can be charged for NHS pregnancy care and for childbirth in an NHS Hospital.
10. No analysis is given on data in the report showing that one location of ID checking (maternity) had a huge impact on the numbers charged at one unamed Trust (Trust 9) compared to ID checking at the same trust (Trust 9) in a different location (Renal.) Trust 9's ID checking was carried out on over 100% more patients in Renal ID checking than in Maternity ID checking. But Renal invoiced less than 10% of the numbers that maternity invoiced in the same trust .
3. An even more Hostile Environment in the NHS four years on.
Three new methods.
Or, how to make more money from NHS patient charging by wide initial screening, followed by targetted invoicing of fewer patients for more expensive procedures.
In 2017 Trusts encouraged 'normalisation' of NHS patient charging by suggesting they were laboriously asking every patient at reception the 12 month trigger question about length of time lived in the UK. In the 2017 pilot 'All patients were to be asked for their ID to avoid discrimination.' (page 14) This is not proof of being 'ordinarily resident,' but could lead to investigation by NHS staff, of that patient's entitlement to free care. The 2017 report recommends (page 92) that in order to catch ex-pats ineligible for free NHS care, the ‘12 months question’ would need to continue to be asked alongside the ID check. It is not known if targetting of ex-pats continues.
Three new methods, not discussed in the 2017 report, are in use by 2020 in Barts NHS Trust. For a. and b. Please see also Barts Board Papers July 2020 (page 194-200) Overseas Visitors Annual Report
https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n14532.pdf&ver=25775
a. Advance contact-tracing by phone. See also Note 3 on 'MESH.'
'Efficient' large scale (but of unknown size) DoH supplied data-crunching methods linked to the NHS spine and to the Home Office allow targetted names on the huge NHS hospital waiting lists to be contact-traced, in advance by phone.
Targetted (How? by racial profiling? by post-code? by name?) names are pro-actively interrogated verbally by phone in advance before the patient sets foot in the hospital. This 'early engagement' by phone is found to provide more data than writing letters telling people to bring ID.
b. Transfer of 'Burden of proof' from the Trust's responsibility to make reasonable efforts to find out who is 'ordinarily resident,' given instead to the individual prospective patient to 'prove' entitlement to free care in advance. This patient trap is used despite the Barts Trust 2017 ID checking pilot in Newham hospital maternity pilot showing 29% of patients in the 2017 pilot did not have any ID. Nor is any ID a requirement of the regulations. With the more serious national examples of Windrush victims who were subjected to 'Burden of proof 'it is a a sad indictment and a more hostile development for this to have leaked down from the Home Office into our NHS hospitals.
House of commons. Joint committee on Human Rights, Windrush generation Detention Report 27th June2018
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt201719/jtselect/jtrights/1034/1034.pdf
c. The Secretary of State for Health has approved the denial of free NHS care by means of speculative invoicing for NHS care of patients for whom the Trust has no evidence to refuse them free care, This is described as both 'normal practice' and 'Unfortunately, that may mean that invoices are sometimes sent to patients who are eligible for free care.'
Please see DoH ministerial correspondence 9th March 2020 : DE-1206542 to Dr Jackie Applebee.
Barts Trust for example in 2018-2019 invoiced 290 patients for maternity care at Newham Hospital even though they were entitled to free care.
4. Conclusion. What next?
The NHS has only been reporting its workforce race inequality for six years. But the NHS has never measured its patient race inequality. This must be reported. The 'Department of Health Cost Recovery ID Checking Pilot' Final Report December 2017 continued to ignore the patient experience, whilst reinforcing structural, built-in racism in the NHS.
Things are moving in response to Covid-19 exposure of health inequality, of which the NHS Hostile Environment is part. The English NHS has a new research body, the NHS 'Race and Health Observatory.' Local councils' Joint Health Scrutiny Committee in north-east London have said ( 5thMarch 2020) that NHS patient charging should be abandoned. All English council health scrutiny committees should be approached to do the same. Questions should be asked at all NHS Trust Boards, whether or not they are in high migrant areas, because NHS Trusts may wrongly exclude patients euphemistically named as 'Overseas Visitor' as nothing to do with institutional racism in the NHS. Questions need to be asked at all NHS Trust AGMs.
The NHS Race And Health Observatory has been approached by Newham Save Our NHS to examine the devastating impact of NHS patient charging. The Observatory must examine the impact of, for example in Barts NHS Trust, the 'Cease, Opt-out, Reduce' aims being now achieved firstly by phone-call interrogation of unknown numbers of targetted waiting-list patients and secondly, how selective invoicing makes more money from NHS patient charging, by invoicing fewer patients for more expensive procedures.
Note 1. NHS Hostile Environment. Patient charging
IPSOS published two reports in 2017 for the D o H
A. January 2017 report is not the main subject of this analysis by health campaigners.
'Overseas visitor and migrant NHS cost recovery evaluation' January 2017
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-overseas-visitor-and-migrant-nhs-cost-recovery
This is on the government website.
Report by the market research company Ipsos MORI evaluating the overseas visitor and migrant NHS cost recovery programme.
This has two separate booklets, a main report (86 pages)and appendices (15 pages.)page 69 recommendation in Jan 2017:"Senior-level buy-in continues to present a barrier to OVMs in driving process and behaviour change. Renewed efforts are likely to be required by DH, NHS England, NHS Improvement and other arms-length bodies to emphasise the importance of cost recovery. Focussing efforts on Trusts in high visitor or high-migrant areas may provide the largest gains in the short-term." Appendices (15 pages) : Overseas Visitor and Migrant NHS Cost Recovery Programme Formative Evaluation – Appendices to final report Prepared for the Department of Health by Ipsos MORI Jan 2017
B. December 2017 Report is the main subject of this analysis by health campaigners.
'Department of Health Cost Recovery ID Checking Pilot' Final Report December 2017 Ipsos Public Affairs'"2017 Ipsos. This 172 page report has not yet been found on the government D o H website.It is in Department of Health (DoH) Freedom of information FOI-1209340 24th August 2020.
Note 2 ID checking is not part of the NHS patient charging regulations. UK Parliament Written Questions and Answers https://members.parliament.uk/member/1583/writtenquestions?page=38#expand-1109488
"Q Asked by Lyn Brown (West Ham) Asked on: 03 April 2019 Department of Health and Social Care Maternity Services: Proof of Identity Commons 240539 To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2019 to Question 233538 on Maternity Services: Proof of Identity, what information his Department holds on whether people have (a) delayed seeking or (b) been deterred from seeking NHS services as a result of identification checking.
A. Answered by Stephen Hammond on 11th April 2019. National Health Service staff do not have a legal obligation to check a patient’s identification and asking for, or providing, ID is not a requirement of the Charging Regulations. The pilot that took place between May and October 2017, of which 19 trusts participated in trialled the effectiveness of asking for two forms of identification from patients in improving the identification of chargeable patients. The pilot considered, amongst other things, whether requesting two forms of identity deterred or prevented patients who did not have proof of identity documents but were entitled to NHS services free of charge from accessing healthcare.
A few cases were highlighted where overseas patients may have been deterred from accessing treatment due to the ID checking, although analysis of the available data did not show adverse impacts on cancellation and did not attend rates. The Department does not hold any other information on whether people have delayed or deterred from seeking NHS services and there has been no further work on identification pilots undertaken by the Department."
Note 3.Identifying overseas visitors: User guide to the Message Exchange for Social Care & Health (MESH) August 2019.
https://improvement.nhs.uk/documents/5923/OVM_MESH_user_guide.pdf
This 16 page guide takes Overseas Visitors Managers (OVMs) click by click through making searches via the spine portal (Spine supports the IT infrastructure for health and social care in England, joining together over 23,000 healthcare IT systems in 20,500 organisations. It shares the Electronic Prescription Service, Summary Care Record and the e-Referral Service.)
The MESH guide offers:
'proactive ID of visitors in advance'
'Enhances upfront charging and waiting list reductions'
'submitting thousands of NHS numbers and dates of births takes minutes'
'Increases ID and posssible income'
'bulk visitor and migration information'
OVMs can then get an excel daily report up to a max of 5000 records.
Operose Health has taken over 13 NE London GP surgeries 23 Feb 2021
Listen to a member of North East London Save Our NHS explaining this shocking news.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2vMeCUSZAY&feature=youtu.be
NewhamSaveOurNHS and other campaigners are raising questions about the sale of six GP surgeries to a US health insurance giant Operose Health Ltd. When Operose took over UK firm AT Medics it gained ownership of its London surgeries which include half a dozen in Newham. Its parent company is Centene Corporation which has global headquarters in Missouri. The surgeries in Newham are: E16 Health in Albert Road, North Woolwich; E16 Health in Pontoon Dock, Royal Wharf; Lucas Avenue Practice in Upton Park; Carpenters Practice in Stratford; St Luke's Practice in Canning Town and Church Road Practice in Manor Park.The sale is raising concerns about privatisation of the NHS. Read the full article in the Newham Recorder:
https://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/health/newham-surgeries-sale-warning-from-campaigners-7812854
Members of NewhamSaveOurNHS have been raising awareness of these sales outside the sold clinics. More news about this campaign will be published on this website and our facebook page.
Listen to a member of North East London Save Our NHS explaining this shocking news.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2vMeCUSZAY&feature=youtu.be
NewhamSaveOurNHS and other campaigners are raising questions about the sale of six GP surgeries to a US health insurance giant Operose Health Ltd. When Operose took over UK firm AT Medics it gained ownership of its London surgeries which include half a dozen in Newham. Its parent company is Centene Corporation which has global headquarters in Missouri. The surgeries in Newham are: E16 Health in Albert Road, North Woolwich; E16 Health in Pontoon Dock, Royal Wharf; Lucas Avenue Practice in Upton Park; Carpenters Practice in Stratford; St Luke's Practice in Canning Town and Church Road Practice in Manor Park.The sale is raising concerns about privatisation of the NHS. Read the full article in the Newham Recorder:
https://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/health/newham-surgeries-sale-warning-from-campaigners-7812854
Members of NewhamSaveOurNHS have been raising awareness of these sales outside the sold clinics. More news about this campaign will be published on this website and our facebook page.
NHS England Race and Health Observatory. Let's root out racism in the NHS.
https://www.nhsconfed.org/networks/nhs-race-and-health-observatory/who-we-are
Following the call (5th March 2021) from councillors in north-east London for NHS patient charging to be 'abandoned,' citing measures that are 'Inequitable, ineffective and deter access to healthcare,' now is the time for this newly created NHS research body, the 'Race and Health Observatory' to confront the part that institutional racism plays in the NHS Hostile Environment.
Action has paid off in campaigners' attempt to help root out this racism in the NHS. North-East London Save our NHS (NELSON) the umbrella group for borough-based community health campaigns, revisited (virtually) the Inner North-East London Joint Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee (INEL JHOSC) in February 2021 to lobby councillors from Newham, Waltham Forest, Tower Hamlets and Hackney.
Campaigners made a successful formal submission requesting the committee speak out against NHS patient charging. One letter ( March 5th 2021) from the committee chair, Hackney councillor Ben Hayhurst, asked for action in terms of, 'Referring Overseas Patient Charging Procedures to the NHS Race and Health Observatory.'
The NHS England Race and Health Observatory is chaired by Marie Gabriel and directed by Dr Habib Naqvi, who have now appointed their board of 14 experts. They will surely need to move early to confront dangerous and frightening institutional racism in the NHS, which is becoming normalised and more embedded in the NHS patient charging procedures in north-east London. This helps to create fear and widespread immigration anxiety, as well denying access to free NHS care to those who are targetted, and to those who are wrongly invoiced.
In his second letter the INEL JHOSC committee chair Cllr Ben Hayhurst (Hackney) wrote (March 5th 2021) to Matt Hancock the Secretary of Sate for Health emphasising the dangers,
'Overseas charging is clearly deterring people from seeking care when needed, particularly among migrant and refugee communities. We would request that, in the light of Covid-19, these policies, such as eligibility checks for undocumented migrants, are abandoned because they are patently inequitable, ineffective and deter access to healthcare. They are also inefficient in that the revenue they raise seemingly does not cover the cost of administering the system. Most importantly they contribute to a public health risk because of their deterrent effect on undocumented migrants, the majority of whom are destitute and unable to pay in any case.'
https://www.nhsconfed.org/networks/nhs-race-and-health-observatory/who-we-are
https://www.nhsconfed.org/networks/nhs-race-and-health-observatory/who-we-are
Following the call (5th March 2021) from councillors in north-east London for NHS patient charging to be 'abandoned,' citing measures that are 'Inequitable, ineffective and deter access to healthcare,' now is the time for this newly created NHS research body, the 'Race and Health Observatory' to confront the part that institutional racism plays in the NHS Hostile Environment.
Action has paid off in campaigners' attempt to help root out this racism in the NHS. North-East London Save our NHS (NELSON) the umbrella group for borough-based community health campaigns, revisited (virtually) the Inner North-East London Joint Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee (INEL JHOSC) in February 2021 to lobby councillors from Newham, Waltham Forest, Tower Hamlets and Hackney.
Campaigners made a successful formal submission requesting the committee speak out against NHS patient charging. One letter ( March 5th 2021) from the committee chair, Hackney councillor Ben Hayhurst, asked for action in terms of, 'Referring Overseas Patient Charging Procedures to the NHS Race and Health Observatory.'
The NHS England Race and Health Observatory is chaired by Marie Gabriel and directed by Dr Habib Naqvi, who have now appointed their board of 14 experts. They will surely need to move early to confront dangerous and frightening institutional racism in the NHS, which is becoming normalised and more embedded in the NHS patient charging procedures in north-east London. This helps to create fear and widespread immigration anxiety, as well denying access to free NHS care to those who are targetted, and to those who are wrongly invoiced.
In his second letter the INEL JHOSC committee chair Cllr Ben Hayhurst (Hackney) wrote (March 5th 2021) to Matt Hancock the Secretary of Sate for Health emphasising the dangers,
'Overseas charging is clearly deterring people from seeking care when needed, particularly among migrant and refugee communities. We would request that, in the light of Covid-19, these policies, such as eligibility checks for undocumented migrants, are abandoned because they are patently inequitable, ineffective and deter access to healthcare. They are also inefficient in that the revenue they raise seemingly does not cover the cost of administering the system. Most importantly they contribute to a public health risk because of their deterrent effect on undocumented migrants, the majority of whom are destitute and unable to pay in any case.'
https://www.nhsconfed.org/networks/nhs-race-and-health-observatory/who-we-are
Newham Save Our NHS (NEWSON)
'Local test and Trace' campaign, February 28th 2021.
This is the tenth monthly briefing from Newham Save our NHS on our campaign for 'Local test and Trace.'
Scroll through this website for our previous monthly updates on January 27th 2021, December 28th 2020, November 27th 2020, October 26th 2020, September 26th 2020, August 26th 2020, July 25th 2020, June 25th 2020 and 31st May 2020.
Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz is right to say "outrage and an injustice" in response to the government Covid-19 'Roadmap' announcement (22 Feb 2021). In Newham "Covid-19 has cost us £75 million and there has been a £12 million shortfall in money received from government". This third lockdown has now been in force for seven weeks with non essential shops and hospitality businesses still closed. But government ignores Newham's desperate call for the Covid-19 Deprivation Premium and have not even said how much funding for public health Newham will receive from this April. This is a shocking lack of care for our residents.
Infections in Newham continue to fall (92 cases per 100,000 by 24th Feb 2021.) We need to keep infections lower, with the vaccines, plus extra measures, or we get more new variants of Covid-19. "Do not wreck this", Newham Save Our NHS says to government.
Thanks to the excellent volunteer experts on Independent Sage, ('Indie-Sage') our February update links to their 'Five Pillars,' which are designed to avoid further lockdowns, described in
A ‘Sustainable Suppression’ Strategy for Keeping Society Open' 19th Feb 2021
https://www.independentsage.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Strategy-document-Final.pdf
Pillar 1. Vaccination for the entire population (including children once approved) in the expectation of regular boosters in the future as required.
What 'Newham Save our NHS' says: The NHS is running the vaccination programme and its brilliant, approaching 20 million people vaccinated already! And it is cheaper than the failed private system in Pillar 2 below. There are still some infections of vaccinated people. Government knowingly ignores the details of the other four pillars required to suppress the virus and save lives. Government hides behind NHS vaccine success, not mentioning the huge death toll in the UK that could have been avoided if they had listened to the experts.
Pillar 2. Widespread testing (including, where appropriate, testing of asymptomatic cases) as part of a test, trace and isolate system rooted in local communities and organized through local public health bodies.
What 'Newham Save our NHS' says: The NHS is not running it, because government gave the £22 billion to Serco and other tele-sales businesses, so it is a mess. It has failed. It should be a NHS partner (with the NHS vaccines roll-out) in avoiding deaths. Government keeps quiet on failure, but leaves it in private hands leaching money out of the NHS. Sack SERCO now!
National contact tracing is described (17th Feb 2021) as having 'a marginal impact' on Covid transmission, despite its astronomical cost. After three lockdowns the failed private system does not even bother to test high risk contacts of people who have had a positive test. This is completely wrong, allowing more people to die.
Pillar 3. A comprehensive resource package which enables people from all sections of the community to self-isolate.
What 'Newham Save our NHS' says: Spot on! This lack of basic public health provision is a dereliction of duty from our government, on-going for nearly a year. The majority of people who apply for the one-off payment of £500 are rejected, so it is not surprising that this government disaster means about 20,000 people a day who are contacted by the privatised national Test and Trace, are not fully isolating.
Well done Newham Council - the first in the country (Feb 2021) to offer accommodation, with other practical support to residents, to self isolate. BBC TV Newsnight filmed on this topic in Newham ( Feb 25th 2021) including interviews with our Director of Public Health and our Newham Mayor.
Pillar 4. Accreditation as “COVID secure space” of all public spaces (schools, hospitality, workplaces etc.) through a robust system of guidance, support, regulation and inspection to ensure that they meet COVID safety standards (spatial distancing, ventilation, enhanced hygiene etc.).
What 'Newham Save our NHS' says: Why have no English workplaces (14 Feb 2021) been shut down, despite 3,500 Covid-19 outbreaks and deaths of 10,000 workers? Schools are in despair with figures (18 Feb 2021) showing infection rates were highest in children aged 5-12 years and 18-24 years. Government has not used lockdown to plan for Covid safe schools.. Instead they give unworkable last-minute rules on testing all pupils in school and at home. Nine teachers' unions say 'reckless' and MPs complain the government's secrecy means its own scientific advisers' reports on this are not published. University students are left in limbo, some using foodbanks.
Pillar 5. Strict control of borders and limits on international travel
What 'Newham Save our NHS' says: The quarantine (10 days @ £1750 per adult ) delay and shambles continues for England's new 'Red List' travellers entering the UK. It was described as 'an absolute joke" by Border Force staff (Feb 13 2021) who were not informed of the quarantine guidelines in time on day 1.
Summary:
The 'data, not dates' rule is quickly forgotten. Instead the 'Roadmap' flagged up lots of dates, setting up once again false expectations that drives people to start mixing more, starting with the big bang mistake of all pupils returning to schools on March 8th. Government continues to show shocking lack of care ( no plan!) for 'the perfect storm' of low wages, cramped housing and poor testing. Our NHS is now threatened (even though most non-Covid work is not happening) by huge staff trauma, exhaustion and sickness absence. Dentistry is in crisis. Pharmacies need money. The big risk now is the fourth lockdown arising from coming out of the third too quickly, without the necessary 'Five Pillars' in place.
https://www.independentsage.org/
'Local test and Trace' campaign, February 28th 2021.
This is the tenth monthly briefing from Newham Save our NHS on our campaign for 'Local test and Trace.'
Scroll through this website for our previous monthly updates on January 27th 2021, December 28th 2020, November 27th 2020, October 26th 2020, September 26th 2020, August 26th 2020, July 25th 2020, June 25th 2020 and 31st May 2020.
Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz is right to say "outrage and an injustice" in response to the government Covid-19 'Roadmap' announcement (22 Feb 2021). In Newham "Covid-19 has cost us £75 million and there has been a £12 million shortfall in money received from government". This third lockdown has now been in force for seven weeks with non essential shops and hospitality businesses still closed. But government ignores Newham's desperate call for the Covid-19 Deprivation Premium and have not even said how much funding for public health Newham will receive from this April. This is a shocking lack of care for our residents.
Infections in Newham continue to fall (92 cases per 100,000 by 24th Feb 2021.) We need to keep infections lower, with the vaccines, plus extra measures, or we get more new variants of Covid-19. "Do not wreck this", Newham Save Our NHS says to government.
Thanks to the excellent volunteer experts on Independent Sage, ('Indie-Sage') our February update links to their 'Five Pillars,' which are designed to avoid further lockdowns, described in
A ‘Sustainable Suppression’ Strategy for Keeping Society Open' 19th Feb 2021
https://www.independentsage.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Strategy-document-Final.pdf
Pillar 1. Vaccination for the entire population (including children once approved) in the expectation of regular boosters in the future as required.
What 'Newham Save our NHS' says: The NHS is running the vaccination programme and its brilliant, approaching 20 million people vaccinated already! And it is cheaper than the failed private system in Pillar 2 below. There are still some infections of vaccinated people. Government knowingly ignores the details of the other four pillars required to suppress the virus and save lives. Government hides behind NHS vaccine success, not mentioning the huge death toll in the UK that could have been avoided if they had listened to the experts.
Pillar 2. Widespread testing (including, where appropriate, testing of asymptomatic cases) as part of a test, trace and isolate system rooted in local communities and organized through local public health bodies.
What 'Newham Save our NHS' says: The NHS is not running it, because government gave the £22 billion to Serco and other tele-sales businesses, so it is a mess. It has failed. It should be a NHS partner (with the NHS vaccines roll-out) in avoiding deaths. Government keeps quiet on failure, but leaves it in private hands leaching money out of the NHS. Sack SERCO now!
National contact tracing is described (17th Feb 2021) as having 'a marginal impact' on Covid transmission, despite its astronomical cost. After three lockdowns the failed private system does not even bother to test high risk contacts of people who have had a positive test. This is completely wrong, allowing more people to die.
Pillar 3. A comprehensive resource package which enables people from all sections of the community to self-isolate.
What 'Newham Save our NHS' says: Spot on! This lack of basic public health provision is a dereliction of duty from our government, on-going for nearly a year. The majority of people who apply for the one-off payment of £500 are rejected, so it is not surprising that this government disaster means about 20,000 people a day who are contacted by the privatised national Test and Trace, are not fully isolating.
Well done Newham Council - the first in the country (Feb 2021) to offer accommodation, with other practical support to residents, to self isolate. BBC TV Newsnight filmed on this topic in Newham ( Feb 25th 2021) including interviews with our Director of Public Health and our Newham Mayor.
Pillar 4. Accreditation as “COVID secure space” of all public spaces (schools, hospitality, workplaces etc.) through a robust system of guidance, support, regulation and inspection to ensure that they meet COVID safety standards (spatial distancing, ventilation, enhanced hygiene etc.).
What 'Newham Save our NHS' says: Why have no English workplaces (14 Feb 2021) been shut down, despite 3,500 Covid-19 outbreaks and deaths of 10,000 workers? Schools are in despair with figures (18 Feb 2021) showing infection rates were highest in children aged 5-12 years and 18-24 years. Government has not used lockdown to plan for Covid safe schools.. Instead they give unworkable last-minute rules on testing all pupils in school and at home. Nine teachers' unions say 'reckless' and MPs complain the government's secrecy means its own scientific advisers' reports on this are not published. University students are left in limbo, some using foodbanks.
Pillar 5. Strict control of borders and limits on international travel
What 'Newham Save our NHS' says: The quarantine (10 days @ £1750 per adult ) delay and shambles continues for England's new 'Red List' travellers entering the UK. It was described as 'an absolute joke" by Border Force staff (Feb 13 2021) who were not informed of the quarantine guidelines in time on day 1.
Summary:
The 'data, not dates' rule is quickly forgotten. Instead the 'Roadmap' flagged up lots of dates, setting up once again false expectations that drives people to start mixing more, starting with the big bang mistake of all pupils returning to schools on March 8th. Government continues to show shocking lack of care ( no plan!) for 'the perfect storm' of low wages, cramped housing and poor testing. Our NHS is now threatened (even though most non-Covid work is not happening) by huge staff trauma, exhaustion and sickness absence. Dentistry is in crisis. Pharmacies need money. The big risk now is the fourth lockdown arising from coming out of the third too quickly, without the necessary 'Five Pillars' in place.
https://www.independentsage.org/
Newham Save our NHS is pleased to support the launch of the People's Covid Inquiry by the Keep Our NHS Public team.
With so many dead and still dying, Keep our NHS Public believe the public deserves to know how and why this has happened. They believe the time to learn lessons and save lives is now.
They will be hosting online sessions, conducting wide surveys, and asking expert panellists and witnesses, and members of the public who'll be sharing their experiences, to tell the real story of what has happened during the pandemic, and help find the answers we all deserve.
Keep Our NHS Public will focus on how our NHS could have been better prepared to deal with the scale of this pandemic. By scrutinising government policies before and during the crisis they aim to make recommendations on how a strengthened NHS could care for us and keep us safe in the future.
With so many dead and still dying, Keep our NHS Public believe the public deserves to know how and why this has happened. They believe the time to learn lessons and save lives is now.
They will be hosting online sessions, conducting wide surveys, and asking expert panellists and witnesses, and members of the public who'll be sharing their experiences, to tell the real story of what has happened during the pandemic, and help find the answers we all deserve.
Keep Our NHS Public will focus on how our NHS could have been better prepared to deal with the scale of this pandemic. By scrutinising government policies before and during the crisis they aim to make recommendations on how a strengthened NHS could care for us and keep us safe in the future.
Newham Save Our NHS (NEWSON)
'Local test and Trace' campaign, January 27th 2021.
This is the ninth monthly briefing from Newham Save our NHS on our campaign for 'Local test and Trace.'
Scroll through this website for our previous monthly updates on December 28th 2020, November 27th 2020, October 26th 2020, September 26th 2020, August 26th 2020, July 25th 2020, June 25th 2020 and 31st May 2020.
Now is the 'second wave' (worse than the first), and the 'third lockdown' initially for seven weeks from 4th January.' Non essential shops had to close from the 4th of January. By the 6th January the daily UK death toll of more than 1,000 was the highest since April 2020. Nationally, with more than 100,000 people having died, the UK has one of the highest death rates in the world, More than 30,000 people have died in care homes.
Local test and trace campaign - Media coverage this month
Since the second week of January there has been more media coverage of the need for more money to go to people self -isolating, which is part of our campaign for local contact tracing, as opposed to the remote, privatised, English, failing, expensive, crony-led phone-bank companies. Staff working there continued to leak bad news in January 2021.
Media example: Well done to Newham Council on advertising your research. (soon to be published.) The Newham director of public Health Joseph Strelitz in The Observer 17th January 2021 reported on Newham council research stressing the need to financially support people to self -isolate. It showed people did not want to get tested because they could not afford to lose their job or to lose their wages if they did not go to their low-paid or insecure work if they were self-isolating.
Media example: BBC2 TV 'Newsnight.' They had a week of reporting stories on poor people not being able to afford to self-isolate. The advertised £500 support is largely not available. On 22nd January, on BBC Newsnight the Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz spoke live, explaining that the 'isolation payment regime is simply not enough,' and that the majority of residents in Newham who have applied for the money to self isolate have not received it.
But why more interest in 'Local Test and Trace now ? Two factors:
1. Government alarm about numbers in hospital, shortages of staff and huge numbers of Covid-19 deaths. The Newham example:
Infection rates in Newham shot up this month as predicted after the delayed third lockdown and more mixing during December, combined with the more infectious' new variant'. Ambulances wait outside the Royal London Hospital. Staff are traumatised. The Royal London Hospital, to where some Newham patients are directed, is desperate for staff.
Improvement in the week till 16th January when 3208 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed in Newham. Though very high, this was a pleasing improvement on even worse figures the week before of 5072 new cases We were shocked to see a rate of 1392 cases per 100,000 people on the 9th of January, and pleased that it had fallen to 898 per 100,000 people on 16th January.
Deaths in Newham. As Newham mayor Rokhsana Fiaz reminded us on 21st January, even that lower figure means that, in one week, 60 more Newham people have died of Covid 19. We offer our condolences to all whose loved ones have died from Covid-19.
2. School crisis in England continues in January
With millions of people involved this could not be brushed under the carpet.
27th Dec 2020. - 3rd January 2021. Teachers wasted time - told to carry out a massive new pupil Covid -19 testing programme
4th Jan 2021. school opened for one day.
5th Jan 2021. schools suddenly closed until mid-February except for key-workers' and vulnerable children.
14th January 2021. school GCSE and A level exams and primary SATs tests were cancelled.
15th January 2021. Schools were suddenly told not to give families food vouchers or food over half term in February.
16th Jan 2021. The UK medicine's regulator suddenly said government schools testing strategy was wrong in allowing negative test results with the 'Moonshot' lateral flow test to allow people to stay in school.
27th Jan 2021. Schools will not open before 8th March and that date depends on Covid conditions at the time.
More news
Care Home 'madness' say some care providers
England did not meet its 24th January target of vaccinating older care home residents, despite them being the number one priority. The number of infections and deaths in care homes rocketed. There are huge staff absences, so government is announcing more money for staff at an unspecified date. Another short-term fix for care homes is the decision that Covid positive patients in hospital who have been self-isolating for 14 days are not an infection risk and can go direct to a care home without a recent test. 'Madness' said care home providers ( Jan 15th 2021) thinking of the same mistake in the first wave of the pandemic.
Vaccines - a continuing good news story.
Well done to the NHS on the logistics and staffing of vaccinating millions of people with their first dose. The uneven supply is the main limiting factor. There is a 15th February deadline for vaccinating the four highest priority groups which now includes NHS staff. Well done to Newham Council's well attended public meetings with Q and A sessions on vaccines.
Quarantine for travellers entering the UK
Announcing (27th Jan 2021) quarantine for only selected high risk countries is widely criticised. Is it a case of 'too little, too late' again?
Summary
Government shows some understanding this month that vaccines are only part of a group of public health measures, all of which have to be deployed to keep cases low. But they are still ignoring the fact that 'Local test and trace' is known to work. Where's the money that Newham needs? Where's the plan? This remains the key question as Newham people struggle with Covid, on top of a devastating ten years of austerity.
'Local test and Trace' campaign, January 27th 2021.
This is the ninth monthly briefing from Newham Save our NHS on our campaign for 'Local test and Trace.'
Scroll through this website for our previous monthly updates on December 28th 2020, November 27th 2020, October 26th 2020, September 26th 2020, August 26th 2020, July 25th 2020, June 25th 2020 and 31st May 2020.
Now is the 'second wave' (worse than the first), and the 'third lockdown' initially for seven weeks from 4th January.' Non essential shops had to close from the 4th of January. By the 6th January the daily UK death toll of more than 1,000 was the highest since April 2020. Nationally, with more than 100,000 people having died, the UK has one of the highest death rates in the world, More than 30,000 people have died in care homes.
Local test and trace campaign - Media coverage this month
Since the second week of January there has been more media coverage of the need for more money to go to people self -isolating, which is part of our campaign for local contact tracing, as opposed to the remote, privatised, English, failing, expensive, crony-led phone-bank companies. Staff working there continued to leak bad news in January 2021.
Media example: Well done to Newham Council on advertising your research. (soon to be published.) The Newham director of public Health Joseph Strelitz in The Observer 17th January 2021 reported on Newham council research stressing the need to financially support people to self -isolate. It showed people did not want to get tested because they could not afford to lose their job or to lose their wages if they did not go to their low-paid or insecure work if they were self-isolating.
Media example: BBC2 TV 'Newsnight.' They had a week of reporting stories on poor people not being able to afford to self-isolate. The advertised £500 support is largely not available. On 22nd January, on BBC Newsnight the Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz spoke live, explaining that the 'isolation payment regime is simply not enough,' and that the majority of residents in Newham who have applied for the money to self isolate have not received it.
But why more interest in 'Local Test and Trace now ? Two factors:
1. Government alarm about numbers in hospital, shortages of staff and huge numbers of Covid-19 deaths. The Newham example:
Infection rates in Newham shot up this month as predicted after the delayed third lockdown and more mixing during December, combined with the more infectious' new variant'. Ambulances wait outside the Royal London Hospital. Staff are traumatised. The Royal London Hospital, to where some Newham patients are directed, is desperate for staff.
Improvement in the week till 16th January when 3208 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed in Newham. Though very high, this was a pleasing improvement on even worse figures the week before of 5072 new cases We were shocked to see a rate of 1392 cases per 100,000 people on the 9th of January, and pleased that it had fallen to 898 per 100,000 people on 16th January.
Deaths in Newham. As Newham mayor Rokhsana Fiaz reminded us on 21st January, even that lower figure means that, in one week, 60 more Newham people have died of Covid 19. We offer our condolences to all whose loved ones have died from Covid-19.
2. School crisis in England continues in January
With millions of people involved this could not be brushed under the carpet.
27th Dec 2020. - 3rd January 2021. Teachers wasted time - told to carry out a massive new pupil Covid -19 testing programme
4th Jan 2021. school opened for one day.
5th Jan 2021. schools suddenly closed until mid-February except for key-workers' and vulnerable children.
14th January 2021. school GCSE and A level exams and primary SATs tests were cancelled.
15th January 2021. Schools were suddenly told not to give families food vouchers or food over half term in February.
16th Jan 2021. The UK medicine's regulator suddenly said government schools testing strategy was wrong in allowing negative test results with the 'Moonshot' lateral flow test to allow people to stay in school.
27th Jan 2021. Schools will not open before 8th March and that date depends on Covid conditions at the time.
More news
Care Home 'madness' say some care providers
England did not meet its 24th January target of vaccinating older care home residents, despite them being the number one priority. The number of infections and deaths in care homes rocketed. There are huge staff absences, so government is announcing more money for staff at an unspecified date. Another short-term fix for care homes is the decision that Covid positive patients in hospital who have been self-isolating for 14 days are not an infection risk and can go direct to a care home without a recent test. 'Madness' said care home providers ( Jan 15th 2021) thinking of the same mistake in the first wave of the pandemic.
Vaccines - a continuing good news story.
Well done to the NHS on the logistics and staffing of vaccinating millions of people with their first dose. The uneven supply is the main limiting factor. There is a 15th February deadline for vaccinating the four highest priority groups which now includes NHS staff. Well done to Newham Council's well attended public meetings with Q and A sessions on vaccines.
Quarantine for travellers entering the UK
Announcing (27th Jan 2021) quarantine for only selected high risk countries is widely criticised. Is it a case of 'too little, too late' again?
Summary
Government shows some understanding this month that vaccines are only part of a group of public health measures, all of which have to be deployed to keep cases low. But they are still ignoring the fact that 'Local test and trace' is known to work. Where's the money that Newham needs? Where's the plan? This remains the key question as Newham people struggle with Covid, on top of a devastating ten years of austerity.
Welcome to our website in January 2021.
Starting 2021 with the Covid-19 pandemic in its second wave, we thank hard-working and exhausted NHS staff, carers in the community, and all key-workers for their amazing efforts, in support of us all. Newham Save our NHS says, Let's not clap in 2021, let's give them a pay-rise! (The image to the left is a painting of a Critical Care Nurse at Barts Hospital, painted by our Group member Ferha Farooqui as part of Portraits for NHS Heroes https://ferhafarooqui.weebly.com
Thankyou to all our supporters in 2020 and to our organising committee who have been and are continuing to meet every two weeks during the pandemic. We have been working (remotely) with other local NHS campaigns in north-east London as well as further afield and nationally. We seek to listen, and to influence at all levels, both locally in Newham and in the wider world.
Newham Save our NHS website
Now in its eighth year, the website offers reports on our different campaigns and events. In the last year our website has covered the following :
Street campaigning and meeting residents.
The last time we campaigned on the street face-to-face was February 15th 2020. Ironically the topic was 'The NHS winter crisis.' Little did we now then that existing repeated NHS winter crises would leave us sorely unprotected, with fewer beds and huge staff shortages having to cope with the forth-coming Covid-19 pandemic.
Condolences
Combined with a short-sighted, wasteful government which lacks ability or care in meeting our public health needs, the effect on Newham has been deadly. Newham Save our NHS offers condolences to all who have lost loved ones during the ten months of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Please get in touch via email
If you would like to receive information such as occasional supporters' newsletters , or if you would like to attend one of our fortnightly organising committee meetings, please email via newsonhs@gmail.com
See also our facebook page for links to numerous topics.
https://www.facebook.com/NewhamSaveOurNHS/
Starting 2021 with the Covid-19 pandemic in its second wave, we thank hard-working and exhausted NHS staff, carers in the community, and all key-workers for their amazing efforts, in support of us all. Newham Save our NHS says, Let's not clap in 2021, let's give them a pay-rise! (The image to the left is a painting of a Critical Care Nurse at Barts Hospital, painted by our Group member Ferha Farooqui as part of Portraits for NHS Heroes https://ferhafarooqui.weebly.com
Thankyou to all our supporters in 2020 and to our organising committee who have been and are continuing to meet every two weeks during the pandemic. We have been working (remotely) with other local NHS campaigns in north-east London as well as further afield and nationally. We seek to listen, and to influence at all levels, both locally in Newham and in the wider world.
Newham Save our NHS website
Now in its eighth year, the website offers reports on our different campaigns and events. In the last year our website has covered the following :
- The need for Local covid-19 Test and Trace in Newham - our top campaign of 2020;'
- The need for 'Free NHS treatment in Newham Hospital' for all residents;'
- How NHS privatisation is encouraged by government's lack of NHS capital spending;
- How the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) sucks our taxpayers' money out of the NHS in to the pockets of private business.
Street campaigning and meeting residents.
The last time we campaigned on the street face-to-face was February 15th 2020. Ironically the topic was 'The NHS winter crisis.' Little did we now then that existing repeated NHS winter crises would leave us sorely unprotected, with fewer beds and huge staff shortages having to cope with the forth-coming Covid-19 pandemic.
Condolences
Combined with a short-sighted, wasteful government which lacks ability or care in meeting our public health needs, the effect on Newham has been deadly. Newham Save our NHS offers condolences to all who have lost loved ones during the ten months of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Please get in touch via email
If you would like to receive information such as occasional supporters' newsletters , or if you would like to attend one of our fortnightly organising committee meetings, please email via newsonhs@gmail.com
See also our facebook page for links to numerous topics.
https://www.facebook.com/NewhamSaveOurNHS/
Newham Save Our NHS (NEWSON)
'Local test and Trace' campaign, December 28th 2020.
This is the eighth monthly briefing from Newham Save our NHS on our campaign for 'Local test and Trace.' It is in three parts. Scroll through this website for our previous monthly updates on November 27th 2020, October 26th 2020, September 26th 2020, August 26th 2020, July 25th 2020, June 25th 2020 and 31st May 2020.
Part 1. The role of local Test and Trace in the third wave.
With the new Covid-19 Tier 4 in London from December 19th, why is Local Test and Trace still at the top of Newham Save our NHS's agenda?
As the Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz says, (23rd Dec 2020)
"There has to be a fit for purpose compensation scheme for all who are losing income during the Tier 4 restrictions, as well as a package of full pay for those who are required to self-isolate." Newham Council makes its case consistently, but government is not listening.
Vaccines are the best tool against Covid-19, but tunnel vision on vaccines allows more deaths now.
The science says, we need both vaccines and local contact tracing. Government looks at the end point with a kind of vaccine euphoria, instead of deciding how we get there. It will take months to vaccinate the most at-risk patients, then more months to vaccinate the rest. Extra deaths will be in the next three months, before 25 million people have been vaccinated. Dr Rupert Pearse intensive care doctor at the Royal London Hospital and Queen Mary University says (27th Dec) there will be a rise in excess deaths in January 2021.
The Newham situation in December 2020.
Consider the 2688 extra new people in Newham who were confirmed with Covid -19 in the one week before 19th December (738 people per 100,000). The scale of the tracing and supported isolation challenge can be seen. With R> 1, these 2688 residents are likely to infect (at least) another 2688 Newham people. Some will go in to hospital. Some will need intensive care. Some people will die. What would help us reduce this pain, suffering and grief, now and into spring 2021?
Contact tracing needs money spent locally.
Supporting Covid-19 contacts to save lives, by isolating at home in Newham, requires massive funds. The £billions should be going from failing firms like SERCO to hard-pressed Newham Council, the local public health team and to our GPs and the NHS locally. They know how to do the 'Local Test and Trace' and we trust them.
Schools are one example of why more contact tracing is needed now.
In December the age group with the most Covid-19 infections were secondary school children, but the transmission effects in to the community are not understood. Mass testing is useless at reducing infections without contact tracing in to the community. As usual, the national testing/tracing system has the money, but is not integrated locally. Deprived areas like Newham have higher mortality, yet Newham has already lost ten months of funds for 'Local Test and Trace'.
Part 2 Vaccines are good; delivering them requires the NHS and public health to have the resources.
Vaccine costs and crony jobs
The 'Vaccine Task Force' is another of the non-NHS bodies where a friend of government has been given the job of spending up to £12 billion, running health-related matters. In this case a businesswoman, Kate Bingham, reports directly to the Prime Minister. A parliament report said (16th Dec 2020) “operational experience of vaccine deployment was not represented within the senior boards and groups of the Taskforce.”
Government needs to be open on vaccine details.
December supply of the vaccine is constrained. Prof Martin Marshall, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, says GPs need information about vaccine supply, with as much notice as possible. The Health Secretary said (19th Dec) he misspoke when he said millions would be vaccinated by the end of the year.
Vaccine hesitancy.
Those who are vaccine hesitant need to be listened to respectfully, so that they can get the information they need to feel confident to go for the vaccine.
Barts NHS Trust - no vaccine yet.
Following complaints, on 23rd December it was announced that Barts will get vaccines soon.
Part 3 Mass testing.
December 2020 background:
The National Audit Office report on national Test and Trace (11 Dec 2020) confirmed, "Substantial public resources have been spent on staff who provided minimal services in return." The cost of Test and Trace is £22 billion, but it has too few results within 24 hours and too few contacts of infected people being reached and told to self isolate. It has underspent £2 billion on laboratories, machines and mass testing 'Operation Moonshot' takes up £7billion of the £22 billion.
Four more examples of December testing failure:
1 .Schools were told of totally unrealistic plans, at the end of this term, to conduct mass tests of all their pupils at the start of next term;
2. Universities were told that students would need a Covid -19 test before returning to accommodation in January, similar to the schools plan. But then governmentt delayed advertising this in the days before Christmas because of concerns over the accuracy of the lateral flow tests;
3. Airport testing shambles. Eleven private companies were chosen, but most of them were unable to deliver. Existing airport testing centres were not included in the list of 'providers;'
4. 119 Test and Trace call centre. Anecdotal reports locally say it did not let some asymptomatic Newham people get tested, even when Newham's Director of Public Health was advising people to ring 119 for tests.
Conclusion. What the December 2020 time line tells us..
Dec 3rd. Second lock down ends in London. London then went in Tier 2
Dec 9th. Experts say London should go in to Tier 3 urgently.
Dec 14th. Health Secretary mentions publically the new variant of the vaccine
Dec 16th. London goes in to Tier 3
Dec 19th. London and much of south-east England moves at midnight to a sudden third lockdown, now called Tier 4.
December 26th. More of South-east England is put in to Tier 4.
We end with these dates that show the government's chaotic management of the pandemic, with infection spiralling out of control at the time of year when it is 'normal' for the NHS to be in crisis. This crisis was Europe wide. But the number of UK Covid deaths overall shows that the UK's decade of public health cuts and reduced hospital bed numbers has made it worse for the UK population.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2020/dec/covid-19-uk-must-build-back-fairer-warns-new-marmot-review
'Local test and Trace' campaign, December 28th 2020.
This is the eighth monthly briefing from Newham Save our NHS on our campaign for 'Local test and Trace.' It is in three parts. Scroll through this website for our previous monthly updates on November 27th 2020, October 26th 2020, September 26th 2020, August 26th 2020, July 25th 2020, June 25th 2020 and 31st May 2020.
Part 1. The role of local Test and Trace in the third wave.
With the new Covid-19 Tier 4 in London from December 19th, why is Local Test and Trace still at the top of Newham Save our NHS's agenda?
As the Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz says, (23rd Dec 2020)
"There has to be a fit for purpose compensation scheme for all who are losing income during the Tier 4 restrictions, as well as a package of full pay for those who are required to self-isolate." Newham Council makes its case consistently, but government is not listening.
Vaccines are the best tool against Covid-19, but tunnel vision on vaccines allows more deaths now.
The science says, we need both vaccines and local contact tracing. Government looks at the end point with a kind of vaccine euphoria, instead of deciding how we get there. It will take months to vaccinate the most at-risk patients, then more months to vaccinate the rest. Extra deaths will be in the next three months, before 25 million people have been vaccinated. Dr Rupert Pearse intensive care doctor at the Royal London Hospital and Queen Mary University says (27th Dec) there will be a rise in excess deaths in January 2021.
The Newham situation in December 2020.
Consider the 2688 extra new people in Newham who were confirmed with Covid -19 in the one week before 19th December (738 people per 100,000). The scale of the tracing and supported isolation challenge can be seen. With R> 1, these 2688 residents are likely to infect (at least) another 2688 Newham people. Some will go in to hospital. Some will need intensive care. Some people will die. What would help us reduce this pain, suffering and grief, now and into spring 2021?
Contact tracing needs money spent locally.
Supporting Covid-19 contacts to save lives, by isolating at home in Newham, requires massive funds. The £billions should be going from failing firms like SERCO to hard-pressed Newham Council, the local public health team and to our GPs and the NHS locally. They know how to do the 'Local Test and Trace' and we trust them.
Schools are one example of why more contact tracing is needed now.
In December the age group with the most Covid-19 infections were secondary school children, but the transmission effects in to the community are not understood. Mass testing is useless at reducing infections without contact tracing in to the community. As usual, the national testing/tracing system has the money, but is not integrated locally. Deprived areas like Newham have higher mortality, yet Newham has already lost ten months of funds for 'Local Test and Trace'.
Part 2 Vaccines are good; delivering them requires the NHS and public health to have the resources.
Vaccine costs and crony jobs
The 'Vaccine Task Force' is another of the non-NHS bodies where a friend of government has been given the job of spending up to £12 billion, running health-related matters. In this case a businesswoman, Kate Bingham, reports directly to the Prime Minister. A parliament report said (16th Dec 2020) “operational experience of vaccine deployment was not represented within the senior boards and groups of the Taskforce.”
Government needs to be open on vaccine details.
December supply of the vaccine is constrained. Prof Martin Marshall, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, says GPs need information about vaccine supply, with as much notice as possible. The Health Secretary said (19th Dec) he misspoke when he said millions would be vaccinated by the end of the year.
Vaccine hesitancy.
Those who are vaccine hesitant need to be listened to respectfully, so that they can get the information they need to feel confident to go for the vaccine.
Barts NHS Trust - no vaccine yet.
Following complaints, on 23rd December it was announced that Barts will get vaccines soon.
Part 3 Mass testing.
December 2020 background:
The National Audit Office report on national Test and Trace (11 Dec 2020) confirmed, "Substantial public resources have been spent on staff who provided minimal services in return." The cost of Test and Trace is £22 billion, but it has too few results within 24 hours and too few contacts of infected people being reached and told to self isolate. It has underspent £2 billion on laboratories, machines and mass testing 'Operation Moonshot' takes up £7billion of the £22 billion.
Four more examples of December testing failure:
1 .Schools were told of totally unrealistic plans, at the end of this term, to conduct mass tests of all their pupils at the start of next term;
2. Universities were told that students would need a Covid -19 test before returning to accommodation in January, similar to the schools plan. But then governmentt delayed advertising this in the days before Christmas because of concerns over the accuracy of the lateral flow tests;
3. Airport testing shambles. Eleven private companies were chosen, but most of them were unable to deliver. Existing airport testing centres were not included in the list of 'providers;'
4. 119 Test and Trace call centre. Anecdotal reports locally say it did not let some asymptomatic Newham people get tested, even when Newham's Director of Public Health was advising people to ring 119 for tests.
Conclusion. What the December 2020 time line tells us..
Dec 3rd. Second lock down ends in London. London then went in Tier 2
Dec 9th. Experts say London should go in to Tier 3 urgently.
Dec 14th. Health Secretary mentions publically the new variant of the vaccine
Dec 16th. London goes in to Tier 3
Dec 19th. London and much of south-east England moves at midnight to a sudden third lockdown, now called Tier 4.
December 26th. More of South-east England is put in to Tier 4.
We end with these dates that show the government's chaotic management of the pandemic, with infection spiralling out of control at the time of year when it is 'normal' for the NHS to be in crisis. This crisis was Europe wide. But the number of UK Covid deaths overall shows that the UK's decade of public health cuts and reduced hospital bed numbers has made it worse for the UK population.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2020/dec/covid-19-uk-must-build-back-fairer-warns-new-marmot-review
Newham Save our NHS (NEWSON)
'Local test and Trace' campaign, November 28th 2020.
This is the seventh monthly briefing from Newham Save our NHS on our campaign for 'Local test and Trace.'
Scroll through this website for our previous monthly updates on October 26th 2020, September 26th 2020, August 26th 2020, July 25th 2020, June 25th 2020 and 31st May 2020.
Our Newham mayor Rokhsana Fiaz is right to repeat (5th November) again to government, "they need to give us more money to embed robust local test and trace in our borough, so that we can get on with protecting our residents."
Three main themes this month:
1. Government fails to re-structure the failing national Test and Trace system.
This time during the current second lockdown has not been used in order to provide a successful exit strategy after the second lockdown.
2.Government keeps its head in the sand as experts demand local test and trace.
This has been less prominently reported nationally. The government has dominated by pushing the good news about vaccines, to distract attention eg from this week's highest number of deaths in this second wave and the lack of support to councils for local contact tracing. Meanwhile hospitals struggle to find intensive-care staff. NHS staff are exhausted.
3. Trust in this government is at an all time low.
Late U turns contradict the failures that went before. The government said 'no' to the second lock-down when SAGE recommended it. Government said 'yes' to having tiers. The tiers didn't work. Tiers were abandoned in England. Instead we had this second month long lockdown. In December we go back to tiers.
Other news
National test and Trace is failing this month.
In this second wave, (25th November) the privately run arm of the of the national test and trace programme failed to reach 100,000 contacts in areas with some of the worst infection rates. This is six months after we were promised a "world beating" system. Yet on 24th November it was reported that the government will throw £7billion more on top of the billions already wasted on profiteering private companies unable to do the job. That huge sum could have gone to local authorities to do the 'Local Test and Trace' which experts know works. So government actually diverts our taxpayers' money in to areas which are known not to work
Newham Covid Marshalls (See photo of Covid Marshalls in East Ham)
This positive new council service has staff out and about who have been trained by Newham’s public health team to give the latest advice in a clear, direct and supportive way to residents and businesses
Vaccines are a good news story.
2021, not 2020, will be the year of vaccine programmes for Covid-19. Will the massive vaccination programme will be another government disaster, with taxpayers' money being wasted on 'contracts for cronies?' Trust is vital for vaccination, so failed private companies will not reach people, even if the companies hide behind the NHS logo. It is the vaccination programme that will save live, not the vaccines if they fail to reach the people. It is known that mass vaccination requires big investment in local public health. This is what our government has removed in the last 10 years, cutting the professionals we trust, who would have delivered the vaccination programme. We want more staff like health visitors ( who are in fact qualified nurses), district nurses, school nurses and public health teams in council areas working together with local GPs.
'Operation Moonshot' and Newham
This month Newham is one of 67 more areas in England listed to be given rapid lateral flow tests for covid-19 in a major expansion of the Moonshot mass testing programme. This has already begun in Liverpool with great work by the Liverpool council. The finding that in poorer areas of Liverpool as few as 4% come forward for testing says a lot. Dan Carden, a Liverpool MP, says over 80% of those who applied for the mandatory self-isolation grant were refused!. We do not know yet how the scheme is working in Newham.
'Moonshot,' another government distraction?
Bidders are invited by government to tender for a contract worth £912million to supply lateral flow tests which are used in 'Moonshot.' This mass testing scheme shocks experts, with the combination of astronomical cost of £100 billion, ( ie 70% of the cost of the whole NHS for one year) being piloted, without evidence of any benefit. Some experts say, "The poor detection rate of the lateral flow test makes it entirely unsuitable for the government’s claim that it will allow the safe ‘test and release’ of people from lockdown and students from university.”
https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4460
Care Homes try to deal with unrealistic policy announcements
On 5th November there was another last minute guidance to care homes - this time on letting residents have pre Christmas visitors in a covid-Secure way, based on a four week pilot up to 14th December. Then care homes are expected to extend this to almost 16,000 care home in less than a fortnight.
Universities
After a nightmare term for students and staff, the government has proposed a mass testing programme for students to enable them to return home to their families this Christmas while minimising the risk of spreading the disease. England’s NHS Test and Trace will distribute lateral flow tests, with priority given to areas with higher rates of covid-19.
Schools
Newham council in November rightly said they need more government money for cover teachers to replace self-isolating staff; the same access to Covid-19 tests as NHS workers; free meals to cover school holidays, plus laptops and wifi for children from deprived backgrounds who are isolating at home.
'An Urgent Plan For Safer Schools,' (27th November 2020) from Independent SAGE
The government abandoned schools by telling them to make themselves Covid safe, but gave them no more money this term to hire more space and get more staff. The government said no to the National Education Union's (NEU) idea of a rota for smaller groups in schools. By 24th November 22% of secondary children in England were absent. There is denial about the dangers of infections in schools. School staff are exhausted. They said it before and were ignored, so Independent Sage released this practical and detailed new report on how to keep schools open safely.
https://www.independentsage.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Safe-schools-v4b1.pdf
'Local test and Trace' campaign, November 28th 2020.
This is the seventh monthly briefing from Newham Save our NHS on our campaign for 'Local test and Trace.'
Scroll through this website for our previous monthly updates on October 26th 2020, September 26th 2020, August 26th 2020, July 25th 2020, June 25th 2020 and 31st May 2020.
Our Newham mayor Rokhsana Fiaz is right to repeat (5th November) again to government, "they need to give us more money to embed robust local test and trace in our borough, so that we can get on with protecting our residents."
Three main themes this month:
1. Government fails to re-structure the failing national Test and Trace system.
This time during the current second lockdown has not been used in order to provide a successful exit strategy after the second lockdown.
2.Government keeps its head in the sand as experts demand local test and trace.
This has been less prominently reported nationally. The government has dominated by pushing the good news about vaccines, to distract attention eg from this week's highest number of deaths in this second wave and the lack of support to councils for local contact tracing. Meanwhile hospitals struggle to find intensive-care staff. NHS staff are exhausted.
3. Trust in this government is at an all time low.
Late U turns contradict the failures that went before. The government said 'no' to the second lock-down when SAGE recommended it. Government said 'yes' to having tiers. The tiers didn't work. Tiers were abandoned in England. Instead we had this second month long lockdown. In December we go back to tiers.
Other news
National test and Trace is failing this month.
In this second wave, (25th November) the privately run arm of the of the national test and trace programme failed to reach 100,000 contacts in areas with some of the worst infection rates. This is six months after we were promised a "world beating" system. Yet on 24th November it was reported that the government will throw £7billion more on top of the billions already wasted on profiteering private companies unable to do the job. That huge sum could have gone to local authorities to do the 'Local Test and Trace' which experts know works. So government actually diverts our taxpayers' money in to areas which are known not to work
Newham Covid Marshalls (See photo of Covid Marshalls in East Ham)
This positive new council service has staff out and about who have been trained by Newham’s public health team to give the latest advice in a clear, direct and supportive way to residents and businesses
Vaccines are a good news story.
2021, not 2020, will be the year of vaccine programmes for Covid-19. Will the massive vaccination programme will be another government disaster, with taxpayers' money being wasted on 'contracts for cronies?' Trust is vital for vaccination, so failed private companies will not reach people, even if the companies hide behind the NHS logo. It is the vaccination programme that will save live, not the vaccines if they fail to reach the people. It is known that mass vaccination requires big investment in local public health. This is what our government has removed in the last 10 years, cutting the professionals we trust, who would have delivered the vaccination programme. We want more staff like health visitors ( who are in fact qualified nurses), district nurses, school nurses and public health teams in council areas working together with local GPs.
'Operation Moonshot' and Newham
This month Newham is one of 67 more areas in England listed to be given rapid lateral flow tests for covid-19 in a major expansion of the Moonshot mass testing programme. This has already begun in Liverpool with great work by the Liverpool council. The finding that in poorer areas of Liverpool as few as 4% come forward for testing says a lot. Dan Carden, a Liverpool MP, says over 80% of those who applied for the mandatory self-isolation grant were refused!. We do not know yet how the scheme is working in Newham.
'Moonshot,' another government distraction?
Bidders are invited by government to tender for a contract worth £912million to supply lateral flow tests which are used in 'Moonshot.' This mass testing scheme shocks experts, with the combination of astronomical cost of £100 billion, ( ie 70% of the cost of the whole NHS for one year) being piloted, without evidence of any benefit. Some experts say, "The poor detection rate of the lateral flow test makes it entirely unsuitable for the government’s claim that it will allow the safe ‘test and release’ of people from lockdown and students from university.”
https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4460
Care Homes try to deal with unrealistic policy announcements
On 5th November there was another last minute guidance to care homes - this time on letting residents have pre Christmas visitors in a covid-Secure way, based on a four week pilot up to 14th December. Then care homes are expected to extend this to almost 16,000 care home in less than a fortnight.
Universities
After a nightmare term for students and staff, the government has proposed a mass testing programme for students to enable them to return home to their families this Christmas while minimising the risk of spreading the disease. England’s NHS Test and Trace will distribute lateral flow tests, with priority given to areas with higher rates of covid-19.
Schools
Newham council in November rightly said they need more government money for cover teachers to replace self-isolating staff; the same access to Covid-19 tests as NHS workers; free meals to cover school holidays, plus laptops and wifi for children from deprived backgrounds who are isolating at home.
'An Urgent Plan For Safer Schools,' (27th November 2020) from Independent SAGE
The government abandoned schools by telling them to make themselves Covid safe, but gave them no more money this term to hire more space and get more staff. The government said no to the National Education Union's (NEU) idea of a rota for smaller groups in schools. By 24th November 22% of secondary children in England were absent. There is denial about the dangers of infections in schools. School staff are exhausted. They said it before and were ignored, so Independent Sage released this practical and detailed new report on how to keep schools open safely.
https://www.independentsage.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Safe-schools-v4b1.pdf
Newham Save our NHS (NEWSON) November 2020.
Failure of our 2020 lobbying of a council health scrutiny committee.
The issue. Protecting our residents who are subject to the racist NHS Hostile Environment (NHS patient charging by Barts NHS Trust of those deemed to be not 'ordinarily resident.')
The Committee. The Inner North-East London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Commmittee (INEL JHOSC) is a joint, cross-borough committee hosted and chaired by Newham five times in 2020, most recently on 25th November 2020.
https://mgov.newham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=1204&MId=12469&Ver=4
INEL JHOSC is made up of three councillors from each of these boroughs: Newham, Waltham Forest, Tower Hamlets, Hackney. It can discuss any topic of its choosing, call for reports , listen to professionals or residents and make its own reports on issues of interest or concern.
What NELSON asked. We asked the committee to make a statement in opposition to NHS patient charging, in order to protect our residents. We also sent written submissions. We attended in person at three meetings on behalf of our umbrella campaign group, North-East London Save our NHS (NELSON).
What INEL JHOSC answered in November 2020:
" ... the Committee had decided not to make a statement to state its opposition to NHS charging. The Committee would continue to keep the matter of overseas patients and charging for NHS services under review."
The good news. The Chief Exec of Barts NHS Trust, Alwen Williams, said in response to a question about Barts Inclusion Observatory, asked live by NEWSON, at Barts Trust (virtual) Board meeting, on 4th November 2020, that the Trust’s Inclusion Board would commit to reviewing the Trust’s updated overseas patients policy to ensure that local implementation arrangements were consistent with the Board’s commitments on inclusion. The Observatory is part and parcel of that.
More good news. Thanks to Newham MPs Lyn Brown MP (West Ham) and Stephen Timms MP (East Ham) for their ongoing opposition to NHS patient charging. NEWSON will continue this campaign.
The bad news: Here are the most recent revelations about the nasty, racist, NHS patient charging regulations .
1. Thirty-five women (25%) of Barts 144 maternity patients who were sent a bill last year for NHS maternity care were wrongly invoiced. This is planned; the Trust knows it does not have the evidence to charge these patients.
See page14 of Barts Board papers November 2020.
https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n15431.pdf&ver=27348
2. 29 women at Newham Hospital, 3 at The Royal London and 3 at Whipps Cross were wrongly charged for NHS maternity care. See page 66 INEL JHOSC papers from 30th Sep 2020.
https://mgov.newham.gov.uk/documents/g12478/Public%20reports%20pack%2030th-Sep-2020%2019.00%20Inner%20North%20East%20London%20Joint%20Health%20Overview%20and%20Scrutiny.pdf?T=10
3. Fewer NHS patients were denied free NHS care at Newham Hospital, but 104 women were charged to have their baby in Newham Hospital, under reckless and unnecessary NHS Hostile Environment regulations.
4. Barts NHS Trust is making more money by targeting fewer patients at Newham Hospital, Whipps Cross Hospital and Royal London Hospital who have cheaper procedures. Instead Barts is targetting fewer patients (151 patients) with more expensive procedures at St Bartholomew's Hospital.
How were the 151 targeted?
Taken as a whole, Barts Trust across all its hospitals invoiced 977 NHS patients last year compared with charging 2430 NHS patients the year before.. https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n14532.pdf&ver=25775 Barts Health Board papers July 2020, page 199,
The effect is that Barts made more money from NHS patients last year than it did the year before.
Failure of our 2020 lobbying of a council health scrutiny committee.
The issue. Protecting our residents who are subject to the racist NHS Hostile Environment (NHS patient charging by Barts NHS Trust of those deemed to be not 'ordinarily resident.')
The Committee. The Inner North-East London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Commmittee (INEL JHOSC) is a joint, cross-borough committee hosted and chaired by Newham five times in 2020, most recently on 25th November 2020.
https://mgov.newham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=1204&MId=12469&Ver=4
INEL JHOSC is made up of three councillors from each of these boroughs: Newham, Waltham Forest, Tower Hamlets, Hackney. It can discuss any topic of its choosing, call for reports , listen to professionals or residents and make its own reports on issues of interest or concern.
What NELSON asked. We asked the committee to make a statement in opposition to NHS patient charging, in order to protect our residents. We also sent written submissions. We attended in person at three meetings on behalf of our umbrella campaign group, North-East London Save our NHS (NELSON).
What INEL JHOSC answered in November 2020:
" ... the Committee had decided not to make a statement to state its opposition to NHS charging. The Committee would continue to keep the matter of overseas patients and charging for NHS services under review."
The good news. The Chief Exec of Barts NHS Trust, Alwen Williams, said in response to a question about Barts Inclusion Observatory, asked live by NEWSON, at Barts Trust (virtual) Board meeting, on 4th November 2020, that the Trust’s Inclusion Board would commit to reviewing the Trust’s updated overseas patients policy to ensure that local implementation arrangements were consistent with the Board’s commitments on inclusion. The Observatory is part and parcel of that.
More good news. Thanks to Newham MPs Lyn Brown MP (West Ham) and Stephen Timms MP (East Ham) for their ongoing opposition to NHS patient charging. NEWSON will continue this campaign.
The bad news: Here are the most recent revelations about the nasty, racist, NHS patient charging regulations .
1. Thirty-five women (25%) of Barts 144 maternity patients who were sent a bill last year for NHS maternity care were wrongly invoiced. This is planned; the Trust knows it does not have the evidence to charge these patients.
See page14 of Barts Board papers November 2020.
https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n15431.pdf&ver=27348
2. 29 women at Newham Hospital, 3 at The Royal London and 3 at Whipps Cross were wrongly charged for NHS maternity care. See page 66 INEL JHOSC papers from 30th Sep 2020.
https://mgov.newham.gov.uk/documents/g12478/Public%20reports%20pack%2030th-Sep-2020%2019.00%20Inner%20North%20East%20London%20Joint%20Health%20Overview%20and%20Scrutiny.pdf?T=10
3. Fewer NHS patients were denied free NHS care at Newham Hospital, but 104 women were charged to have their baby in Newham Hospital, under reckless and unnecessary NHS Hostile Environment regulations.
4. Barts NHS Trust is making more money by targeting fewer patients at Newham Hospital, Whipps Cross Hospital and Royal London Hospital who have cheaper procedures. Instead Barts is targetting fewer patients (151 patients) with more expensive procedures at St Bartholomew's Hospital.
How were the 151 targeted?
Taken as a whole, Barts Trust across all its hospitals invoiced 977 NHS patients last year compared with charging 2430 NHS patients the year before.. https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n14532.pdf&ver=25775 Barts Health Board papers July 2020, page 199,
The effect is that Barts made more money from NHS patients last year than it did the year before.
Newham Save our NHS.
Statement on 'Local test and Trace' campaign, October 26th 2020.
'Diabolical' and 'unravelling', says mayor.
Newham mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz is correct to say (October 15th 2020) that the government's Covid-19, "current strategy has been diabolical and is unravelling." Again this month the mayor repeats her "demand that the government give us the resources to boost our test and trace capacity locally and provide Councils with the money we need to support our communities."
With the government trying to divide and rule, demands like Newham's are repeated all over the country, with for example ten mayors and council leaders in and around Manchester being disgracefully treated by the withdrawal of money and the bullying incompetence of government.
Consistent campaigning from Newham Save our NHS
Following our initial statement on our website - see our 6th May 2020 letter of support to Newham mayor - with our call for 'Local Test and trace,' Newham Save our NHS have been remarkably consistent in our six consecutive briefings. Scroll through the website for these previous monthly updates from September 26th.
What does 'local' look like in terms of Covid-19 Test and Trace?
Locally recruited Newham contact tracers need to use local knowledge of Newham's rich and diverse community structures, ethnicities and languages to effectively identify patterns of spread.
Our Black and ethnic minority residents must not be left unsupported, at higher risk than others. Local contact tracers work in a network with the council, local GP’s, local and regional directors of Public Health, pharmacies and NHS Trusts with their testing labs.
Newly traced people need on going support, both practical and financial, to see if symptoms have emerged/ improved/ worsened. This means people who may develop symptoms, very ill people, or people with no money, are not left without support and can therefore self-isolate with support, if required.
Themes this month:
Second wave of Covid-19 sees cases doubling every two weeks, as universities go back a few weeks after schools. University staff unions warn that face-to-face teaching should be halted as thousands of students catch Covid-19.
Re-set for Covid-19 strategy from Independent SAGE scientists. This is a great six-week plan (16th October 2020) to deal with the second wave.
https://www.independentsage.org/emergency-plan-for-stopping-the-spread-of-covid-19-in-england/
More blame game about compliance from government, while poor and unemployed people struggle. We say threats and fines are the wrong approach, since most people are doing their best. We need to trust the system, not worry that contact details of those who have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace may be passed to the police
The Covid-19 app
Instead, we need in Newham a package of financial support for residents, businesses and the council itself, linked to local contact-tracing. Fines for not self isolating may mean some choose not to use the app. The App is an additional tool, which needs Test and Trace to be working, in order to be useful.
Longer delays in getting test results from the still-failing, distant Deloitte set-up of the private labs. The private American company, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) gets £18 million to pay for their NHS pandemic work. Deloitte employs 1000 consultants, only 40 from BCG.
'A blueprint to achieve an excellent Find, Test, Trace, Isolate and Support system.' (October 16th, 2020 Independent SAGE.)
https://www.independentsage.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/New-FTTIS-System-final-06.50.pdf
We support this new plan to get the Covid-19 measures back in the NHS, away from the failed private providers.
Schools are struggling without enough help. The Newham Recorder (14th October 2020) reports that in one week in October more than 3,000 Newham pupils and almost 200 school staff were self-isolating. Newham's council member for education, Zulfiqar Ali, is quoted, 'the government's failure to provide adequate testing is unnecessarily keeping pupils and staff out of school.'
Fewer people are contacted by distant, private Covid-19 call centres run by SERCO. But failure is rewarded, as shares in SERCO surge (16th October 2020) on the news of SERCO's profits increasing.
More government secrecy over Covid-19 strategy, as government avoids a 'circuit -breaker,' recommended in England by official SAGE, but not made public till three weeks later. Meanwhile 'Independent SAGE' openly supported a 'circuit breaker' giving detailed rationale.
Note: The government 'Scientific Advisory Group For Emergencies' (SAGE) is a secretive group which delays publication of its work, leaving the public in the dark. A second group of volunteer scientists, called 'Independent SAGE' meet weekly in public to fill the gap.
Independent SAGE openly reports every week on you tube.
We recommend these independent scientists who share their expertise openly every Friday at 1.30 pm on youtube. lockdownhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqqwC56XTP8F9zeEUCOttPQ
Statement on 'Local test and Trace' campaign, October 26th 2020.
'Diabolical' and 'unravelling', says mayor.
Newham mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz is correct to say (October 15th 2020) that the government's Covid-19, "current strategy has been diabolical and is unravelling." Again this month the mayor repeats her "demand that the government give us the resources to boost our test and trace capacity locally and provide Councils with the money we need to support our communities."
With the government trying to divide and rule, demands like Newham's are repeated all over the country, with for example ten mayors and council leaders in and around Manchester being disgracefully treated by the withdrawal of money and the bullying incompetence of government.
Consistent campaigning from Newham Save our NHS
Following our initial statement on our website - see our 6th May 2020 letter of support to Newham mayor - with our call for 'Local Test and trace,' Newham Save our NHS have been remarkably consistent in our six consecutive briefings. Scroll through the website for these previous monthly updates from September 26th.
What does 'local' look like in terms of Covid-19 Test and Trace?
Locally recruited Newham contact tracers need to use local knowledge of Newham's rich and diverse community structures, ethnicities and languages to effectively identify patterns of spread.
Our Black and ethnic minority residents must not be left unsupported, at higher risk than others. Local contact tracers work in a network with the council, local GP’s, local and regional directors of Public Health, pharmacies and NHS Trusts with their testing labs.
Newly traced people need on going support, both practical and financial, to see if symptoms have emerged/ improved/ worsened. This means people who may develop symptoms, very ill people, or people with no money, are not left without support and can therefore self-isolate with support, if required.
Themes this month:
Second wave of Covid-19 sees cases doubling every two weeks, as universities go back a few weeks after schools. University staff unions warn that face-to-face teaching should be halted as thousands of students catch Covid-19.
Re-set for Covid-19 strategy from Independent SAGE scientists. This is a great six-week plan (16th October 2020) to deal with the second wave.
https://www.independentsage.org/emergency-plan-for-stopping-the-spread-of-covid-19-in-england/
More blame game about compliance from government, while poor and unemployed people struggle. We say threats and fines are the wrong approach, since most people are doing their best. We need to trust the system, not worry that contact details of those who have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace may be passed to the police
The Covid-19 app
Instead, we need in Newham a package of financial support for residents, businesses and the council itself, linked to local contact-tracing. Fines for not self isolating may mean some choose not to use the app. The App is an additional tool, which needs Test and Trace to be working, in order to be useful.
Longer delays in getting test results from the still-failing, distant Deloitte set-up of the private labs. The private American company, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) gets £18 million to pay for their NHS pandemic work. Deloitte employs 1000 consultants, only 40 from BCG.
'A blueprint to achieve an excellent Find, Test, Trace, Isolate and Support system.' (October 16th, 2020 Independent SAGE.)
https://www.independentsage.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/New-FTTIS-System-final-06.50.pdf
We support this new plan to get the Covid-19 measures back in the NHS, away from the failed private providers.
Schools are struggling without enough help. The Newham Recorder (14th October 2020) reports that in one week in October more than 3,000 Newham pupils and almost 200 school staff were self-isolating. Newham's council member for education, Zulfiqar Ali, is quoted, 'the government's failure to provide adequate testing is unnecessarily keeping pupils and staff out of school.'
Fewer people are contacted by distant, private Covid-19 call centres run by SERCO. But failure is rewarded, as shares in SERCO surge (16th October 2020) on the news of SERCO's profits increasing.
More government secrecy over Covid-19 strategy, as government avoids a 'circuit -breaker,' recommended in England by official SAGE, but not made public till three weeks later. Meanwhile 'Independent SAGE' openly supported a 'circuit breaker' giving detailed rationale.
Note: The government 'Scientific Advisory Group For Emergencies' (SAGE) is a secretive group which delays publication of its work, leaving the public in the dark. A second group of volunteer scientists, called 'Independent SAGE' meet weekly in public to fill the gap.
Independent SAGE openly reports every week on you tube.
We recommend these independent scientists who share their expertise openly every Friday at 1.30 pm on youtube. lockdownhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqqwC56XTP8F9zeEUCOttPQ
Newham Save our NHS.
Statement on Covid-19 'Local test and Trace' campaign, September 26th 2020.
This is the fifth monthly briefing from Newham Save our NHS on our campaign for 'Local test and Trace.' We continue to work with other local NHS campaign groups on this; they will bring up the need for 'Local Test and Trace' at next weeks cross-borough health scrutiny committee, hosted by Newham council.
Scroll through this website for our previous monthly campaign updates on August 26th, July 25th, June 25th and 31st May.
We attended the virtual council meeting on 22nd September when both our Newham mayor and our Director of Public Health, reported to councillors on Covid-19 measures. Newham Save our NHS supports the council for their Covid-19 planning, the mayor's openness, and her tireless efforts to get the resources Newham needs, arising from our huge health inequalities. They reported on the App (see below) being trialled in Newham.
Newham mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, said the impact on London of the national testing scheme is an outrage, with Public Health England directing testing capacity away from the highly diverse, dense London population.
If you need a test? 'Moonshot' or 'pie in the sky'?
National testing fails more spectacularly. At the beginning of September we had the unrealistic claims from government of a 'Moonshot' plan to test millions of the population every day for Covid-19. Failing SERCO got another contract in August to carry on running the drive through testing centres, and this coincided with the re-opening of school and universities. There have been growing numbers of outbreaks, but not enough test capacity to manage demand for tests.
National processing of swab tests in private labs. How can it get this bad? Our suggestion in last month's report of more problems with privatised labs having a backlog of unprocessed tests, was soon further exposed in the media.
An inexperienced government, which prefers to default to privatised healthcare, chose at the outset to set up a completely new parallel system of secretive private 'lighthouse labs,' planned by the Deloitte consultancy firm.
NHS expertise in setting up labs was unused.
These private labs lacked the established NHS systems of rigorous procedures for laboratory premises, storage, receipt, processing, record-keeping, staffing, and delivery of results to the appropriate NHS people. By last week these so called 'lighthouse labs' were described as 'barely functional' with 90% of tests failing to reach the 24 hour turnaround target.
A win for big pharma and their political contacts
The government's answer to the testing fiasco? More of the same - with four more Lighthouse labs on the way. And Matt Hancock says proudly, (24th September) with no sense of irony, that the government are 'building a diagnostics industry from scratch.'
NHS Pathology labs for processing swabs are the best
We say, get real and build up NHS pathology labs which know how to do the job, instead of giving £billions to private pathology firms. The first sign of this happening is a report (25th September 2020) from 'Independent Sage' a group of experts who meet in public, saying the new 'lighthouse lab' in Newcastle will be run by the NHS.
Care homes
In early September care homes nationally were still not getting the routine tests they need. Care mangers described centralised testing as chaotic and on 7th September care homes were sent an email apologising for delays.
Schools. Schools are back, but lack of testing leads to staff shortages and children kept off school. School staff feel Public Health England (PHE) do not understand the reality of the UK's large class sizes of 30. A 'bubble' breaks down when a class of 30 moves in to a narrow corridor. Vulnerable staff, told not to shield. do not feel confident that schools are 'Covid-secure.' Vulnerable staff need to be told to work at home.
Universities. Outbreaks in England are likely to follow what has been seen in Scottish halls of residence, just delayed, as English universities went back later.
Students stuck in small rooms told to isolate with no outside space need help and guidance, as do the universities themselves.
The second NHS Covid-19 tracing app.
It was good to trial the second app in Newham. It puts us ahead in knowing how useful it will be. It is one tool among others and people should download it and try it, if they have a suitable smartphone. It does not do any tracing and only you know if the app says you have been near someone who has tested positive. In Newham digital exclusion has been a problem.
Payment to self -isolate
Poor government also means, according to 'Independent sage' that the £500 offered to self-isolate for two weeks only goes to those who had a postive test. What if you can't get a test? Government talk of fines for people who have not sel-isolated is the opposite of what is required. Isolating for two weeks is difficult and people may have responsibilites to care for others, sometimes outside the home, to shop, get medicines and work if they do not get the £500.
Independent Sage
To find out more about what these independent scientists think, listen in to their public weekly presentation every Friday at 1.30 pm on youtube. Each week starts with good graphs on the pandemic that are different from the ones we usually see, with more explanation.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqqwC56XTP8F9zeEUCOttPQ
Statement on Covid-19 'Local test and Trace' campaign, September 26th 2020.
This is the fifth monthly briefing from Newham Save our NHS on our campaign for 'Local test and Trace.' We continue to work with other local NHS campaign groups on this; they will bring up the need for 'Local Test and Trace' at next weeks cross-borough health scrutiny committee, hosted by Newham council.
Scroll through this website for our previous monthly campaign updates on August 26th, July 25th, June 25th and 31st May.
We attended the virtual council meeting on 22nd September when both our Newham mayor and our Director of Public Health, reported to councillors on Covid-19 measures. Newham Save our NHS supports the council for their Covid-19 planning, the mayor's openness, and her tireless efforts to get the resources Newham needs, arising from our huge health inequalities. They reported on the App (see below) being trialled in Newham.
Newham mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, said the impact on London of the national testing scheme is an outrage, with Public Health England directing testing capacity away from the highly diverse, dense London population.
If you need a test? 'Moonshot' or 'pie in the sky'?
National testing fails more spectacularly. At the beginning of September we had the unrealistic claims from government of a 'Moonshot' plan to test millions of the population every day for Covid-19. Failing SERCO got another contract in August to carry on running the drive through testing centres, and this coincided with the re-opening of school and universities. There have been growing numbers of outbreaks, but not enough test capacity to manage demand for tests.
National processing of swab tests in private labs. How can it get this bad? Our suggestion in last month's report of more problems with privatised labs having a backlog of unprocessed tests, was soon further exposed in the media.
An inexperienced government, which prefers to default to privatised healthcare, chose at the outset to set up a completely new parallel system of secretive private 'lighthouse labs,' planned by the Deloitte consultancy firm.
NHS expertise in setting up labs was unused.
These private labs lacked the established NHS systems of rigorous procedures for laboratory premises, storage, receipt, processing, record-keeping, staffing, and delivery of results to the appropriate NHS people. By last week these so called 'lighthouse labs' were described as 'barely functional' with 90% of tests failing to reach the 24 hour turnaround target.
A win for big pharma and their political contacts
The government's answer to the testing fiasco? More of the same - with four more Lighthouse labs on the way. And Matt Hancock says proudly, (24th September) with no sense of irony, that the government are 'building a diagnostics industry from scratch.'
NHS Pathology labs for processing swabs are the best
We say, get real and build up NHS pathology labs which know how to do the job, instead of giving £billions to private pathology firms. The first sign of this happening is a report (25th September 2020) from 'Independent Sage' a group of experts who meet in public, saying the new 'lighthouse lab' in Newcastle will be run by the NHS.
Care homes
In early September care homes nationally were still not getting the routine tests they need. Care mangers described centralised testing as chaotic and on 7th September care homes were sent an email apologising for delays.
Schools. Schools are back, but lack of testing leads to staff shortages and children kept off school. School staff feel Public Health England (PHE) do not understand the reality of the UK's large class sizes of 30. A 'bubble' breaks down when a class of 30 moves in to a narrow corridor. Vulnerable staff, told not to shield. do not feel confident that schools are 'Covid-secure.' Vulnerable staff need to be told to work at home.
Universities. Outbreaks in England are likely to follow what has been seen in Scottish halls of residence, just delayed, as English universities went back later.
Students stuck in small rooms told to isolate with no outside space need help and guidance, as do the universities themselves.
The second NHS Covid-19 tracing app.
It was good to trial the second app in Newham. It puts us ahead in knowing how useful it will be. It is one tool among others and people should download it and try it, if they have a suitable smartphone. It does not do any tracing and only you know if the app says you have been near someone who has tested positive. In Newham digital exclusion has been a problem.
Payment to self -isolate
Poor government also means, according to 'Independent sage' that the £500 offered to self-isolate for two weeks only goes to those who had a postive test. What if you can't get a test? Government talk of fines for people who have not sel-isolated is the opposite of what is required. Isolating for two weeks is difficult and people may have responsibilites to care for others, sometimes outside the home, to shop, get medicines and work if they do not get the £500.
Independent Sage
To find out more about what these independent scientists think, listen in to their public weekly presentation every Friday at 1.30 pm on youtube. Each week starts with good graphs on the pandemic that are different from the ones we usually see, with more explanation.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqqwC56XTP8F9zeEUCOttPQ
'Tell Barts Health, migrant charges are racist too.'
This is the September 2020 community campaign to support and build on Barts Health's important new statement. Barts say (July 2020), in response to Covid-19 and Black Lives Matter,
'Our board has made clear its intention to make Barts health an anti-racist organisation.'
https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n14532.pdf&ver=25775 page 141-164
Your support is needed. Please email Barts Trust before their 5pm September 9th deadline with your comment or question, for the September 16th Barts Health AGM
Submit your comments/questions on,' Tell Barts Health, migrant charges are racist too to Sean Collins, the Trust secretary by 5pm on 9 September 2020 sean.collins2@nhs.net
Why? There is an elephant in the room.
Barts "Overseas Visitors Annual Report" (July 2020) ignores racism instead of confronting it, as if these patients, denied free NHS care, are outside Barts anti-racist movement.
https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n14532.pdf&ver=25775
This is the September 2020 community campaign to support and build on Barts Health's important new statement. Barts say (July 2020), in response to Covid-19 and Black Lives Matter,
'Our board has made clear its intention to make Barts health an anti-racist organisation.'
https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n14532.pdf&ver=25775 page 141-164
Your support is needed. Please email Barts Trust before their 5pm September 9th deadline with your comment or question, for the September 16th Barts Health AGM
Submit your comments/questions on,' Tell Barts Health, migrant charges are racist too to Sean Collins, the Trust secretary by 5pm on 9 September 2020 sean.collins2@nhs.net
Why? There is an elephant in the room.
Barts "Overseas Visitors Annual Report" (July 2020) ignores racism instead of confronting it, as if these patients, denied free NHS care, are outside Barts anti-racist movement.
https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n14532.pdf&ver=25775
Newham Save our NHS.
Statement on 'Local test and Trace' campaign, August 26th 2020.
This is the fourth monthly briefing from Newham Save our NHS on our campaign for 'Local test and Trace.'
Scroll through the website for our previous monthly updates on July 25th, June 25th and 31st May. It is not a surprise that the story we tell month by month unfolds, as predicted. NHS privatisation often ends in tears, with lack of care for those affected.
Fortunately in Newham we have a mayor, a council and a Director of Public Health , who are Newham health champions. They call on government to give Newham the resources it needs. They "don’t subscribe to the idea that some Newham communities are ‘hard to reach’, rather there are some communities whose voices haven’t been heard." This is very true. Recruiting local Health Champions to share information is a great idea from Newham council.
Our borough is stricken with gross health inequalities. Newham has suffered the grievous deaths of 309 residents from
Covid -19. 1386 people from Newham have tested positive so far. Is government listening to the need for local resources? ' Local Test and Trace' is pivotal to future management of Covid-19, here and elsewhere.
Trends in the on-going campaign this month:
1. Problems with national testing continue.
The numbers of tests and the speed of tests still needs to increase. The test you get done in Newham is sent to a lab somewhere else. Confidence in government is low with too many failed promises This month it was revealed that the government removed 1.3 million Covid-19 tests from its data because of double counting. On 25th August the Dept of Health says it is 'completely untrue that it had run out of tests.' But media reports said that day there was an apparent shortage of home testing kits and laboratories were struggling to clear a backlog of tests since late July.
2. Poor national leadership embraces privatisation and cronyism.
Today we expect in Newham a government visit from failed businesswoman Dido Harding, who supports private healthcare and has private health insurance, yet who was mysteriously given the job of running the failed Covid-19 National Tracing system run by SERCO from their national call centres. Those embarrassing Downing Street double-act press conferences between Dido Harding and Matt Hancock sum up all that is wrong with NHS privatisation, SERCO and cronyism.
3. National tracing has failed.
6,000 of the under-employed SERCO call centre handlers have been sacked. It has been reported that the SERCO contract comes up for renewal in on August, but how can SERCO be given another contract in the middle of muddle? Has money been given to Newham instead?
4. Local council leaders/mayors continue to speak out nationally.
Andy Burnham from Manchester says the biggest changes needed are to Test and Trace, and giving people financial support to self isolate.
5. Lack of national financial support for those who are instructed to self isolate.
If Newham residents are told to self isolate by the app or by anyone else, how will low paid workers afford not to go to work? Statutory sick pay is not enough at less than £100 a week. Some workers may not be entitled to any sick pay eg zero hours workers, or care workers
But government are ignoring this problem, despite senior Tories like Robert Halfon MP saying as far back as June “We absolutely have to make it clear that anyone who is self-isolating is going to be able to afford to do so. If you’re a courier and you’re paid for how many boxes you deliver, how are you going to live?”
6. The second NHS Covid-19 tracing app.
From the last week of August Newham is included in the pilot. This is a good move, as we will be able to see what proportion of residents have a suitable phone and choose to use the app.
https://www.newham.gov.uk/news/article/496/new-nhs-test-and-trace-mobile-phone-app-launches-in-newham-from-today
7. Schools.
It has long been said that a working system for 'Local Test and Trace' was necessary to deal with any local flare ups in schools. But the government has not shared any 'Plan B' in case this happens, so there is still concern about how any infections in Schools will be dealt with. Last minute changes, eg on face-mask rules are confusing. Yes there will be some Covid-19 hot-spots in school, as have happened this week in Scotland, but is the testing targetted, and can people afford to self isolate?
8. The scapegoating and demise of Public Health England (PHE).
How short-sighted of government to destabilise yet another part of the NHS with yet another an unannounced top-down re-organisation that is widely criticised by health professionals, particularly in the middle of a pandemic.
https://keepournhspublic.com/serco-contract-3-august/
Statement on 'Local test and Trace' campaign, August 26th 2020.
This is the fourth monthly briefing from Newham Save our NHS on our campaign for 'Local test and Trace.'
Scroll through the website for our previous monthly updates on July 25th, June 25th and 31st May. It is not a surprise that the story we tell month by month unfolds, as predicted. NHS privatisation often ends in tears, with lack of care for those affected.
Fortunately in Newham we have a mayor, a council and a Director of Public Health , who are Newham health champions. They call on government to give Newham the resources it needs. They "don’t subscribe to the idea that some Newham communities are ‘hard to reach’, rather there are some communities whose voices haven’t been heard." This is very true. Recruiting local Health Champions to share information is a great idea from Newham council.
Our borough is stricken with gross health inequalities. Newham has suffered the grievous deaths of 309 residents from
Covid -19. 1386 people from Newham have tested positive so far. Is government listening to the need for local resources? ' Local Test and Trace' is pivotal to future management of Covid-19, here and elsewhere.
Trends in the on-going campaign this month:
1. Problems with national testing continue.
The numbers of tests and the speed of tests still needs to increase. The test you get done in Newham is sent to a lab somewhere else. Confidence in government is low with too many failed promises This month it was revealed that the government removed 1.3 million Covid-19 tests from its data because of double counting. On 25th August the Dept of Health says it is 'completely untrue that it had run out of tests.' But media reports said that day there was an apparent shortage of home testing kits and laboratories were struggling to clear a backlog of tests since late July.
2. Poor national leadership embraces privatisation and cronyism.
Today we expect in Newham a government visit from failed businesswoman Dido Harding, who supports private healthcare and has private health insurance, yet who was mysteriously given the job of running the failed Covid-19 National Tracing system run by SERCO from their national call centres. Those embarrassing Downing Street double-act press conferences between Dido Harding and Matt Hancock sum up all that is wrong with NHS privatisation, SERCO and cronyism.
3. National tracing has failed.
6,000 of the under-employed SERCO call centre handlers have been sacked. It has been reported that the SERCO contract comes up for renewal in on August, but how can SERCO be given another contract in the middle of muddle? Has money been given to Newham instead?
4. Local council leaders/mayors continue to speak out nationally.
Andy Burnham from Manchester says the biggest changes needed are to Test and Trace, and giving people financial support to self isolate.
5. Lack of national financial support for those who are instructed to self isolate.
If Newham residents are told to self isolate by the app or by anyone else, how will low paid workers afford not to go to work? Statutory sick pay is not enough at less than £100 a week. Some workers may not be entitled to any sick pay eg zero hours workers, or care workers
But government are ignoring this problem, despite senior Tories like Robert Halfon MP saying as far back as June “We absolutely have to make it clear that anyone who is self-isolating is going to be able to afford to do so. If you’re a courier and you’re paid for how many boxes you deliver, how are you going to live?”
6. The second NHS Covid-19 tracing app.
From the last week of August Newham is included in the pilot. This is a good move, as we will be able to see what proportion of residents have a suitable phone and choose to use the app.
https://www.newham.gov.uk/news/article/496/new-nhs-test-and-trace-mobile-phone-app-launches-in-newham-from-today
7. Schools.
It has long been said that a working system for 'Local Test and Trace' was necessary to deal with any local flare ups in schools. But the government has not shared any 'Plan B' in case this happens, so there is still concern about how any infections in Schools will be dealt with. Last minute changes, eg on face-mask rules are confusing. Yes there will be some Covid-19 hot-spots in school, as have happened this week in Scotland, but is the testing targetted, and can people afford to self isolate?
8. The scapegoating and demise of Public Health England (PHE).
How short-sighted of government to destabilise yet another part of the NHS with yet another an unannounced top-down re-organisation that is widely criticised by health professionals, particularly in the middle of a pandemic.
https://keepournhspublic.com/serco-contract-3-august/
Secrecy and the back ground to the NHS Hostile Environment at Newham Hospital. How campaigners work to expose what is going on. A national campaign group supports the Newham Save our NHS campaign against NHS patient charging.
Keep Our NHS Public (KONP) have reported (August 5 2020) the government's strangely secretive response to the Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by Newham Save our NHS to the Department of Health in December 2018.
Secret Newham Hospital pilot in 2017.
Newham Save our NHS wanted to know the results of a secret so-called 'pilot' in Newham Hospital maternity unit in 2017 to check the identities of Newham patients to see if any of them could be charged for having a baby in Newham Hospital.
Secret information on the 'pilot' withheld from the public for years.
The government replied to Newham Save our NHS's FOI request in 2018 and again repeatedly in 2020. They say that they do not want to share the information they have !
Complaint to the Information Commissioner
Now, KONP is awaiting the outcome of a complaint to the Information Commissioner about the Dept of Health’s handling of the FOI request for information about the 'Identity Checking Pilot' of pregnant patients at Newham Hospital maternity.
Thanks to Newham's two MPs
Lyn Brown (MP West Ham) and Stephen Timms (MP East Ham) also support our campaign against NHS patient charging at Newham Hospital. We thank both MPs for attending our meetings to talk about this and for their follow up work. Lyn Brown MP submitted written questions in parliament in 2019 about the 'pilot' at Newham Hospital maternity and Stephen Timms wrote to Barts NHS Trust in 2020 about women being charge for maternity care at Newham Hospital.
Well done to North East London Health Campaigners
Health campaigners from Newham, Waltham Forest, Tower Hamlets and Hackney are working both separately and together. Our most recent joint meeting was on 4th August 2020. We also join with national groups like Medact and Migrants Organise in events, conferences and publicity We attend local council Scrutiny Committees where NHS patient charging is on the agenda. We repeatedly press Barts NHS Trust Board for details on the implementation of the NHS Hostile Environment in their local hospitals. We attend all the Barts Trust Board meetings in order to ask questions.
Secret patient numbers revealed, thanks to campaigners' questioning.
This year, following our questions to Barts NHS Trust Board, they revealed: seven hundred and thirty-nine (739) patients were billed at the three Barts hospitals' maternity units for NHS maternity care. Four hundred and fifty-six (456) of the 739 were at Newham hospital. Later it emerged that 290 of the 739 women had been wrongly invoiced. Maternity care is never refused, but free NHS maternity care is refused - for hundreds of women, as can be seen from the figures above.
This reckless withdrawal of free NHS maternity care has caused widespread fear, regardless of entitlement, since having a debt owed to the NHS and /or being reported to the Home Office can have life-changing future implications for local families.
The Covid-19 pandemic.
This has further shown how crucial it is for all members of our community to be free to seek medical care when appropriate without fear or debt or deportation. Half of pregnant women who have been hospitalised with Coronavirus have been BAME.See the complete KONP article
https://keepournhspublic.com/patient-identity-checking-pilot-suppressed/
6th August 2020.
Keep Our NHS Public (KONP) have reported (August 5 2020) the government's strangely secretive response to the Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by Newham Save our NHS to the Department of Health in December 2018.
Secret Newham Hospital pilot in 2017.
Newham Save our NHS wanted to know the results of a secret so-called 'pilot' in Newham Hospital maternity unit in 2017 to check the identities of Newham patients to see if any of them could be charged for having a baby in Newham Hospital.
Secret information on the 'pilot' withheld from the public for years.
The government replied to Newham Save our NHS's FOI request in 2018 and again repeatedly in 2020. They say that they do not want to share the information they have !
Complaint to the Information Commissioner
Now, KONP is awaiting the outcome of a complaint to the Information Commissioner about the Dept of Health’s handling of the FOI request for information about the 'Identity Checking Pilot' of pregnant patients at Newham Hospital maternity.
Thanks to Newham's two MPs
Lyn Brown (MP West Ham) and Stephen Timms (MP East Ham) also support our campaign against NHS patient charging at Newham Hospital. We thank both MPs for attending our meetings to talk about this and for their follow up work. Lyn Brown MP submitted written questions in parliament in 2019 about the 'pilot' at Newham Hospital maternity and Stephen Timms wrote to Barts NHS Trust in 2020 about women being charge for maternity care at Newham Hospital.
Well done to North East London Health Campaigners
Health campaigners from Newham, Waltham Forest, Tower Hamlets and Hackney are working both separately and together. Our most recent joint meeting was on 4th August 2020. We also join with national groups like Medact and Migrants Organise in events, conferences and publicity We attend local council Scrutiny Committees where NHS patient charging is on the agenda. We repeatedly press Barts NHS Trust Board for details on the implementation of the NHS Hostile Environment in their local hospitals. We attend all the Barts Trust Board meetings in order to ask questions.
Secret patient numbers revealed, thanks to campaigners' questioning.
This year, following our questions to Barts NHS Trust Board, they revealed: seven hundred and thirty-nine (739) patients were billed at the three Barts hospitals' maternity units for NHS maternity care. Four hundred and fifty-six (456) of the 739 were at Newham hospital. Later it emerged that 290 of the 739 women had been wrongly invoiced. Maternity care is never refused, but free NHS maternity care is refused - for hundreds of women, as can be seen from the figures above.
This reckless withdrawal of free NHS maternity care has caused widespread fear, regardless of entitlement, since having a debt owed to the NHS and /or being reported to the Home Office can have life-changing future implications for local families.
The Covid-19 pandemic.
This has further shown how crucial it is for all members of our community to be free to seek medical care when appropriate without fear or debt or deportation. Half of pregnant women who have been hospitalised with Coronavirus have been BAME.See the complete KONP article
https://keepournhspublic.com/patient-identity-checking-pilot-suppressed/
6th August 2020.
Thank you to Marie Gabriel CBE
Thanks to Marie Gabriel CBE (pictured bottom left) for attending a joint meeting of North East London SaveOurNHS organised by NewhamSaveOurNHS, on 5th August 2020. Marie is Independent Chair of the emerging north east London Integrated Care System (ICS) part of the East London Health and Care Partnership. It was great to be able to discuss the ICS and other issues with Marie and offer our insight and concerns about the reconfiguration of future NHS services across the footprint. We were very pleased to be joined by representatives from other SaveOurNHS groups and delighted to be invited to take part in further meetings with Marie to provide more insights, in the future. 5th August 2020.
Thanks to Marie Gabriel CBE (pictured bottom left) for attending a joint meeting of North East London SaveOurNHS organised by NewhamSaveOurNHS, on 5th August 2020. Marie is Independent Chair of the emerging north east London Integrated Care System (ICS) part of the East London Health and Care Partnership. It was great to be able to discuss the ICS and other issues with Marie and offer our insight and concerns about the reconfiguration of future NHS services across the footprint. We were very pleased to be joined by representatives from other SaveOurNHS groups and delighted to be invited to take part in further meetings with Marie to provide more insights, in the future. 5th August 2020.
Newham Save our NHS Statement on 'Local test and Trace campaign, July 25th 2020.
This is the third of three monthly updates on this campaign.
Scroll through this website for previous monthly updates on 31st May and 25th June, plus petitions, letters, press statements etc
As predicted, the remote and privatised National Test and Trace does not work. Now it has emerged that it is also costing (or wasting) £10 billion. Campaigners nationally want to see these private contracts.
Newham Save our NHS campaigners attended the virtual national Keep our NHS Public (KONP) Test and Trace meeting on 20th July 2020, hosted from Wirral. The pressure is certainly building with a stream of council mayors and council public Health Directors during the last two weeks pushing government on the need for 'Local Test and Trace.
We support Newham mayor Rokhsana Fiaz who has lead the way on demanding local control with 'Local Test and Trace.' She was on the ball eleven weeks ago. (7th May 2020) when she wrote to the Prime minister, "It is vital that the delivery of government's national testing strategy draws on the expertise and understanding of local areas and our local Public Health teams."
https://www.newham.gov.uk/downloads/file/1132/letter-to-boris-johnson-from-rokhsana-fiaz-7-may-2020
We support the Newham mayor's demand (17 July 2020) that 'the Government gives Newham more money through a Covid-19 Deprivation Premium to reflect the disproportionate impact the virus has had on our borough.
Jason Strelitz Newham Council Director of public Health also went public and said he was not receiving useful test data from the centralised, privately contracted operation created by Hancock. Strelitz had early concerns about the contact-tracing operation being set up, saying (May 31st 2020) in the national press, “We still don’t have a clear picture of who is being tested in our area nor of the extent of community transmission in Newham.”.
Our campaigners also listened in this week to Newham Council public video of their meeting on 22nd July 2020, which had test and trace on the agenda, but unfortunately this item was postponed because of IT problems.
Tracing failures sap morale. Targets set by government for national testing and tracing to work have been missed so often no one takes the next date seriously. This is bad for morale of those working so hard in public health in England.
And as for that tracing app, it was embarrassing to watch the Downing street double act, between Matt Hancock and business women Dido Harding, who has failed miserably in the tracing job she was given, but regards the app as the 'cherry on the cake.' What cake? There is no cake.
The shame of privatisation. The government’s privatised Deloitte / Sitel/ SERCO call centre model of test-and-trace system is now being publically shamed by failing to contact thousands of people in areas with the highest infection rates in England.
SERCO Chief executive officer gave the game away in a leaked email saying he doubted the test-and-trace scheme would evolve smoothly but said he wanted it to “cement the position of the private sector” in the NHS."
The private contact tracers phoning England even had an outbreak of Covid -19 at one of their call centres in Scotland. What a way to look after call centre workers!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-53465160
The future of local test and trace:
Why are we in England suffering these appalling mistakes with contact tracing when Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland know what they are doing?
English privatised test and trace seems designed to fail, even more so now that we know it works less well (reaching fewer people) in poorer areas.
To get through to this government, local council leaders, mayors and Director of Public Health and MPs in England must continue the stream of publicity. They must make their demands to government, following these recent examples: Manchester, Salford, Leicester, Sandwell, Luton, Bradford, Blackburn.
Here is one example: The director of public health, in Luton Council said (July 23 2020) she was “very concerned” at the low rate of tracing. She said the centralised system was “too remote” to be able to reach all of its communities.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/22/test-and-trace-system-in-england-failing-to-contact-thousands
This is the third of three monthly updates on this campaign.
Scroll through this website for previous monthly updates on 31st May and 25th June, plus petitions, letters, press statements etc
As predicted, the remote and privatised National Test and Trace does not work. Now it has emerged that it is also costing (or wasting) £10 billion. Campaigners nationally want to see these private contracts.
Newham Save our NHS campaigners attended the virtual national Keep our NHS Public (KONP) Test and Trace meeting on 20th July 2020, hosted from Wirral. The pressure is certainly building with a stream of council mayors and council public Health Directors during the last two weeks pushing government on the need for 'Local Test and Trace.
We support Newham mayor Rokhsana Fiaz who has lead the way on demanding local control with 'Local Test and Trace.' She was on the ball eleven weeks ago. (7th May 2020) when she wrote to the Prime minister, "It is vital that the delivery of government's national testing strategy draws on the expertise and understanding of local areas and our local Public Health teams."
https://www.newham.gov.uk/downloads/file/1132/letter-to-boris-johnson-from-rokhsana-fiaz-7-may-2020
We support the Newham mayor's demand (17 July 2020) that 'the Government gives Newham more money through a Covid-19 Deprivation Premium to reflect the disproportionate impact the virus has had on our borough.
Jason Strelitz Newham Council Director of public Health also went public and said he was not receiving useful test data from the centralised, privately contracted operation created by Hancock. Strelitz had early concerns about the contact-tracing operation being set up, saying (May 31st 2020) in the national press, “We still don’t have a clear picture of who is being tested in our area nor of the extent of community transmission in Newham.”.
Our campaigners also listened in this week to Newham Council public video of their meeting on 22nd July 2020, which had test and trace on the agenda, but unfortunately this item was postponed because of IT problems.
Tracing failures sap morale. Targets set by government for national testing and tracing to work have been missed so often no one takes the next date seriously. This is bad for morale of those working so hard in public health in England.
And as for that tracing app, it was embarrassing to watch the Downing street double act, between Matt Hancock and business women Dido Harding, who has failed miserably in the tracing job she was given, but regards the app as the 'cherry on the cake.' What cake? There is no cake.
The shame of privatisation. The government’s privatised Deloitte / Sitel/ SERCO call centre model of test-and-trace system is now being publically shamed by failing to contact thousands of people in areas with the highest infection rates in England.
SERCO Chief executive officer gave the game away in a leaked email saying he doubted the test-and-trace scheme would evolve smoothly but said he wanted it to “cement the position of the private sector” in the NHS."
The private contact tracers phoning England even had an outbreak of Covid -19 at one of their call centres in Scotland. What a way to look after call centre workers!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-53465160
The future of local test and trace:
Why are we in England suffering these appalling mistakes with contact tracing when Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland know what they are doing?
English privatised test and trace seems designed to fail, even more so now that we know it works less well (reaching fewer people) in poorer areas.
To get through to this government, local council leaders, mayors and Director of Public Health and MPs in England must continue the stream of publicity. They must make their demands to government, following these recent examples: Manchester, Salford, Leicester, Sandwell, Luton, Bradford, Blackburn.
Here is one example: The director of public health, in Luton Council said (July 23 2020) she was “very concerned” at the low rate of tracing. She said the centralised system was “too remote” to be able to reach all of its communities.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/22/test-and-trace-system-in-england-failing-to-contact-thousands
NHS Privatisation and Private Finance Initiative (PFI).
Barts NHS Trust, a snapshot from May 2020.
Introduction
There is a pyramid in terms of value of privatisation contracts. Land sales and PFI contracts are the most shocking. Both are lucrative to financiers. Neither are necessary. Both are a political choice. With PFI the NHS keeps the land, but pays much more for private finance building and maintenance of the premises than the government would have paid to do the same build and the same maintenance. PFI's are best known for high costs, inflexible contracts, and excess profits.
Both land sales and PFI further undermine the NHS by increasing the unnecessary costs of bureaucracy and the use of business / finance consultants in the NHS.
From selling off the family silver (NHS land) at Whipps Cross Hospital site in order to pay towards rebuilding a new hospital with fewer beds than at present, to huge PFI contracts lasting decades, the effect is that money that should belong to the nation is siphoned off.
Risks of PFI identified by Barts NHS Trust
The PFI model, piles long term capital costs on to revenue budgets for thirty or forty years of the contract. This drains away money that could be paying for other useful things. Barts expresses it like this:
In March 2020 the The Barts Board identified "PFI costs (outside the scope of the Trust’s savings programme) over the life of the contract" as one of many "principal risks to the delivery of the Trust’s objectives."
BARTS HEALTH NHS TRUST REPORT TO THE TRUST BOARD: 4 MARCH 2020 BOARD ASSURANCE FRAMEWORK (BAF)
Newham Hospital PFI payments made by Barts Trust in May 2020.
A city firm, quaintly, yet opaquely called, 'Healthcare Support Newham Limited' (HSNL) runs the smaller Barts NHS Trust PFI at Newham Hospital. HSNL received payments (May 2020) totalling £662,000 from Barts Trust. This PFI contract rumbles on draining taxpayers' money till 2039.
https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n7724.pdf&ver=12444
The PFI payments made in May 2020 by Barts Trust for two hospitals, the Royal London and St Bartholomew's.
The biggest PFI contract in the whole NHS is for the building and maintenance of two hospitals, the Royal London and St Bartholomew's London. There is £4.5 billion still to pay on a contract worth £1.1 billion, an incredibly long contract of 42 years, which is a a very attractive money spinner for these firms. A city business consultancy called 'HCP' specialises in PFI Infrastructure management. HCP supplies a 'Capital Hospitals' team to manage five contractors, including Skanska for the Hard Facilities management. The other four areas are: Soft Facilities Management, Sterile Services, Managed Equipment, and Radiotherapy Managed Equipment. Skanska did the construction and Skanska also has 37.5% in Capital Hospitals.
Skanska
This is the same Skanska whose blacklisting of workers ruined people's lives, by secretly organising to deny them work across the construction industry. In a letter from Skanska to Barts Board on May 2016, following a question to Barts Board from Newham save our NHS, Skanska admitted using the blacklisting 'Consulting Association' (CA), (which was closed down in May 2009 by the UK Information Commissioner,) saying "Skanska UK did use the services of the CA on the Barts and The London project, but this was limited to the early part of the project up to March 2009."
Capital Hospitals Ltd
These five PFI payments were made in one month, May 2020 by Barts NHS Trust to Capital Hospitals Ltd.
£69,253.69 PFI unitary payment PFI FM Services
£670,107. PFI unitary payment MES CT SCANNERS X 3
£1,059,536.72 PFI unitary payment PFI FM Services
£138,723.58 PFI unitary payment IMAGING DURABLES - MES 19/20
£54,233.12 PFI unitary payment ENERGY & UTILITIES - SBH
Barts Trust monthly accounts. Barts is committed to being an open and transparent organisation. "As part of this commitment we have published any expenditure over £25,000, this is in line with the government’s commitment to greater transparency of how public funds are used. This information will continue to be published on the 15th working day of each month.".
Scroll down the key documents link to 'Monthly financial transparency documents.
https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/key-documents
Future of PFI
They are a huge problem, because of being so widely embedded over a period of time in the NHS, by both main political parties when in government. The Centre for Health and the Public Interest (CHPI) analyses five options for dealing with PFI, non of them clear-cut. Government needs to consider these options to decide what to do.
https://chpi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CHPI-PFI-Options-Sep18-FINAL.pdf
https://lowdownnhs.info/analysis/debt-full-figures-show-the-trusts-that-suffered-most/
Barts NHS Trust, a snapshot from May 2020.
Introduction
There is a pyramid in terms of value of privatisation contracts. Land sales and PFI contracts are the most shocking. Both are lucrative to financiers. Neither are necessary. Both are a political choice. With PFI the NHS keeps the land, but pays much more for private finance building and maintenance of the premises than the government would have paid to do the same build and the same maintenance. PFI's are best known for high costs, inflexible contracts, and excess profits.
Both land sales and PFI further undermine the NHS by increasing the unnecessary costs of bureaucracy and the use of business / finance consultants in the NHS.
From selling off the family silver (NHS land) at Whipps Cross Hospital site in order to pay towards rebuilding a new hospital with fewer beds than at present, to huge PFI contracts lasting decades, the effect is that money that should belong to the nation is siphoned off.
Risks of PFI identified by Barts NHS Trust
The PFI model, piles long term capital costs on to revenue budgets for thirty or forty years of the contract. This drains away money that could be paying for other useful things. Barts expresses it like this:
In March 2020 the The Barts Board identified "PFI costs (outside the scope of the Trust’s savings programme) over the life of the contract" as one of many "principal risks to the delivery of the Trust’s objectives."
BARTS HEALTH NHS TRUST REPORT TO THE TRUST BOARD: 4 MARCH 2020 BOARD ASSURANCE FRAMEWORK (BAF)
Newham Hospital PFI payments made by Barts Trust in May 2020.
A city firm, quaintly, yet opaquely called, 'Healthcare Support Newham Limited' (HSNL) runs the smaller Barts NHS Trust PFI at Newham Hospital. HSNL received payments (May 2020) totalling £662,000 from Barts Trust. This PFI contract rumbles on draining taxpayers' money till 2039.
https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n7724.pdf&ver=12444
The PFI payments made in May 2020 by Barts Trust for two hospitals, the Royal London and St Bartholomew's.
The biggest PFI contract in the whole NHS is for the building and maintenance of two hospitals, the Royal London and St Bartholomew's London. There is £4.5 billion still to pay on a contract worth £1.1 billion, an incredibly long contract of 42 years, which is a a very attractive money spinner for these firms. A city business consultancy called 'HCP' specialises in PFI Infrastructure management. HCP supplies a 'Capital Hospitals' team to manage five contractors, including Skanska for the Hard Facilities management. The other four areas are: Soft Facilities Management, Sterile Services, Managed Equipment, and Radiotherapy Managed Equipment. Skanska did the construction and Skanska also has 37.5% in Capital Hospitals.
Skanska
This is the same Skanska whose blacklisting of workers ruined people's lives, by secretly organising to deny them work across the construction industry. In a letter from Skanska to Barts Board on May 2016, following a question to Barts Board from Newham save our NHS, Skanska admitted using the blacklisting 'Consulting Association' (CA), (which was closed down in May 2009 by the UK Information Commissioner,) saying "Skanska UK did use the services of the CA on the Barts and The London project, but this was limited to the early part of the project up to March 2009."
Capital Hospitals Ltd
These five PFI payments were made in one month, May 2020 by Barts NHS Trust to Capital Hospitals Ltd.
£69,253.69 PFI unitary payment PFI FM Services
£670,107. PFI unitary payment MES CT SCANNERS X 3
£1,059,536.72 PFI unitary payment PFI FM Services
£138,723.58 PFI unitary payment IMAGING DURABLES - MES 19/20
£54,233.12 PFI unitary payment ENERGY & UTILITIES - SBH
Barts Trust monthly accounts. Barts is committed to being an open and transparent organisation. "As part of this commitment we have published any expenditure over £25,000, this is in line with the government’s commitment to greater transparency of how public funds are used. This information will continue to be published on the 15th working day of each month.".
Scroll down the key documents link to 'Monthly financial transparency documents.
https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/key-documents
Future of PFI
They are a huge problem, because of being so widely embedded over a period of time in the NHS, by both main political parties when in government. The Centre for Health and the Public Interest (CHPI) analyses five options for dealing with PFI, non of them clear-cut. Government needs to consider these options to decide what to do.
https://chpi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CHPI-PFI-Options-Sep18-FINAL.pdf
https://lowdownnhs.info/analysis/debt-full-figures-show-the-trusts-that-suffered-most/
Newham Save our NHS Statement. Update on 'Local test and Trace.' June 25th 2020.
Our last statement on this topic was 31st May 2020. Since then our volunteers have been working hard to campaign for Newham council to have the money and the power to tailor 'Local Test and Trace' to the needs of our Newham communities, who have been so badly hit by the pandemic.
At the start of June 2020 Newham Save our NHS, with other NHS groups in north-east London boroughs, launched a campaign calling for 'Local Test and Trace.' We wrote to Mayors and councillors across the area. We launched a petition calling on councils to work towards 'Local Test and Trace that includes our excellent GPs. and the local Public Health director.
https://www.change.org/p/ne-london-mayors-and-councils-ne-london-councils-set-up-local-test-isolate-care-trace-systems/u/26828733
Since then, it has become even clearer that the Government’s test and trace plans are – as Sir David King, Chair of Independent Sage and former Chief Scientist, has suggested – “not fit for purpose” in their current form.Lockdown has been eased, but national Test and Trace does not work. Every expert questioned throughout this pandemic has been clear that you can only ease lockdown with a good quality test and trace system.
The NHS app doesn’t work. The Serco-run call centres are staffed by poorly trained people, engaging with a fraction of the sick population. Tests are taking far too long to come back with results – and self-tests don’t appear to be available to those who cannot provide an email address. GPs are frustrated that they are not getting data from the centralised system, when they will be the ones caring for the patients longer term.
The Government has gradually backtracked from its initial position of by-passing local public health contact tracing expertise altogether. But Public Health England is still trying to insist that local public health work (limited to testing in care homes and tracking local hotspot outbreaks) should primarily exist to feed data into the centralised system. This is effectively holding back existing local systems that could be up and running, working with GPs, engaging with communities they know, and involving local community leaders and volunteers – just as the WHO recommends.
In our view, the centralised system should be supporting the work on the ground, not the other way around.
Until Newham gets local control of Testing and Tracing, we will miss the opportunity to do all we can to protect local residents. We support Newham Council in its work to get more local powers.
Meanwhile, good news from Tower Hamlets, where the GP Care Group (comprising 36 GP surgeries) is currently setting up a Local Test and Trace system. The Tower Hamlets mayor has instructed the Tower Hamlets Public Health director public to align his work with this system. The East London Health and Care Partnership, which oversees the NHS, in north-east London appears interested in how this model could be rolled out to every borough in NE London.
https://www.facebook.com/NewhamSaveOurNHS/
Our last statement on this topic was 31st May 2020. Since then our volunteers have been working hard to campaign for Newham council to have the money and the power to tailor 'Local Test and Trace' to the needs of our Newham communities, who have been so badly hit by the pandemic.
At the start of June 2020 Newham Save our NHS, with other NHS groups in north-east London boroughs, launched a campaign calling for 'Local Test and Trace.' We wrote to Mayors and councillors across the area. We launched a petition calling on councils to work towards 'Local Test and Trace that includes our excellent GPs. and the local Public Health director.
https://www.change.org/p/ne-london-mayors-and-councils-ne-london-councils-set-up-local-test-isolate-care-trace-systems/u/26828733
Since then, it has become even clearer that the Government’s test and trace plans are – as Sir David King, Chair of Independent Sage and former Chief Scientist, has suggested – “not fit for purpose” in their current form.Lockdown has been eased, but national Test and Trace does not work. Every expert questioned throughout this pandemic has been clear that you can only ease lockdown with a good quality test and trace system.
The NHS app doesn’t work. The Serco-run call centres are staffed by poorly trained people, engaging with a fraction of the sick population. Tests are taking far too long to come back with results – and self-tests don’t appear to be available to those who cannot provide an email address. GPs are frustrated that they are not getting data from the centralised system, when they will be the ones caring for the patients longer term.
The Government has gradually backtracked from its initial position of by-passing local public health contact tracing expertise altogether. But Public Health England is still trying to insist that local public health work (limited to testing in care homes and tracking local hotspot outbreaks) should primarily exist to feed data into the centralised system. This is effectively holding back existing local systems that could be up and running, working with GPs, engaging with communities they know, and involving local community leaders and volunteers – just as the WHO recommends.
In our view, the centralised system should be supporting the work on the ground, not the other way around.
Until Newham gets local control of Testing and Tracing, we will miss the opportunity to do all we can to protect local residents. We support Newham Council in its work to get more local powers.
Meanwhile, good news from Tower Hamlets, where the GP Care Group (comprising 36 GP surgeries) is currently setting up a Local Test and Trace system. The Tower Hamlets mayor has instructed the Tower Hamlets Public Health director public to align his work with this system. The East London Health and Care Partnership, which oversees the NHS, in north-east London appears interested in how this model could be rolled out to every borough in NE London.
https://www.facebook.com/NewhamSaveOurNHS/
Londonist.com
Windrush Day - Monday 22nd June 2020.
Well done Newham Council on your celebration of the Windrush generation. (See website below.)
Newham Save our NHS is asking Health Scrutiny Councillors from Newham and other local councils in North-East London (INEL JHOSC) to make a statement along the lines below at their meeting on Wednesday 24 June 2020.
This will honour all those who came to Tilbury in1949, Caribbean people who had served in the British armed forces and who were encouraged to come to Britain and help to rebuild the UK, in the NHS and elsewhere.
Suggested INEL JHOSC Covid-19 Health Inequalities Statement on NHS patient charging.
"Whatever the efforts made by local NHS Trusts (which we support) to mitigate the effects on residents in our boroughs of the Hostile Environment in the NHS, our residents suffer from the decision to charge selected patients for NHS care. As local councillors, we know residents in our boroughs in north-east London are being oppressed by the NHS charging regulations. This is the case even if they are fully entitled to free NHS treatment. Some patients, not knowing Covid-19 treatment is free, or not sure if their symptoms relate to something else that could be charged for, are scared of going to hospital because they know about NHS charging, they know about NHS debts and the repercussions that follow as a result of NHS charging, and they know about the Windrush Generation. This is a public health policy problem and we call on NHS England and NHS Improvement to demand the end of the Hostile Environment and patient charging in the NHS."
See this link to Newham council's website for interesting stories and other information.
https://www.newham.gov.uk/libraries-artswww.newham.gov.uk/libraries-arts-culture/windrush-day-2020/3?documentId=416&categoryId=20015-culture/windrush-day-2020/3?documentId=416&categoryId=20015
Well done Newham Council on your celebration of the Windrush generation. (See website below.)
Newham Save our NHS is asking Health Scrutiny Councillors from Newham and other local councils in North-East London (INEL JHOSC) to make a statement along the lines below at their meeting on Wednesday 24 June 2020.
This will honour all those who came to Tilbury in1949, Caribbean people who had served in the British armed forces and who were encouraged to come to Britain and help to rebuild the UK, in the NHS and elsewhere.
Suggested INEL JHOSC Covid-19 Health Inequalities Statement on NHS patient charging.
"Whatever the efforts made by local NHS Trusts (which we support) to mitigate the effects on residents in our boroughs of the Hostile Environment in the NHS, our residents suffer from the decision to charge selected patients for NHS care. As local councillors, we know residents in our boroughs in north-east London are being oppressed by the NHS charging regulations. This is the case even if they are fully entitled to free NHS treatment. Some patients, not knowing Covid-19 treatment is free, or not sure if their symptoms relate to something else that could be charged for, are scared of going to hospital because they know about NHS charging, they know about NHS debts and the repercussions that follow as a result of NHS charging, and they know about the Windrush Generation. This is a public health policy problem and we call on NHS England and NHS Improvement to demand the end of the Hostile Environment and patient charging in the NHS."
See this link to Newham council's website for interesting stories and other information.
https://www.newham.gov.uk/libraries-artswww.newham.gov.uk/libraries-arts-culture/windrush-day-2020/3?documentId=416&categoryId=20015-culture/windrush-day-2020/3?documentId=416&categoryId=20015
Newham's poor figures for Covid age related deaths
Newham age-standardised mortality rates from Covid 19 are 196.8 deaths per 100,000 population.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) new report (12 June 2020) gives terrible figures showing Newham's grievous suffering from Covid-19 deaths. In a readable report, it looks at deaths between 1 March and 31 May 2020, registered up to 6 June 2020.
.
"Nine of the ten local authorities with the highest age-standardised mortality rates for deaths involving COVID-19 over this period were London Boroughs; Brent had the highest overall age-standardised rate with 210.9 deaths per 100,000 population, followed by Newham (196.8 deaths per 100,000 population) and Hackney (182.9 deaths per 100,000 population)."
This contrasts with, "the mortality rate in the least deprived areas (58.8 deaths per 100,000).
“Meanwhile, people living in more deprived areas have continued to experience COVID-19 mortality rates more than double those living in less deprived areas. General mortality rates are normally higher in more deprived areas, but COVID-19 appears to be increasing this effect.”
Newham Save our NHS offers condolences to all our residents who have suffered loss during the Covi-19 pandemic.
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsinvolvingcovid19bylocalareasanddeprivation/deathsoccurringbetween1marchand31may2020?hootPostID=99da561a8f846d840579c3aa49ad15fa
Newham age-standardised mortality rates from Covid 19 are 196.8 deaths per 100,000 population.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) new report (12 June 2020) gives terrible figures showing Newham's grievous suffering from Covid-19 deaths. In a readable report, it looks at deaths between 1 March and 31 May 2020, registered up to 6 June 2020.
.
"Nine of the ten local authorities with the highest age-standardised mortality rates for deaths involving COVID-19 over this period were London Boroughs; Brent had the highest overall age-standardised rate with 210.9 deaths per 100,000 population, followed by Newham (196.8 deaths per 100,000 population) and Hackney (182.9 deaths per 100,000 population)."
This contrasts with, "the mortality rate in the least deprived areas (58.8 deaths per 100,000).
“Meanwhile, people living in more deprived areas have continued to experience COVID-19 mortality rates more than double those living in less deprived areas. General mortality rates are normally higher in more deprived areas, but COVID-19 appears to be increasing this effect.”
Newham Save our NHS offers condolences to all our residents who have suffered loss during the Covi-19 pandemic.
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsinvolvingcovid19bylocalareasanddeprivation/deathsoccurringbetween1marchand31may2020?hootPostID=99da561a8f846d840579c3aa49ad15fa
LOCAL TEST-ISOLATE-CARE-TREAT: TIME TO BACK THE GP-LED PROPOSAL. NORTH EAST LONDON SAVE OUR NHS PLEASE
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO SIGN THE PETITION:
https://www.change.org/p/ne-london-mayors-and-councils-ne-london-councils-set-up-local-test-isolate-care-trace-systems/u/26828733
Thank you for your support in signing our petition calling on the councils of NE London to set up local test-isolate-care-treat systems.
Since we launched the petition on 19 May, a number of things have changed nationally and locally. Councils were already responsible for care home testing (from 7 May). But on 22 May, they gained additional responsibilities – with a new pot of £300m to meet them.
They now have to: provide Tier 1 contact tracers to take on local ‘complex cases’ for the centralised Public Health England system, and draw up plans and use local testing facilities to tackle outbreaks in local hotspots, using data supplied by the national Joint Biosecurity Centre. Hackney and Newham (working with Camden and Barnet) have been picked as ‘best practice’ councils for the new arrangements. We understand why they see this as a victory. It’s undeniably better than being by-passed.
But this is NOT local ownership of public health. It’s far from being enough. The new arrangements are still controlled centrally by a badly managed contact tracing scheme, outsourced to Serco. It won't be fully up and running till at least September/October.
Now that lockdown is being eased, we need local control over local data more urgently than ever.
Our councils can and must do more. The East London Health and Care Partnership, which oversees the NHS across NE London, is seriously considering a model for a genuinely local scheme in Tower Hamlets. A detailed proposal has been put forward by the borough’s GPs, with backing from local academics, public health professionals and a housing association, who have come together to work together across the borough. This model could be rolled out to every borough in NE London, if councils worked with primary care to make it happen.
In a tweet sent on 20 May, Sir David Nicholson, former Chief Executive of NHS England, wrote: Irrespective of what the national plans are, tracing will end up being led locally and local authority based, so we’d better get ready.
We now need to redouble our efforts to get our local councils behind the local proposal. Please now urge everyone you know who lives and works in NE London to sign the petition and back this urgent call.
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO SIGN THE PETITION:
https://www.change.org/p/ne-london-mayors-and-councils-ne-london-councils-set-up-local-test-isolate-care-trace-systems/u/26828733
Thank you for your support in signing our petition calling on the councils of NE London to set up local test-isolate-care-treat systems.
Since we launched the petition on 19 May, a number of things have changed nationally and locally. Councils were already responsible for care home testing (from 7 May). But on 22 May, they gained additional responsibilities – with a new pot of £300m to meet them.
They now have to: provide Tier 1 contact tracers to take on local ‘complex cases’ for the centralised Public Health England system, and draw up plans and use local testing facilities to tackle outbreaks in local hotspots, using data supplied by the national Joint Biosecurity Centre. Hackney and Newham (working with Camden and Barnet) have been picked as ‘best practice’ councils for the new arrangements. We understand why they see this as a victory. It’s undeniably better than being by-passed.
But this is NOT local ownership of public health. It’s far from being enough. The new arrangements are still controlled centrally by a badly managed contact tracing scheme, outsourced to Serco. It won't be fully up and running till at least September/October.
Now that lockdown is being eased, we need local control over local data more urgently than ever.
Our councils can and must do more. The East London Health and Care Partnership, which oversees the NHS across NE London, is seriously considering a model for a genuinely local scheme in Tower Hamlets. A detailed proposal has been put forward by the borough’s GPs, with backing from local academics, public health professionals and a housing association, who have come together to work together across the borough. This model could be rolled out to every borough in NE London, if councils worked with primary care to make it happen.
In a tweet sent on 20 May, Sir David Nicholson, former Chief Executive of NHS England, wrote: Irrespective of what the national plans are, tracing will end up being led locally and local authority based, so we’d better get ready.
We now need to redouble our efforts to get our local councils behind the local proposal. Please now urge everyone you know who lives and works in NE London to sign the petition and back this urgent call.
Ron Singer, former Chair of Newham Save Our NHS - much missed.
15th September 1948 - 28th May 2020.
It is with great sadness that Newham Save Our NHS announces that Ron Singer, our friend, comrade and Chair of our campaign since it's inception, passed away on 28th May 2020. Ron's partner, Jan, spoke of the selfless work of all the NHS staff and carers in Whipps Cross Hospital who worked tirelesslly to make his passing as comfortable as possible. Ron was a fighter for the NHS throughout his life. Working as a GP he was well respected by friends and colleagues alike who contined to stay in touch with him following his retirement.
Ron was an activist even while he was working and in helping to establish Newham Save our NHS as a working group of campaigners he was always on hand to offer his insider knowledge of the profession which he devoted his life. He made contacts after his retirement with members of the CCG and other professional and adminstrative bodies of the NHS to earn much respect for the group as a campaigning organisation.
Ron was born in September 1948, the year the NHS was established, so his determination to fight against the privatisation of the NHS, for an improvement in the conditions for NHS doctors, nurses and staff in general ad agains the hostile environment seems to sit will with his own history.
When Ron met his partner, Jan, he had suffered a serious heart attack and predicted they might be lucky to share 10 years together. As it happens they were happily together for another 15 years. Ron was a good listener, a gentle character and had a quiet sense of humour. There was alway a twinkle in his eye. That's why he was such a good Chair and held our group together for so man years. Without him we would never have become the core of tried and tested activists that we are. We are having an impact and we are at last being listened to. That's in no small part due to Ron. He always thought of others and understood the importance too of understanding everything within its broader political context.
Many people paid their respects (in a socially distanced way) by holding up banners near his home, at the cemetery and by viewing it on a video link. We were so delighted to see many fellow campaigners with their banners out for Ron to bid him farewell. Here are a few pictures below.
Thank you Ron. We will all miss you.
15th September 1948 - 28th May 2020.
It is with great sadness that Newham Save Our NHS announces that Ron Singer, our friend, comrade and Chair of our campaign since it's inception, passed away on 28th May 2020. Ron's partner, Jan, spoke of the selfless work of all the NHS staff and carers in Whipps Cross Hospital who worked tirelesslly to make his passing as comfortable as possible. Ron was a fighter for the NHS throughout his life. Working as a GP he was well respected by friends and colleagues alike who contined to stay in touch with him following his retirement.
Ron was an activist even while he was working and in helping to establish Newham Save our NHS as a working group of campaigners he was always on hand to offer his insider knowledge of the profession which he devoted his life. He made contacts after his retirement with members of the CCG and other professional and adminstrative bodies of the NHS to earn much respect for the group as a campaigning organisation.
Ron was born in September 1948, the year the NHS was established, so his determination to fight against the privatisation of the NHS, for an improvement in the conditions for NHS doctors, nurses and staff in general ad agains the hostile environment seems to sit will with his own history.
When Ron met his partner, Jan, he had suffered a serious heart attack and predicted they might be lucky to share 10 years together. As it happens they were happily together for another 15 years. Ron was a good listener, a gentle character and had a quiet sense of humour. There was alway a twinkle in his eye. That's why he was such a good Chair and held our group together for so man years. Without him we would never have become the core of tried and tested activists that we are. We are having an impact and we are at last being listened to. That's in no small part due to Ron. He always thought of others and understood the importance too of understanding everything within its broader political context.
Many people paid their respects (in a socially distanced way) by holding up banners near his home, at the cemetery and by viewing it on a video link. We were so delighted to see many fellow campaigners with their banners out for Ron to bid him farewell. Here are a few pictures below.
Thank you Ron. We will all miss you.
Newham save our NHS Statement (31st May 2020) on local 'Test And Trace.'
Newham Save Our NHS have been, and continue to campaign for NHS, local 'Test and Trace' so that we can move out of lockdown in a safer way.
We urge people to sign our petition below which is about a local test and trace response in Newham and other north-east London boroughs, also severely hit by COVID 19. Newham Council has been left in the dark by an arrogant and ignorant government. Newham save our NHS calls (31st May 2020) for government to give Newham Council the help it needs.
Ignorance, arrogance and an NHS weakened by cuts and dangerous top-down government re-organisations, on-going since the 2012 Health and Social Care Act, have created an appalling scenario. Newham residents are dying, yet the Newham Director of Pubic Health Jason Strelitz was not informed when Covid -19 first hit our borough, which went on to become the worst hit place in the country, with a death rate of 144 per 100,000 people. With a large population of approx 360,000 people, the size of a city, Newham's Director of Public Health still has to contend with not knowing who is being tested for Covid 19, and where the local outbreaks are. The government has created and must take responsibility for this dangerous and on-going situation.
No confidence in the shambolic national system
Currently (31st May 2020) Newham save our NHS has no confidence in the national 'Test and Trace' system that the government has variously withdrawn ( early in the pandemic in March) then promised as 'world-class' for shifting dates in May, and which is now postponed again for another month till the end of June. Trust is shattered.
As we said on our facebook page last week, We look forward to seeing the details on what local councils can provide if they get enough government money. When willl Newham Council get the money?
GP's left out of the badly designed national system.
The 111 system has by-passed GPs so that we do not have local data. This means we do not know about local outbreaks in good time. We need that information going to GPs before people die. Newham Council Public Health Director must get data about outbreaks in Newham.
SERCO's national, much criticised, call-centre tracing system is apparently not integrated with our local GPs. It is barely working, with employees lacking trainng. Deloitte and Covid-19 test results. Many of these swab tests, done in 'drive-by' centres, have not been returned by the smaller private contractors, who in turn were set up by private contractor Deloitte. So our GPs don't get our results. What a mess.
Where is Newham's testing coming from? Is it local, so people can get there? Are the results back in 24 hours? Do our GPs get the results/ Please see our letter (below) to the Newham Mayor on 6th May 2020, which explains what many think is a good local system.
Newham Save Our NHS have been, and continue to campaign for NHS, local 'Test and Trace' so that we can move out of lockdown in a safer way.
We urge people to sign our petition below which is about a local test and trace response in Newham and other north-east London boroughs, also severely hit by COVID 19. Newham Council has been left in the dark by an arrogant and ignorant government. Newham save our NHS calls (31st May 2020) for government to give Newham Council the help it needs.
Ignorance, arrogance and an NHS weakened by cuts and dangerous top-down government re-organisations, on-going since the 2012 Health and Social Care Act, have created an appalling scenario. Newham residents are dying, yet the Newham Director of Pubic Health Jason Strelitz was not informed when Covid -19 first hit our borough, which went on to become the worst hit place in the country, with a death rate of 144 per 100,000 people. With a large population of approx 360,000 people, the size of a city, Newham's Director of Public Health still has to contend with not knowing who is being tested for Covid 19, and where the local outbreaks are. The government has created and must take responsibility for this dangerous and on-going situation.
No confidence in the shambolic national system
Currently (31st May 2020) Newham save our NHS has no confidence in the national 'Test and Trace' system that the government has variously withdrawn ( early in the pandemic in March) then promised as 'world-class' for shifting dates in May, and which is now postponed again for another month till the end of June. Trust is shattered.
As we said on our facebook page last week, We look forward to seeing the details on what local councils can provide if they get enough government money. When willl Newham Council get the money?
GP's left out of the badly designed national system.
The 111 system has by-passed GPs so that we do not have local data. This means we do not know about local outbreaks in good time. We need that information going to GPs before people die. Newham Council Public Health Director must get data about outbreaks in Newham.
SERCO's national, much criticised, call-centre tracing system is apparently not integrated with our local GPs. It is barely working, with employees lacking trainng. Deloitte and Covid-19 test results. Many of these swab tests, done in 'drive-by' centres, have not been returned by the smaller private contractors, who in turn were set up by private contractor Deloitte. So our GPs don't get our results. What a mess.
Where is Newham's testing coming from? Is it local, so people can get there? Are the results back in 24 hours? Do our GPs get the results/ Please see our letter (below) to the Newham Mayor on 6th May 2020, which explains what many think is a good local system.
Newham mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz wrote (27th May 2020) to Newham Save Our NHS thanking us for our support. We thank the mayor for writing to us, and for opening the recent Health and Well being Board last week to questions from the public. We quote from the mayor's letter (shown below), "Local testing is crucial to ensuring we can protect Newham residents – those most at risk - from a devastating second wave of the virus and an upsurge of illness and deaths. It is vital that we act without delay." This is spot on.
From: <Mayor@newham.gov.uk>
Date: Wed, 27 May 2020 at 09:12
Subject: Local testing and tracking
To: <newsonhs@gmail.com>
Cc: <CEX-Councillors@newham.gov.uk>
Dear Newham SoNHS,
Thank you for your e-mail of 8 May and the copy of Newham Save Our NHS’s press release calling for local testing and contact tracing. Thank you also for your support in the press release for my position on the need for greater local responses in easing lockdown, rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
As you will know, I have been calling on Government since the end of March – just after the lockdown began - to increase local testing. I made the case again for community testing to be a priority in high risk areas, such as Newham, in my recent letter to the Prime Minister:
“Analysis shows that a high proportion of BAME residents is the strongest predictor of a high Covid-19 death rate. We cannot contemplate a safe easing of lockdown without a significant increase in community testing in those areas, such as Newham, with the highest risk to life. It is vital that the delivery of government’s national testing strategy draws on the expertise and understanding of local areas and our local Public Health teams.”
You can read my letter in full here.
I’m pleased that the Government now recognises the important role that local authorities can play. The Government’s plan for easing lockdown, Our Plan to Rebuild, highlights that local authority public health services “bring a valuable local dimension to testing, contact tracing and support to people who need to self-isolate”.
Indeed, my Chief Executive, Althea Loderick, is chairing a London-wide Chief Executive Task & Finish Group looking at the role of London boroughs in supporting the delivery of the national roll-out of contact testing, to support local responses and preparedness. As part of our own local response, we are working with partners in the North East London commissioning group to pilot local testing arrangements, focussed initially in care homes, and making home testing kits available.
Covid-19 has sharply exposed the impact that deprivation has on health outcomes and life expectancy – levels of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and asthma caused by toxic air quality are pronounced in the borough. Data from the Office of National Statistics also demonstrates the alarming impact of the virus on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, which make up 73% of Newham’s population. Local testing is crucial to ensuring we can protect Newham residents – those most at risk - from a devastating second wave of the virus and an upsurge of illness and deaths. It is vital that we act without delay.
Yours sincerely,
Rokhsana Fiaz, OBE
Mayor of Newham
People at the heart of everything we do
Date: Wed, 27 May 2020 at 09:12
Subject: Local testing and tracking
To: <newsonhs@gmail.com>
Cc: <CEX-Councillors@newham.gov.uk>
Dear Newham SoNHS,
Thank you for your e-mail of 8 May and the copy of Newham Save Our NHS’s press release calling for local testing and contact tracing. Thank you also for your support in the press release for my position on the need for greater local responses in easing lockdown, rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
As you will know, I have been calling on Government since the end of March – just after the lockdown began - to increase local testing. I made the case again for community testing to be a priority in high risk areas, such as Newham, in my recent letter to the Prime Minister:
“Analysis shows that a high proportion of BAME residents is the strongest predictor of a high Covid-19 death rate. We cannot contemplate a safe easing of lockdown without a significant increase in community testing in those areas, such as Newham, with the highest risk to life. It is vital that the delivery of government’s national testing strategy draws on the expertise and understanding of local areas and our local Public Health teams.”
You can read my letter in full here.
I’m pleased that the Government now recognises the important role that local authorities can play. The Government’s plan for easing lockdown, Our Plan to Rebuild, highlights that local authority public health services “bring a valuable local dimension to testing, contact tracing and support to people who need to self-isolate”.
Indeed, my Chief Executive, Althea Loderick, is chairing a London-wide Chief Executive Task & Finish Group looking at the role of London boroughs in supporting the delivery of the national roll-out of contact testing, to support local responses and preparedness. As part of our own local response, we are working with partners in the North East London commissioning group to pilot local testing arrangements, focussed initially in care homes, and making home testing kits available.
Covid-19 has sharply exposed the impact that deprivation has on health outcomes and life expectancy – levels of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and asthma caused by toxic air quality are pronounced in the borough. Data from the Office of National Statistics also demonstrates the alarming impact of the virus on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, which make up 73% of Newham’s population. Local testing is crucial to ensuring we can protect Newham residents – those most at risk - from a devastating second wave of the virus and an upsurge of illness and deaths. It is vital that we act without delay.
Yours sincerely,
Rokhsana Fiaz, OBE
Mayor of Newham
People at the heart of everything we do
Dear Cllr Rokhsana Fiaz OBE Mayor of Newham
Date: May 6th 2020
Re: Request to consider the benefits of borough-based, mass, community 'Test and Trace' at this stage in the COVID-19 pandemic.
I am writing to you on behalf of Newham Save Our NHS, (NEWSON) to thank you for your leadership during the current COVID-19 crisis, during which the borough continues to suffer grievous loss.
At this stage in the pandemic, we would like to ask for your consideration as mayor to 'lead the call' for Newham Council to be integrated in to a local NHS 'Test and Trace' system.
NEWSON sent you yesterday our press statement, currently on our website
https://newhamsaveournhs.weebly.com/ and in
www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/health/newham-health-inequalities-1-6639919
on the COVID -19 situation and our demand for health equality in Newham.
On the subject of 'Test and Trace,' NEWSON argues that Newham Council is the lynch-pin between the NHS and the residents. Newham GPs, Newham pharmacies, Newham Hospital and Barts NHS Trust have all got their part to play, with the council.
Newham residents, Newham care homes and Newham care workers will be reassured and empowered, feeling the agency and efficacy, as locals employed and trained to do contact-tracing are using local knowledge, monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and supporting those affected. Recruiting local people will also have a good economic effect.
As Chris Hopson (Ch. Exec. NHS providers who represents the views of NHS trusts) said on testing and tracing today 6th May 2020,
https://nhsproviders.org/news-blogs/blogs/we-need-an-updated-testing-strategy
"We need to restart the economy but ensure we protect the NHS and vulnerable people, avoiding a second peak. As the government itself acknowledges, effective testing, tracking and tracing is vital in this phase."
"We must be able to rapidly identify any outbreak and immediately isolate anyone who has contracted the virus and those they have been in contact with. There will need to be comprehensive geographical coverage and sufficient volume of testing, tracking and tracing resource to move at high speed."
Hopson stresses locality, "Regularly testing all health and care staff requires a more localised testing infrastructure than the large drive through testing centres, supplemented by mobile units, that was built in the run up to April 30."
" ... the focus is now shifting to localised 'lockdown easing' testing and frequent, regular, testing of all health and care staff and patients, there are strong arguments to significantly decentralise control. This approach has worked very successfully in other countries."
Regarding contact-tracing by SERCO, Newham needs much more than an app. Newham people will not benefit from thousands of national SERCO contact-chasers. After local Newham testing, and getting a positive result for an individual, then contact-tracing of others infected is best done by trained, local teams (borough-based.) They will have case loads based on local knowledge of diverse community structures. This allows them to identify patterns of spread of the disease in different locations in Newham. Part of the contact-tracers' case load is to do 'symptom-monitoring' ie to go back and support the newly traced person to see if symptoms have emerged/ improved/ worsened. This means people are not left at home to die. This cannot be done without knowing the social and physical geography of Newham. It costs money, which the council must be given.
Yours sincerely
Alan Cooper, Chair of Newham Save our NHS (NEWSON)
Date: May 6th 2020
Re: Request to consider the benefits of borough-based, mass, community 'Test and Trace' at this stage in the COVID-19 pandemic.
I am writing to you on behalf of Newham Save Our NHS, (NEWSON) to thank you for your leadership during the current COVID-19 crisis, during which the borough continues to suffer grievous loss.
At this stage in the pandemic, we would like to ask for your consideration as mayor to 'lead the call' for Newham Council to be integrated in to a local NHS 'Test and Trace' system.
NEWSON sent you yesterday our press statement, currently on our website
https://newhamsaveournhs.weebly.com/ and in
www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/health/newham-health-inequalities-1-6639919
on the COVID -19 situation and our demand for health equality in Newham.
On the subject of 'Test and Trace,' NEWSON argues that Newham Council is the lynch-pin between the NHS and the residents. Newham GPs, Newham pharmacies, Newham Hospital and Barts NHS Trust have all got their part to play, with the council.
Newham residents, Newham care homes and Newham care workers will be reassured and empowered, feeling the agency and efficacy, as locals employed and trained to do contact-tracing are using local knowledge, monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and supporting those affected. Recruiting local people will also have a good economic effect.
As Chris Hopson (Ch. Exec. NHS providers who represents the views of NHS trusts) said on testing and tracing today 6th May 2020,
https://nhsproviders.org/news-blogs/blogs/we-need-an-updated-testing-strategy
"We need to restart the economy but ensure we protect the NHS and vulnerable people, avoiding a second peak. As the government itself acknowledges, effective testing, tracking and tracing is vital in this phase."
"We must be able to rapidly identify any outbreak and immediately isolate anyone who has contracted the virus and those they have been in contact with. There will need to be comprehensive geographical coverage and sufficient volume of testing, tracking and tracing resource to move at high speed."
Hopson stresses locality, "Regularly testing all health and care staff requires a more localised testing infrastructure than the large drive through testing centres, supplemented by mobile units, that was built in the run up to April 30."
" ... the focus is now shifting to localised 'lockdown easing' testing and frequent, regular, testing of all health and care staff and patients, there are strong arguments to significantly decentralise control. This approach has worked very successfully in other countries."
Regarding contact-tracing by SERCO, Newham needs much more than an app. Newham people will not benefit from thousands of national SERCO contact-chasers. After local Newham testing, and getting a positive result for an individual, then contact-tracing of others infected is best done by trained, local teams (borough-based.) They will have case loads based on local knowledge of diverse community structures. This allows them to identify patterns of spread of the disease in different locations in Newham. Part of the contact-tracers' case load is to do 'symptom-monitoring' ie to go back and support the newly traced person to see if symptoms have emerged/ improved/ worsened. This means people are not left at home to die. This cannot be done without knowing the social and physical geography of Newham. It costs money, which the council must be given.
Yours sincerely
Alan Cooper, Chair of Newham Save our NHS (NEWSON)
Please click on the link below if you want to sign the petition from local NHS community campaign groups in north-east London.
We are calling for councils in north-east London boroughs including Newham, to work to get local 'Test and Trace,' which will allow us to get out of lock-down more safely.
http://chng.it/KKzGKkQNFt
We are calling for councils in north-east London boroughs including Newham, to work to get local 'Test and Trace,' which will allow us to get out of lock-down more safely.
http://chng.it/KKzGKkQNFt
New admission - Government Covid-19 testing has failed care homes. But government privatisation of NHS pathology (the department that does testing) is not new (see below) and that too is affecting the testing fiasco.
After the shambolic testing regime forced care homes to do without the testing that patients and staff need, the Care minister, Helen Whately, agreed ( 8th May 2020) it should go to local public health directors in local councils. The councils must be given more money and additional powers to get on with the job.
Newham needs integrated local system
Newham Save our NHS says Covid-19 testing and contact- tracing go together in an integrated local system with Newham's council's public health team, the GPs, pharmacies, the care homes and Newham Hospital. Newham must have local control of testing, so that all who need it in Newham can get it, care homes and other residents too.
How many Covid 19 tests can Newham Hospital Pathology and Barts Trust pathology do, if they are given access to the chemicals which are described as being in short supply?
Protect the NHS? not if you privatise it.
Why does Matt Hancock, Minister for Health, keep telling us in England there will be no NHS privatisation on his watch? He knows it is not true and we know it is not true.
Trust is at an all time low. Covid-19 pathology testing has just seen the creation of a semi-privatised parallel system alongside the existing NHS pathology labs which are ready and available in hospitals throughout the land.
This is not a surprise, this is planned. Matt Hancock has overseen cuts and privatisation of NHS pathology services in England.
Planned privatisation of NHS pathology?
In September 2017, NHS Improvement (NHSI) pushed for the development of pathology in line with the ‘hub and spoke’ model and its plans to create 29 pathology networks across England, in a bid to cut costs by £200 million by 2021.
Within weeks of Hancock’s “no privatisation” pledge (2019) more news emerged of privatisation in the pipeline, including a massive pathology contract in the south east and London, set to go to a privately-led consortium, with indications that most of the big, new pathology networks will also offer rich pickings to private companies.
As planned, this led ( Feb 2020) to the German company Synlab being announced as the preferred strategic partner for a pathology 15 year contract worth £2.25 billion. The private contract covers a large area of south east and central London hospital pathology.
Covid19-and the undermining of NHS pathology
With Covid-19 unexpectedly on the scene, is this a golden opportunity to further undermine NHS pathology labs, by instantly creating a parallel system of three 'super' labs to serve the whole country, two in England and one in Scotland?. For some reason these are called 'lighthouse labs' (on a rocky place? in murky water? no transparency here)
https://lowdownnhs.info/comment/why-bypass-nhs-labs-for-mass-testing-concerns-over-new-super-labs/
A university (Glasgow site) and drug company (the Cheshire site at Alderley Edge) are in the mix, with the third site in Milton Keynes in a former biosample centre. But little is known about how staff were suddenly found in the three weeks it took to set them up these three 'lighthouses.'
Another question is how the scarcity of chemicals for the path labs has been directed to different labs and how this has affected the turn around of the test results. We watched in disbelief the pitiful number of Covid-19 test results so far emerging from these three 'super' labs.
Fear for collapse of NHS systems in favour of privatised ones.
Morale has taken a further hit in the NHS hospital pathology labs with their loyal and trained staff fearing for their future in NHS pathology, which has been threatened before Covid-19, during Covid 19, and as for their future after Covid-19, there is a frightening sense of collapse in the NHS systems.
People fear NHS structures and staffing are being dragged down, not so much by Covid-19, but by a government whose arrogance and lack of care for our NHS is leading to its decay.
END
9th May 2020
"Community testing must be a priority in high risk areas. Analysis shows that a high proportion of BAME residents is the strongest predictor of a high Covid-19 death rate. We cannot contemplate a safe easing of lockdown without a significant increase in community testing in those areas, such as Newham, with the highest risk to life. It is vital that the delivery of government's national testing strategy draws on the expertise and understanding of local areas and our local Public Health teams." Rokhsana Fiaz, Mayor of Newham
https://www.newham.gov.uk/downloads/file/1132/letter-to-boris-johnson-from-rokhsana-fiaz-7-may-2020
https://www.newham.gov.uk/downloads/file/1132/letter-to-boris-johnson-from-rokhsana-fiaz-7-may-2020
Press Release 7th May 2020
Newham save our NHS says that we want local testing and contact tracing to be set up.
No more delay! We need locally based 'Test and Trace' now. We support Newham's mayor who rightly calls for more say, money and power to decide how and when lockdown restrictions are eased in Newham. This needs to be done region by region as the outbreak is controlled.
Locally based 'Test and Trace' is the way forward for Newham, after government lack of planning during the early months of the pandemic has left Newham in a grievous position, with the worst death rate in the country.
.What is local 'contact tracing? When an individual gets a positive result ( ie the test says yes, you do have Covid-19) then contact-tracing of others infected is best done by trained, local teams who are borough-based
Why does it have to be local? Locally recruited contact-tracers will have case loads based on local knowledge of Newham's rich and diverse community structures, ethnicities and languages. This allows the contact-tracers to identify patterns of spread of the disease in different locations in Newham. Black and ethnic minority residents must not be left unsupported, at higher risk than others. As Sir Chris Ham and Robin Tuddenham stated in the HSJ ( Health Service Journal) yesterday, the 1848 Public Health Act in response to outbreaks of TB and other deadly diseases, established local bodies who could work with local authorities,loca doctors, GP’s and other community organisations to properly trace outbreaks to their source based on their local knowledge and connections. It is appalling that this Government has failed to learn these lessons.
'Symptom Monitoring.' 'Part of the contact-tracers' case load is to do 'symptom-monitoring' ie to go back and support the newly traced person to see if symptoms have emerged/ improved/ worsened. This means people who may develop symptoms, or very ill people, are not left in a care home, or their own home without support. This careful and supportive work cannot be done without knowing the social and physical geography of Newham.
Newham Council, Newham GPs, Newham pharmacies, Newham Hospital and Barts NHS Trust have all got their part to play in locally-based contact tracing.
BUT ... the government have given SERCO the contract to hire 15,000 call centre operatives to do the contact-tracing, (not a surprise, since the government likes privatising the NHS, even though they tell us differently sometimes) . SERCO has a history of not just failing the NHS , but of covering its own tracks with false data. See notes at the conclusion.
Newham needs the best. Newham needs more than an app. SERCO contact tracing will not work if call centre operatives are not Newham based and trained. We want the best ie locally based contact tracing. It costs money, which the council must be given.
Why should we in Newham have anything less?. Why should we suffer health inequality and the worst outcome in the Covid-19 pandemic?
Newham residents, Newham care homes and Newham care workers will be reassured and empowered, as locals employed and trained to do contact-tracing are using local knowledge, monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and supporting those affected. Recruiting local people will also have a good economic effect.
Newham save our NHS says that we want local testing and contact tracing to be set up.
No more delay! We need locally based 'Test and Trace' now. We support Newham's mayor who rightly calls for more say, money and power to decide how and when lockdown restrictions are eased in Newham. This needs to be done region by region as the outbreak is controlled.
Locally based 'Test and Trace' is the way forward for Newham, after government lack of planning during the early months of the pandemic has left Newham in a grievous position, with the worst death rate in the country.
.What is local 'contact tracing? When an individual gets a positive result ( ie the test says yes, you do have Covid-19) then contact-tracing of others infected is best done by trained, local teams who are borough-based
Why does it have to be local? Locally recruited contact-tracers will have case loads based on local knowledge of Newham's rich and diverse community structures, ethnicities and languages. This allows the contact-tracers to identify patterns of spread of the disease in different locations in Newham. Black and ethnic minority residents must not be left unsupported, at higher risk than others. As Sir Chris Ham and Robin Tuddenham stated in the HSJ ( Health Service Journal) yesterday, the 1848 Public Health Act in response to outbreaks of TB and other deadly diseases, established local bodies who could work with local authorities,loca doctors, GP’s and other community organisations to properly trace outbreaks to their source based on their local knowledge and connections. It is appalling that this Government has failed to learn these lessons.
'Symptom Monitoring.' 'Part of the contact-tracers' case load is to do 'symptom-monitoring' ie to go back and support the newly traced person to see if symptoms have emerged/ improved/ worsened. This means people who may develop symptoms, or very ill people, are not left in a care home, or their own home without support. This careful and supportive work cannot be done without knowing the social and physical geography of Newham.
Newham Council, Newham GPs, Newham pharmacies, Newham Hospital and Barts NHS Trust have all got their part to play in locally-based contact tracing.
BUT ... the government have given SERCO the contract to hire 15,000 call centre operatives to do the contact-tracing, (not a surprise, since the government likes privatising the NHS, even though they tell us differently sometimes) . SERCO has a history of not just failing the NHS , but of covering its own tracks with false data. See notes at the conclusion.
Newham needs the best. Newham needs more than an app. SERCO contact tracing will not work if call centre operatives are not Newham based and trained. We want the best ie locally based contact tracing. It costs money, which the council must be given.
Why should we in Newham have anything less?. Why should we suffer health inequality and the worst outcome in the Covid-19 pandemic?
Newham residents, Newham care homes and Newham care workers will be reassured and empowered, as locals employed and trained to do contact-tracing are using local knowledge, monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and supporting those affected. Recruiting local people will also have a good economic effect.
PRESS STATEMENT
Newham Save Our NHS demands health equality for the people of Newham
Recent ONS data shows that Newham has the highest death rate from Covid-19 in the UK. In response Newham Save Our NHS calls for the immediate implementation of policies to eliminate the health inequalities which have resulted in such a tragic loss of life in our borough. Newham’s BAME communities in particular suffer from social inequality which is a root cause of the enormous death rate in the borough from Covid-19. This is compounded by high levels of heart disease, diabetes, TB, poor housing, overcrowding, and all the underlying health conditions which go with poverty and social deprivation.
Newham has the youngest overall population in the country but at 144.3 per 100,000 its death rate from Covid-19 is almost twice that of London and almost four times that of the UK as a whole. This is despite the huge efforts made by our health and ancillary workers and all local NHS Trusts.
As residents and campaigners in the borough, we are horrified but not surprised. We live in one of the most diverse and deprived areas of the UK, where the austerity-driven reduction by 56% of central government funding over the last decade has had severe effects on local services.
In addition many workers have been forced to continue to go to work under lockdown often in unsafe conditions and without adequate protection as the government has left what is deemed to be ‘essential work’ entirely at the discretion of employers. Furthermore, as our Mayor recently pointed out in a public statement, “ we’ve done research that shows that up to 36,000 of our residents are not being paid even the basic minimum wage, much less the London Living Wage”.
As the government declares the peak of the outbreak over, the Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz, recently announced that people in Newham continue to be infected in large numbers. Deaths in care homes are also increasing. ONS data shows a sharp rise of over 4,300 deaths registered from Covid-19 in care homes across England and Wales in a fortnight since the 10th April to the 24th April, with a 50% increase in five days alone – indicating an acceleration, and that care homes are now at the centre of this crisis.
We demand that the Government puts in place proper provision of PPE equipment to protect health workers in hospitals and in care homes and amongst care workers too. We demand an immediate end to migrant charging, which we have campaigned against for years, since this is especially discriminatory in multi-ethnic communities such as Newham where the vulnerable are afraid to seek proper care because of fear of charging.
In the long term, though, proper measures will need to be put in place to improve the lives of residents in boroughs like Newham which for too long have suffered the impact of worsening services, poor housing and poorly paid jobs. Whilst we recognise that years of austerity and its impact on Newham cannot be reversed overnight, it is necessary, as the Marmot report pointed out, to begin reversing health inequalities now if we are to avoid such a discriminatory and devastating level of deaths in the future.
For further information contact:Newham Save Our NHS - Email: newsonhs@gmail.com
NOTES FOR EDITORS
1. ONS data on Covid-19 death rates between 1 March and 17 April. Newham had a Covid death rate of 144.3 per 100.000 against London 85.7 per 100,000 and the UK 36.2 per 100,000
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsinvolvingcovid19bylocalareasanddeprivation/deathsoccurringbetween1marchand17april
2. Newham Local Authority Health Profile 2019, Public Health England
https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/static-reports/health-profiles/2019/e09000025.html?area-name=newham
3. Newham demographics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Borough_of_Newham
4. Cuts to central govt grants to local authorities
https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/EPoverty/UnitedKingdom/2018/NGOS/Research_for_Action.pdf
5. Workers forced to go to work
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/oureconomy/dont-buy-the-lockdown-lie-this-is-a-government-of-business-as-usual/
6. Mayor’s statement on living wage, rates of infection
https://www.newham.gov.uk/news/article/370/update-about-coronavirus-covid-19-from-mayor-rokhsana-fiaz-1-may-2020
7, Accelerating deaths in care homes
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/weekending17april2020#deaths-registered-by-place-of-occurrence
https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2020/04/28/4000-care-home-deaths-covid-19-past-two-weeks-cqc-figures-show/
8. Marmot report
https://www.health.org.uk/publications/reports/the-marmot-review-10-years-on
Newham Save Our NHS demands health equality for the people of Newham
Recent ONS data shows that Newham has the highest death rate from Covid-19 in the UK. In response Newham Save Our NHS calls for the immediate implementation of policies to eliminate the health inequalities which have resulted in such a tragic loss of life in our borough. Newham’s BAME communities in particular suffer from social inequality which is a root cause of the enormous death rate in the borough from Covid-19. This is compounded by high levels of heart disease, diabetes, TB, poor housing, overcrowding, and all the underlying health conditions which go with poverty and social deprivation.
Newham has the youngest overall population in the country but at 144.3 per 100,000 its death rate from Covid-19 is almost twice that of London and almost four times that of the UK as a whole. This is despite the huge efforts made by our health and ancillary workers and all local NHS Trusts.
As residents and campaigners in the borough, we are horrified but not surprised. We live in one of the most diverse and deprived areas of the UK, where the austerity-driven reduction by 56% of central government funding over the last decade has had severe effects on local services.
In addition many workers have been forced to continue to go to work under lockdown often in unsafe conditions and without adequate protection as the government has left what is deemed to be ‘essential work’ entirely at the discretion of employers. Furthermore, as our Mayor recently pointed out in a public statement, “ we’ve done research that shows that up to 36,000 of our residents are not being paid even the basic minimum wage, much less the London Living Wage”.
As the government declares the peak of the outbreak over, the Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz, recently announced that people in Newham continue to be infected in large numbers. Deaths in care homes are also increasing. ONS data shows a sharp rise of over 4,300 deaths registered from Covid-19 in care homes across England and Wales in a fortnight since the 10th April to the 24th April, with a 50% increase in five days alone – indicating an acceleration, and that care homes are now at the centre of this crisis.
We demand that the Government puts in place proper provision of PPE equipment to protect health workers in hospitals and in care homes and amongst care workers too. We demand an immediate end to migrant charging, which we have campaigned against for years, since this is especially discriminatory in multi-ethnic communities such as Newham where the vulnerable are afraid to seek proper care because of fear of charging.
In the long term, though, proper measures will need to be put in place to improve the lives of residents in boroughs like Newham which for too long have suffered the impact of worsening services, poor housing and poorly paid jobs. Whilst we recognise that years of austerity and its impact on Newham cannot be reversed overnight, it is necessary, as the Marmot report pointed out, to begin reversing health inequalities now if we are to avoid such a discriminatory and devastating level of deaths in the future.
For further information contact:Newham Save Our NHS - Email: newsonhs@gmail.com
NOTES FOR EDITORS
1. ONS data on Covid-19 death rates between 1 March and 17 April. Newham had a Covid death rate of 144.3 per 100.000 against London 85.7 per 100,000 and the UK 36.2 per 100,000
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsinvolvingcovid19bylocalareasanddeprivation/deathsoccurringbetween1marchand17april
2. Newham Local Authority Health Profile 2019, Public Health England
https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/static-reports/health-profiles/2019/e09000025.html?area-name=newham
3. Newham demographics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Borough_of_Newham
4. Cuts to central govt grants to local authorities
https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/EPoverty/UnitedKingdom/2018/NGOS/Research_for_Action.pdf
5. Workers forced to go to work
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/oureconomy/dont-buy-the-lockdown-lie-this-is-a-government-of-business-as-usual/
6. Mayor’s statement on living wage, rates of infection
https://www.newham.gov.uk/news/article/370/update-about-coronavirus-covid-19-from-mayor-rokhsana-fiaz-1-may-2020
7, Accelerating deaths in care homes
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/weekending17april2020#deaths-registered-by-place-of-occurrence
https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2020/04/28/4000-care-home-deaths-covid-19-past-two-weeks-cqc-figures-show/
8. Marmot report
https://www.health.org.uk/publications/reports/the-marmot-review-10-years-on
NEWHAM SAVEOURNHS is part of the umbrella group North East London SaveOurNHS (N.E.L.S.O.N), which plays a vital role in bringing together campaigning groups in the North East London area, dedicated to saving our NHS from further cuts and privatisation.
NELSON is pleased to now publish our NEWSLETTER providing a Coronavirus update.
TAP THE IMAGE TO THE LEFT
TO SEE THE FULL NEWSLETTER
NELSON is pleased to now publish our NEWSLETTER providing a Coronavirus update.
TAP THE IMAGE TO THE LEFT
TO SEE THE FULL NEWSLETTER
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MP writes letter of concern to Barts NHS Trust
Steven Timms MP (East Ham), " ... how devastating it can be for a family on a modest income to receive a bill for £10,000 or so after a child is born." In his letter of 21st March 2020, to Barts NHS Trust Chief Executive Alwen Williams, Mr Timms writes, "the prospect of a thumping bill will certainly discourage people from receiving treatment! " The local MP's concern arises from information in a press release (20th March 2020) from Newham Save our NHS, which revealed reveal the shocking number of 290 women, who Barts Trust later decided were entitled to free NHS maternity care, but who were sent a bill for their NHS care in hospital, along with 449 additional women who the Trust still maintains should pay to have their babies in NHS hospitals. This means that 39% (290 out of 739 women who were targetted to pay) were billed by the NHS when they were fully entitled to free NHS maternity care. "The consequences can potentially be disastrous." writes Stephen Timms Campaigner Rosamund Mykura from Newham Save our NHS says "Women were refused free NHS maternity care, at three hospitals in the three north-east London boroughs concerned. All three hospitals are run by Barts NHS Trust. The trust initially charged a total of 739 women in one financial year 2018-2019 (456 women at Newham Hospital in Newham, 120 women at Whipps Cross Hospital in Waltham Forest and 163 women at the Royal London Hospital in Tower Hamlets.) Later questioning by NHS campaigners, complaining about secrecy at Barts NHS Trust board meeting on March 4th 2020, revealed that Barts NHS Trust back-tracked over the 290 women wrongly threatened with patient charging. The MP for East Ham asks Barts NHS Trust, "What were the circumstances in which invoices were issued erroneously?" Like other MPs who do constituency case work, Stephen Timms, MP, is concerned about the impacts on local residents of charging some people to use NHS. Ms Mykura added, "Are Barts NHS Trust still sending out these bills, which are speculative threats of denial of free NHS maternity care? At this time of public health emergency with the Corona virus, the country needs an immediate end to legislation enforcing eligibility checks and charging in the NHS, including those related to residency status or national origin, allowing all patients to use the NHS without fear." |
AT THIS TIME OF EXTREME PRESSURE DUE TO THE CORONA VIRUS OUTBREAK NEWHAMSAVEOURNHS SALUTE EVERYONE WORKING IN OUR NHS.
We are proud of THE NHS and its workers for all they do, have done and will do in future crisis.
We are proud of THE NHS and its workers for all they do, have done and will do in future crisis.
Newham Save our NHS says the government should take over private beds during corona virus to maximise patient care
Did you know that Barts NHS Trust has two websites.
The second website is called 'Barts Health Private Care.'
https://bartshealthprivatecare.com/our-hospitals
This website names a group of 5 hospitals, including Newham Hospital, without identifying them as NHS hospitals, and says it is possible to have private tests or treatments at any of these 5 hospitals. The site particularly flags up the Gateway Centre at Newham Hospital as a 'bright and airy 39 bed centre,' with a range of treatment options.
Bart NHS website states
https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/newham
The Gateway Surgical Centre is a state-of-the-art stand-alone facility run by Barts Health for our patients. The rest of the NHS Barts main website also says it is a bright and airy 39 bed centre. The description is similar (except for the mention of private care) and this NHS Barts site also adds that there are 27 in-patient beds in the Gateway Centre.
Newham Save our NHS notes that Barts NHS Trust reports in its Barts Board papers Jan 2020 (page 28), a shortfall in private patient income of £2.7million. So what is the target?
Newham Save our NHS asks,
What use has been made of the Gateway Centre by private patients up to now?
What are Barts NHS Trust's plans for its future use of the Gateway Centre for private patients?
Newham Save our NHS says, if the Gateway Centre, or any other part of Newham Hospital has spare beds, or other spare capacity, it should be used for NHS patients.
The second website is called 'Barts Health Private Care.'
https://bartshealthprivatecare.com/our-hospitals
This website names a group of 5 hospitals, including Newham Hospital, without identifying them as NHS hospitals, and says it is possible to have private tests or treatments at any of these 5 hospitals. The site particularly flags up the Gateway Centre at Newham Hospital as a 'bright and airy 39 bed centre,' with a range of treatment options.
Bart NHS website states
https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/newham
The Gateway Surgical Centre is a state-of-the-art stand-alone facility run by Barts Health for our patients. The rest of the NHS Barts main website also says it is a bright and airy 39 bed centre. The description is similar (except for the mention of private care) and this NHS Barts site also adds that there are 27 in-patient beds in the Gateway Centre.
Newham Save our NHS notes that Barts NHS Trust reports in its Barts Board papers Jan 2020 (page 28), a shortfall in private patient income of £2.7million. So what is the target?
Newham Save our NHS asks,
What use has been made of the Gateway Centre by private patients up to now?
What are Barts NHS Trust's plans for its future use of the Gateway Centre for private patients?
Newham Save our NHS says, if the Gateway Centre, or any other part of Newham Hospital has spare beds, or other spare capacity, it should be used for NHS patients.
739 women denied free NHS maternity care in Barts NHS Trust Hospitals
Press statement from Newham Save our NHS, Waltham Forest Save our NHS and Tower Hamlets Keep our NHS Public: For immediate release 24th February 2020
North-east London community campaign groups for the NHS reveal the shocking total of 739 women refused free NHS maternity care, approximately 5% or 1 in 20 pregnant women registering for NHS maternity care at three hospitals in the three north-east London boroughs concerned. All three hospitals are run by Barts NHS Trust, which has charged 456 women at Newham Hospital, 120 women at Whipps Cross Hospital in Waltham Forest and 163 women at the Royal London Hospital in Tower Hamlets. The figures emerged after Newham Save our NHS asked a question to the Barts NHS Trust Board, which this month, in their reply, gave the total numbers of 739 maternity patients charged for NHS maternity care in hospital in the financial year 2018-2019.
Dr Applebee a GP in Tower Hamlets, joined health campaigners from the three north-east London boroughs where these hospitals are located, to write to Matt Hancock, the government Secretary of State for Health. The campaigners say that charging maternity patients for NHS care in these boroughs is a public health policy problem and they call on the government to end the Hostile Environment and patient charging in the NHS. While NHS maternity care is never refused, freeNHS maternity care isrefused, as seen in the cases of these 739 women. Although Barts NHS Trust did not create this Hostile Environment, Barts NHS Trust tries to follow government regulations, which results in turning away patients from free NHS care.
Dr Jackie Applebee, GP in Tower Hamlets said: “Charging overseas visitors for NHS Care is barbaric in that it deters the most vulnerable in society from seeking the medical care that they need in a timely fashion through fear of destitution and deportation. Charging also goes against the founding principles of the NHS which were of a comprehensive health service, publicly provided, publicly funded through taxation and free at the point of delivery to all. Nye Bevan never intended the overseas visitor to pay and indeed a large proportion of NHS staff, many of whom work in the most lowly paid jobs, are from overseas. The NHS would not survive without them and we owe them a debt of gratitude.”
Campaigner Rosamund Mykura, on behalf of community NHS campaign groups in the three boroughs affected, said, "The Home Office's reputation has been trashed by its repeated mistakes, which leads to denial of free NHS care for innocent patients, as seen in the Windrush scandal. It is wrong that residents feel intimidated by the NHS. Sendingpatients' names to the Home Office for checking is a bad for the affected patients, and for those who, having heard about patient charging, are then too scared to engage with NHS maternity services . Pregnant women can be asked to prove they are 'ordinarily resident' to get free treatment. The rules are complex, leading to NHS mistakes, which can affect any one of us, especially when the Home Office gets its data wrong.
Press statement from Newham Save our NHS, Waltham Forest Save our NHS and Tower Hamlets Keep our NHS Public: For immediate release 24th February 2020
North-east London community campaign groups for the NHS reveal the shocking total of 739 women refused free NHS maternity care, approximately 5% or 1 in 20 pregnant women registering for NHS maternity care at three hospitals in the three north-east London boroughs concerned. All three hospitals are run by Barts NHS Trust, which has charged 456 women at Newham Hospital, 120 women at Whipps Cross Hospital in Waltham Forest and 163 women at the Royal London Hospital in Tower Hamlets. The figures emerged after Newham Save our NHS asked a question to the Barts NHS Trust Board, which this month, in their reply, gave the total numbers of 739 maternity patients charged for NHS maternity care in hospital in the financial year 2018-2019.
Dr Applebee a GP in Tower Hamlets, joined health campaigners from the three north-east London boroughs where these hospitals are located, to write to Matt Hancock, the government Secretary of State for Health. The campaigners say that charging maternity patients for NHS care in these boroughs is a public health policy problem and they call on the government to end the Hostile Environment and patient charging in the NHS. While NHS maternity care is never refused, freeNHS maternity care isrefused, as seen in the cases of these 739 women. Although Barts NHS Trust did not create this Hostile Environment, Barts NHS Trust tries to follow government regulations, which results in turning away patients from free NHS care.
Dr Jackie Applebee, GP in Tower Hamlets said: “Charging overseas visitors for NHS Care is barbaric in that it deters the most vulnerable in society from seeking the medical care that they need in a timely fashion through fear of destitution and deportation. Charging also goes against the founding principles of the NHS which were of a comprehensive health service, publicly provided, publicly funded through taxation and free at the point of delivery to all. Nye Bevan never intended the overseas visitor to pay and indeed a large proportion of NHS staff, many of whom work in the most lowly paid jobs, are from overseas. The NHS would not survive without them and we owe them a debt of gratitude.”
Campaigner Rosamund Mykura, on behalf of community NHS campaign groups in the three boroughs affected, said, "The Home Office's reputation has been trashed by its repeated mistakes, which leads to denial of free NHS care for innocent patients, as seen in the Windrush scandal. It is wrong that residents feel intimidated by the NHS. Sendingpatients' names to the Home Office for checking is a bad for the affected patients, and for those who, having heard about patient charging, are then too scared to engage with NHS maternity services . Pregnant women can be asked to prove they are 'ordinarily resident' to get free treatment. The rules are complex, leading to NHS mistakes, which can affect any one of us, especially when the Home Office gets its data wrong.
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Another good Organising Committee meeting on Sunday 16th February when 12 of us gathered at the Black Lion to feedback on the progress of our campaign and work to be done over the next month. We will continue to hold the Government to account about the 'Hostile Environment' being encouraged in the health service, the encroachment of further privatisation in the NHS and adoption of 'integrated care providers' under the Government's 'Long Term Plan' being mooted for implementation in April 2020. Members of our group also raised awareness of the Winter Crisis in the NHS in East Ham on Saturday 15th Feb (see image to the left), we had many good conversations with people interested in the future of the NHS.
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Barts NHS Trust needs scanners.
Give our NHS Staff the tools they need to do their job.How the government's lack of funding for the NHS is helping to drive NHS privatisation.
Barts NHS Trust, which runs Newham hospital, needs scanners but it cannot afford to buy what it needs. As reported at the Barts Trust Board meeting on Jan 2020, Barts is short of money for capital funding. This is why it does not buy the scanners it needs.
After submitting questions from Newham Save our NHS, Barts has told us that instead of buying the scanners they need, Barts paid private provider InHealth £705,000 for scanning services in the financial year 2018-2019. This financial year, 2019-2020, the estimate for Barts payments to InHealth is doubling to £1.5 million.
As part of the Barts InHealth package, Barts pays InHealth to see about 100 patients a month for MRI scans at their private centre in High Street, Stratford.
Barts also has a mobile InHealth PETCT Unit parked at St Bartholomews Hospital in the city. You usually have a PET-CT scan in the radiology department as an outpatient. But here the work is going to a private provider. Typically, InHealth is featuring the NHS logo on this private profit-making unit.
Barts is setting up a new Cancer Diagnostic Hub in May 2020 (at Mile End) to cover Newham and other boroughs in north-East London. It will have ultrasound, endoscopy, and an existing CT scanner, but unfortunately there will be no MRI scanner when it opens. Dedicated Barts NHS staff work hard and want to do their best for their patients. It is tragic that NHS staff are not given the tools, such as scanners, to do the job.
Meanwhile, our taxes go to InHealth who is making a profit out of our NHS. Newham Save our NHS says, "That money should be going into patient care."
Give our NHS Staff the tools they need to do their job.How the government's lack of funding for the NHS is helping to drive NHS privatisation.
Barts NHS Trust, which runs Newham hospital, needs scanners but it cannot afford to buy what it needs. As reported at the Barts Trust Board meeting on Jan 2020, Barts is short of money for capital funding. This is why it does not buy the scanners it needs.
After submitting questions from Newham Save our NHS, Barts has told us that instead of buying the scanners they need, Barts paid private provider InHealth £705,000 for scanning services in the financial year 2018-2019. This financial year, 2019-2020, the estimate for Barts payments to InHealth is doubling to £1.5 million.
As part of the Barts InHealth package, Barts pays InHealth to see about 100 patients a month for MRI scans at their private centre in High Street, Stratford.
Barts also has a mobile InHealth PETCT Unit parked at St Bartholomews Hospital in the city. You usually have a PET-CT scan in the radiology department as an outpatient. But here the work is going to a private provider. Typically, InHealth is featuring the NHS logo on this private profit-making unit.
Barts is setting up a new Cancer Diagnostic Hub in May 2020 (at Mile End) to cover Newham and other boroughs in north-East London. It will have ultrasound, endoscopy, and an existing CT scanner, but unfortunately there will be no MRI scanner when it opens. Dedicated Barts NHS staff work hard and want to do their best for their patients. It is tragic that NHS staff are not given the tools, such as scanners, to do the job.
Meanwhile, our taxes go to InHealth who is making a profit out of our NHS. Newham Save our NHS says, "That money should be going into patient care."
'Patients Not Passports' Saturday 25th January 2020 saw our excellent one-day conference, against the Hostile Environment in the NHS.
NHS staff from both Barts NHS Trust and the Homerton Hospital joined four borough -based community NHS groups to build on the success of our campaigns against patient charging.
We heard heart-rending patient stories of sick and even destitute people being harassed by the NHS. Barts NHS Trust says 'We never turn anyone away.' But the trust does in fact turn patients away from free NHS care. As a result of patient charges and patients' NHS debt, other patients are scared to go to hospital. This is a disaster.
We reminded ourselves that Aneurin Bevan's brilliant vision of Our NHS in 1948, had rightly discounted patient charging as counterproductive, and this vision had allowed the NHS to survive for 70 years. The NHS - so cost-effective and efficient, only works if it is free to all.
After speeches from campaigners, NHS staff and and local and GLA politicians, our morning and afternoon workshops planned possible next steps in our 2020 campaign. This tremendous day conference in Bethnal Green was busy and crowded, attended also by people attracted from further afield. Congratulations to the organisers! And thanks to St John on Bethnal Green for use of the church.
The Event was organised by four North-east London NHS community campaign groups, Newham Save our NHS, Waltham Forest Save our NHS, Tower Hamlets Keep our NHS Public (KONP) and Hackney KONP, in conjunction with National organisations MEDACT and Migrants Organise.
NHS staff from both Barts NHS Trust and the Homerton Hospital joined four borough -based community NHS groups to build on the success of our campaigns against patient charging.
We heard heart-rending patient stories of sick and even destitute people being harassed by the NHS. Barts NHS Trust says 'We never turn anyone away.' But the trust does in fact turn patients away from free NHS care. As a result of patient charges and patients' NHS debt, other patients are scared to go to hospital. This is a disaster.
We reminded ourselves that Aneurin Bevan's brilliant vision of Our NHS in 1948, had rightly discounted patient charging as counterproductive, and this vision had allowed the NHS to survive for 70 years. The NHS - so cost-effective and efficient, only works if it is free to all.
After speeches from campaigners, NHS staff and and local and GLA politicians, our morning and afternoon workshops planned possible next steps in our 2020 campaign. This tremendous day conference in Bethnal Green was busy and crowded, attended also by people attracted from further afield. Congratulations to the organisers! And thanks to St John on Bethnal Green for use of the church.
The Event was organised by four North-east London NHS community campaign groups, Newham Save our NHS, Waltham Forest Save our NHS, Tower Hamlets Keep our NHS Public (KONP) and Hackney KONP, in conjunction with National organisations MEDACT and Migrants Organise.
A very successful first meeting of 2020 for our Organising Committee, 12 members attended and we discussed our plans for raising awareness of the changes, which will take place in the NHS due to the proposed implementation of Primary Care Networks and the impact on patients, as well as the 'Hostile Environment' being introduced into the NHS, which is affecting vulnerable migrant populations and their ability to access healthcare.
Join members of Newham Save our NHS along with other campaign groups at the Patients Not Passports event on Saturday 25th January 2020 to hear from politicians, researchers and campaigners about how we challenge racism and improve access to care for migrants.
Join members of Newham Save our NHS along with other campaign groups at the Patients Not Passports event on Saturday 25th January 2020 to hear from politicians, researchers and campaigners about how we challenge racism and improve access to care for migrants.
Excellent Organising Committee meeting this morning. We were joined by Stephen Timms, Labour candidate for East Ham who is committed over turning the 'hostile environment' being inflicted on the NHS and privatisation of the health service. Members of the group are busy campaigning to keep the NHS on the top of the election agenda. If you would like to join or campaign we will be joining fellow members of SaveOurNHS groups from across North East London on:
Saturday 30th November 1.30 onwards outside the Ilford Exchange, Ilford High Street.
Thursday 5th December 7.30am leafleting Stratford Station
Thursday 12th December - (after voting) members of our group will join a Carol Concert at the Royal London Hospital
Saturday 30th November 1.30 onwards outside the Ilford Exchange, Ilford High Street.
Thursday 5th December 7.30am leafleting Stratford Station
Thursday 12th December - (after voting) members of our group will join a Carol Concert at the Royal London Hospital
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Following our Organising Committee meeting in October, we invite Newham residents and interested people to join us at the following events:
Monday 21st Oct 2019 at 2pm protest outside parliament about Queen's Speech, in favour of a Labour Amendment about repeal of 2012 Health and Social Care act.
https://keepournhspublic.com/amendment-to-queens-speech/
Please join Newham health campaigners who will be attending a vigil on Wed 23rd Oct 2019 at 4.30pm outside the front of Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, organised by Medact and supported by health camapigners from north-east London, to highlight the harm done by racist Hostile Environment policies in our NHS. Details are here
https://keepournhspublic.com/event/vigil-counting-the-cost-of-the-hostile-environment-in-the-nhs/. Members of Newham SaveOurNHS will be there from 4.30pm onwards.
Do go along to see a one of the many free screenings of the film 'Under the Knife' https://undertheknifefilm.co.uk. The NHS is seriously ill. Ugly self-interest, corruption and deceit are slowly bleeding the NHS dry; this film exposes the true severity of this disease. It’s a frightening diagnosis of society as a whole. Everybody needs to see it'.
Monday 21st Oct 2019 at 2pm protest outside parliament about Queen's Speech, in favour of a Labour Amendment about repeal of 2012 Health and Social Care act.
https://keepournhspublic.com/amendment-to-queens-speech/
Please join Newham health campaigners who will be attending a vigil on Wed 23rd Oct 2019 at 4.30pm outside the front of Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, organised by Medact and supported by health camapigners from north-east London, to highlight the harm done by racist Hostile Environment policies in our NHS. Details are here
https://keepournhspublic.com/event/vigil-counting-the-cost-of-the-hostile-environment-in-the-nhs/. Members of Newham SaveOurNHS will be there from 4.30pm onwards.
Do go along to see a one of the many free screenings of the film 'Under the Knife' https://undertheknifefilm.co.uk. The NHS is seriously ill. Ugly self-interest, corruption and deceit are slowly bleeding the NHS dry; this film exposes the true severity of this disease. It’s a frightening diagnosis of society as a whole. Everybody needs to see it'.
The first meeting of our Organising Committee after a break for summer was very productive yesterday. Members of the group will be attending meetings of the Barts Health Board, CCG and other forums to monitor and challenge creeping privatisation in the NHS and the 'Hostile Environment' being propagated in access to health.
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Members of our group were out in force at the Forest Gate Festival on Saturday 6th July to let people know about our campaign. Many members of the public expressed an interest and made wonderful heart shapes to say why they value our NHS.
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Another excellent meeting of our Organising Committee on Sunday 16th June in the back room of the Black Lion Pub in Plaistow curtesy of the generous Landlady. We we discussed the changes to A&E departments in the fellow campaign in Redbridge to King George's Hospital. Members of the group reported back on meetings with the Health and Wellbeing Board, Newham CCG and the North East London Save our NHS group meeting. We also discussed the possible impact of the Aligning Commissioning Policies across North East London and the consultation questionnaire that has been circulated. Our group will be holding an information stall at the Forest Gate Festival on Saturday 6th July if you would like to come along and find out more about our campaign, please pop along or contact newsonhs@gmail.com
Very pleased to welcome Ron and Jan Singer back to the Group AGM on Sunday 12th May. We elected Alan Cooper as new Chair, Joint Secretaries Phil Edwards and Martin Darling, Frances Cornford as Treasurer and Ferha Farooqui, social media.
Various members have been very busy attending meetings of the Barts’ Trust board meeting, Health and Wellbeing Board, CCG, NELSON and other reports to ask questions and track the changes in the local and cross East London health landscape. We are pleased to have made some progress with the ‘Hostile environment’ campaign. For more information please get in touch with us on newsonhs@gmail.com.
Members of the group will be running a stall at the Forest Gate Festival on Saturday 6th July if you would like any further information about our campaign, please do come along.
Various members have been very busy attending meetings of the Barts’ Trust board meeting, Health and Wellbeing Board, CCG, NELSON and other reports to ask questions and track the changes in the local and cross East London health landscape. We are pleased to have made some progress with the ‘Hostile environment’ campaign. For more information please get in touch with us on newsonhs@gmail.com.
Members of the group will be running a stall at the Forest Gate Festival on Saturday 6th July if you would like any further information about our campaign, please do come along.
Great meeting of our Organising Committee this Sunday 14th April.
Our next meeting will include our annual AGM on Sunday 12th May 10.30 to 12. Newham Residents are very welcome.
It will take place at the Black Lion Pub 59 - 61 High Street Plastow, E13.
If you would like to know more, please get in touch via the comment page or email newsonhs@gmail.com
Our next meeting will include our annual AGM on Sunday 12th May 10.30 to 12. Newham Residents are very welcome.
It will take place at the Black Lion Pub 59 - 61 High Street Plastow, E13.
If you would like to know more, please get in touch via the comment page or email newsonhs@gmail.com
Image shows Protestors marching on Whitechapel Road from the East London Mosque. Picture: Luke Acton.
Well done to health camapaigners from North-East London in their on-going campaign gainst the Hostile Environment at Barts NHS Trust. A protest walk went on Friday 22nd March 2019 from outside the mosque on Whitechapel Road to the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel.
www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/health/barts-hostile-environment-protest-1-5957030
In another piece of campaigning three Newson members attended the Newham Council Health Scrutiny meeting on Tuesday 12th March at Newham Town Hall to address councillors on two aspects of Newham Hospital Maternity
Well done to health camapaigners from North-East London in their on-going campaign gainst the Hostile Environment at Barts NHS Trust. A protest walk went on Friday 22nd March 2019 from outside the mosque on Whitechapel Road to the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel.
www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/health/barts-hostile-environment-protest-1-5957030
In another piece of campaigning three Newson members attended the Newham Council Health Scrutiny meeting on Tuesday 12th March at Newham Town Hall to address councillors on two aspects of Newham Hospital Maternity
- Staffing problems with mid wives as reported in the recent CQC report of Newham Hospital Maternity, which said that Midwives lost out on breaks and did not finish their shifts on time.
- The 'Hostile Environment' for pregnancy and maternity patients at Newham Hospital maternity dept.
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We were delighted to be joined by Lynn Brown, MP for West Ham at our Organising Group meeting in March. Lynn was very supportive of our campaign against the encouragment of a 'Hostile Environment' asking Barts NHS Trust to stand up for local communities and say NO to migrant charges and the 'hostile environment' in our NHS. Lynn will return to our group meeting in the future and report back on her findings.
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It would be great if as many people as possible can go along to the Short protest walk to the Royal London Hospital, Barts NHS Trust, Whitechapel, leaving at 1.15 pm on Friday 22nd March from Whitechapel Road, alongside the Mosque.
This event is organised by North-East London save our NHS, including Newham Save Our NHS.
A letter ( with petition signatures) asking Barts to stand up for local communities and say NO to migrant charges and the hostile environment in our NHS, will be presented to Barts Trust Board at the Royal London Hospital when the protest walk arrives
This event is organised by North-East London save our NHS, including Newham Save Our NHS.
A letter ( with petition signatures) asking Barts to stand up for local communities and say NO to migrant charges and the hostile environment in our NHS, will be presented to Barts Trust Board at the Royal London Hospital when the protest walk arrives
Another good meeting of the NewhamSaveOurNHS organising committee today, Sunday 10th March 2019. Key outcomes of the meeting were to encourage people interested in securing the future of the NHS and free healthcare for all to:
For more details please contact the group via the contact form on this website. We are a small group and so do not have the resources to get back immediately, but we will endevour to get back as soon as possible.
- Attend the BARTS Trust Board Meeting, Mile End Hospital on the 6th March 11am alongside our Organising Committee to raise awareness of a number of issues including the sale of NHS land, the hostile environment policy and much more. Please get in touch by using the contact page on this website if you'd like to know more.
- Attend the Inner North East London Scrutiny Committee on Feb 13th 7pm and March 20th 7pm. Old Town Hall, Stratford.
- Attend the North East London CCG meeting 13th March 12.30 UNEX Tower, Stratford E15
- Join the Anti-Racism March London on March 16th
- Join our campaign to save the A&E at King George’s Hospital campaign by joining supporters at 3pm, at Ilford Town Hall. Also sign the petition https://twitter.com/Andywalker1945
- Join the International Stand up to Racism Conference, Friends House, March 30th
For more details please contact the group via the contact form on this website. We are a small group and so do not have the resources to get back immediately, but we will endevour to get back as soon as possible.
The first meeting of our group Organising Committee on 13th January was really well attended with 11 people joining us to discuss our campaign against the sell off of NHS land and the ID checks and charging of migrants for health services. The group will be very busy this year with various campaigns and working with other SaveOurNHS groups across the country.
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On Saturday 17th November, members of our Group joined others from across Newham to the march in London for National Unity Demonstration Against Fascism and Racism.
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Another very good meeting of our Organising Committee on Sunday 4th November. We discussed the campaign against the 'Hostile Environment' being introduced into the NHS and resulting in Barts NHS Trust sending up to 100 patients' details each week to the Home Office. Patients are confused about who gets free NHS care and some patients do not attend out of fear of being reported to the Home Office. We also discussed a number of other issues around the reconfiguration of East London Healthcare Partnerships, the Accountable Care Organisation, and the future of CCGs.
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23rd October 2018 saw an excellent leafleting session at Newham Hospital. Campaigners from Newham Save our NHS leafletted staff with information about the Hostile Environment in Barts NHS Trust. Simultaneously, campaigners were outside two other Barts Trust hospitals at Whipps Cross and The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel. The message was the same: Staff are not border guards or passport checkers. Health professionals are being compromised by the Trust's participation in The Home Office's Hostile Environment.
This results in Barts NHS Trust sending up to 100 patients' details each week to the Home Office. Patients are confused about who gets free NHS care and some patients do not attend out of fear of being reported to the Home Office.
This is why staff are signing the letter to Barts Trust. www.medact.org/BartsLetter
This results in Barts NHS Trust sending up to 100 patients' details each week to the Home Office. Patients are confused about who gets free NHS care and some patients do not attend out of fear of being reported to the Home Office.
This is why staff are signing the letter to Barts Trust. www.medact.org/BartsLetter
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Newham Save Our NHS says,
STOP THE PHARMACY CUT in Newham (and in other boroughs too!) What is the MINOR AILMENTS SCHEME (MAS) all about? Community pharmacists are campaigning to keep this service. They want your support. It was threatened to end in September 2018. Thanks to campaigners, the scrapping of the scheme is now delayed till March 2019. What can you do?: These photos are from community pharmacies in Newham. Go in to your community pharmacy and ask to support their campaign to keep the MAS. How does MAS work now? At present community pharmacists offer patients entitled to free prescriptions a walk-in service - no appointment required - for advice and, if necessary, free medicines for a restricted list of minor ailments. This is great eg for children and pensioners, who might otherwise have to try and get a GP appointment. It takes the pressure off GP services - which we all know are already stretched. What is the NHS plan for the future? The NHS in London wants to stop community pharmacists in Newham offering the Minor Ailments Scheme (M.A.S.) This threatens to cut a NHS service designed especially for the poorest people in our community - people on benefits, who are entitled to free prescriptions. This includes children and pensioners. Why must MAS be kept? People on benefits can not afford to buy over-the-counter medicines for their children. So as well as being a NHS service that is local, simple and effective, this pharmacy service is vital to patients, young and old. |
Great meeting of our Organising Committee on Sunday 14th October. We had a good turnout and agreed the following key next steps:
We are inviting all of our members to help leaflet Newham hospital staff on Tuesday 23rd October 7.45am - 8.45am to highlight the Barts Trust Hostile Environment policy that targets patients who Barts think should pay for treatment. Barts Trust says it sends names of up to 100 patients a week to the Home Office to be checked.
(This is a continuation of the campaign of North-East London health compaigners, following our successful demonstration and presentation of an open letter from residents, local organisations and patients at the recent BartsTrust AGM)
The date: October 23rd marks the one year anniversary of the introduction of upfront charging in the NHS. It was on Oct 23rd 2017 that the DoH implemented the regulations requiring all NHS Trusts to identify patients who were not eligible for free NHS care and to charge those people up-front ie, before providing treatment.
As predicted this has caused untold damage to people from all areas of society, from the well kown Windrush scandal, to the many invisible and unheard people, migrants and non- migrants alike, who have been deterred from accessing the care that they need.
A joint campaign: Both Newham and Waltham Forest health campaigners will leaflet their local hospitals in the morning of the 23rd October and encourage health workers to sign up to a letter, this time from Barts staff - calling for the scrapping of the Barts Hostile Environment Policy.
Meet at Newham Hospital outside the main corridor ( corridor entrance nearest to Prince Regent Lane.) Bring tabards please.
Other key dates/events people are welcome to join are:
• Newham Health Scrutiny Meeting -date to be confirmed
• October 22nd to November 3rd Arcola Theatre, Dalston. “Mark Thomas Check-up” (based partly on meetings with our members) https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/3289/mark-thomas-check-up-tickets.aspx
• Saturday November 17th Stand up to Racism March, Central London
• November 20th. International Stand up to Racism Conference, Friends House,
We are inviting all of our members to help leaflet Newham hospital staff on Tuesday 23rd October 7.45am - 8.45am to highlight the Barts Trust Hostile Environment policy that targets patients who Barts think should pay for treatment. Barts Trust says it sends names of up to 100 patients a week to the Home Office to be checked.
(This is a continuation of the campaign of North-East London health compaigners, following our successful demonstration and presentation of an open letter from residents, local organisations and patients at the recent BartsTrust AGM)
The date: October 23rd marks the one year anniversary of the introduction of upfront charging in the NHS. It was on Oct 23rd 2017 that the DoH implemented the regulations requiring all NHS Trusts to identify patients who were not eligible for free NHS care and to charge those people up-front ie, before providing treatment.
As predicted this has caused untold damage to people from all areas of society, from the well kown Windrush scandal, to the many invisible and unheard people, migrants and non- migrants alike, who have been deterred from accessing the care that they need.
A joint campaign: Both Newham and Waltham Forest health campaigners will leaflet their local hospitals in the morning of the 23rd October and encourage health workers to sign up to a letter, this time from Barts staff - calling for the scrapping of the Barts Hostile Environment Policy.
Meet at Newham Hospital outside the main corridor ( corridor entrance nearest to Prince Regent Lane.) Bring tabards please.
Other key dates/events people are welcome to join are:
• Newham Health Scrutiny Meeting -date to be confirmed
• October 22nd to November 3rd Arcola Theatre, Dalston. “Mark Thomas Check-up” (based partly on meetings with our members) https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/3289/mark-thomas-check-up-tickets.aspx
• Saturday November 17th Stand up to Racism March, Central London
• November 20th. International Stand up to Racism Conference, Friends House,
Barts NHS Trust Hostile Environment Pre- Attendance Form'
"At the Barts Trust AGM at Mile End Hospital on 12th September 2018, health campaigners offered Barts Trust Board Members copies of the horrible 'Barts NHS Pre-Attendance Form,' (see photos) which fishes for individual patient's data and threatens patients with being reported to the Home Office, and with being denied free treatment. Shockingly, Barts Trust admits to sending up to 100 patients' names each week to the Home Office."
"At the Barts Trust AGM at Mile End Hospital on 12th September 2018, health campaigners offered Barts Trust Board Members copies of the horrible 'Barts NHS Pre-Attendance Form,' (see photos) which fishes for individual patient's data and threatens patients with being reported to the Home Office, and with being denied free treatment. Shockingly, Barts Trust admits to sending up to 100 patients' names each week to the Home Office."
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Following the very successful demonstration outside BartsTrust AGM on 12th Sept at Mile End Hospital, the North-East London Health Campaigns attended the Barts AGM. We jointly presented to the Barts Trust Board our open letter about the Hostile Environmnet inside Barts Trust. Newham Save our NHS was well-represented with people, posters, banners and attendees.
The open letter with 600 names of both individuals and 50 (local) organisations in the north east London Area, was presented by Terry Day of Waltham Forest Save our NHS. Terry made a great speech to the Board and the public at the public AGM.
Then a Q and A session followed, which was dominated by questions from the public about the Hostle Environment, which Barts NHS Trust have been pursuing since 2017.
At the AGM we also offered Barts Trust Board Members copies of the horrible 'Barts NHS Pre-Attendance Forms,' which fishes for patient's data and threatens patients with being reported to the Home Office, and with being denied free treatment. Shockingly, Barts Trust admits to sending up to 100 patients' names each week to the Home Office. The Home Office then says to some patients that free NHS treatment is denied.
This misguided Hostile Environment policy is dangerous for both individuals and public health.
The campaign continues, as we join with others to make our demands, which are:
Read a sample of the press coverage to find out more:
www.standard.co.uk/news/health/fury-as-east-london-nhs-trust-demands-patients-prove-they-have-right-to-free-care-a3933986.html
http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/health/protestors-set-up-mock-immigration-checkpoint-outside-mile-end-hospital-to-demand-end-to-immigration-checks-1-5691899
Thanks to everyone for what has been a great ( and continuing! ) campaign.
The open letter with 600 names of both individuals and 50 (local) organisations in the north east London Area, was presented by Terry Day of Waltham Forest Save our NHS. Terry made a great speech to the Board and the public at the public AGM.
Then a Q and A session followed, which was dominated by questions from the public about the Hostle Environment, which Barts NHS Trust have been pursuing since 2017.
At the AGM we also offered Barts Trust Board Members copies of the horrible 'Barts NHS Pre-Attendance Forms,' which fishes for patient's data and threatens patients with being reported to the Home Office, and with being denied free treatment. Shockingly, Barts Trust admits to sending up to 100 patients' names each week to the Home Office. The Home Office then says to some patients that free NHS treatment is denied.
This misguided Hostile Environment policy is dangerous for both individuals and public health.
The campaign continues, as we join with others to make our demands, which are:
- Stop asking patients to prove their immigration status.
- Suspend up-front charging (ie charging before treatment) and evaluate the impact of charging on our community.
- Stop collaborating with the Government's "Hostile Environment."
Read a sample of the press coverage to find out more:
www.standard.co.uk/news/health/fury-as-east-london-nhs-trust-demands-patients-prove-they-have-right-to-free-care-a3933986.html
http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/health/protestors-set-up-mock-immigration-checkpoint-outside-mile-end-hospital-to-demand-end-to-immigration-checks-1-5691899
Thanks to everyone for what has been a great ( and continuing! ) campaign.
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New Chair to be Appointed
After several years as Chair of Newham Save our NHS I have had to resign due to health problems of my own. Imhope to continue as a member and contribute where I can. Needless to say chairing this group has been productive and a pleasure. Members have worked hard attending Board Meetings to ask questions of Barts Health and the CCG and informing Newham people in various ways of the secret plans that have been drawn up to reduce the service and sometimes the quality of what our local NHS is able to provide.
This is of course because of the under-funding of the NHS nationally and other deliberate government policies to blame staff for problems at the same time as holding down their wages below inflation. The government also blames patients for being too demanding to using the NHS when they are not entitled to. A "Hostile environment" has been created especially at Newham Hospital which ha has been exposed in the Newham Recorder. We are opposing this policy along with campaigns in Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Waltham Forest and Redbridge. We know that NHS staff do all they can to make scarce resources stretch to make services safe and of high quality. We know that managers are under pressure to provide more health care for a growing and ageing population. No manager I have ever met comes to work because they want to cut services. They do it because they have to and are closely monitored to make sure they produce "efficiency savings" their warm words for cuts.
At our meeting on Sunday 9th September we made arrangements for the group to continue its campaigning. Our AGM will be held early in the New Year and a chair and other Officers elected as usual. Please feel free to come to one of our Sunday morning or evening meetings. Join us in the continuing fight to save and improve local NHS and social care services. I want to say a big Thank You to all members and campaigners that have supported our activities and
supported me personally. Newham Save our NHS has great spirit and energy and will continue to fight for the NHS as long as our campaigning is needed.
Ron Singer
Retiring Chair.
Ron urged us to attend the following meetings:
Wednesday September 12th : Barts Health AGM at 6pm. Meet at 5:15 with tabards etc for Demo as part of the NELSON “Hostile Environment” Campaign. Also Barts Board Meeting in pm ( time? venue ?)
Thursday Sept 20th Healthwatch Public Meeting, 10 am to 1pm, Hopkins room, Stratford Library
October 22nd to November 3rd Arcola Theatre, Dalston. “Mark Thomas Check-up” (based partly on meetings with our members)
https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/3289/mark-thomas-check-up-tickets.aspx
Other events
Tuesday Sept 11th 7;30 Chris Williamson MP speaking at Durning Hall.
Saturday September 15th Unite demo, 10th anniversary of 2008 crash. Royal Exchange (in the City)
Saturday November 17th Stand up to Racism March. Central London
November 20th. International Stand up to Racism Conference, Friends House,
Please join Newham Save our NHS, other residents, patients and campaigners from North-East London outside the Annual General Meeting of Barts Trust Board on Wednesday 12 September 2018 to hand in the open letter mentioned below, to Barts Board asking them to stop requesting patients prove their immigration status prior to receiving care!
Members of our group and other North East London Save our NHS groups will meet at 5.15pm outside Mile End Hospital at the main entrance in Bancroft Road, London E1 4DG .
Nearest Tubes: Stepney Green (District line) and Mile End ( Central Line and District line).
The AGM is in Room 5a, Education Centre, Mile End Hospital at 6pm.
The open letter (above) will be handed over To Barts NHS Trust at this AGM.
Members of our group and other North East London Save our NHS groups will meet at 5.15pm outside Mile End Hospital at the main entrance in Bancroft Road, London E1 4DG .
Nearest Tubes: Stepney Green (District line) and Mile End ( Central Line and District line).
The AGM is in Room 5a, Education Centre, Mile End Hospital at 6pm.
The open letter (above) will be handed over To Barts NHS Trust at this AGM.
Our group congratulated our member Rosamund Mykura for her fabulous work on this campaign to stop Barts Health Board asking patients for immigration status in order to use services.
Please sign the letter below by 11th September so that members of the group can take the petition to the next Barts Board Annual General Meeting on the 12th September.
Ros gave an interview to the Newham Recorder and her article appears here.
Please sign the petition below
Please sign the letter below by 11th September so that members of the group can take the petition to the next Barts Board Annual General Meeting on the 12th September.
Ros gave an interview to the Newham Recorder and her article appears here.
Please sign the petition below
Dear Reader
Please read the below open letter written to the Barts Board and complete the petition on the link provided. Thank you
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGOJDuKjLQ7no6m895vtAE0Z-XzZHAVhm4lOEqRnXf3r_T2A/viewform
Maintaining a National Health Service for All
Open letter to Chief Executive Alwen Williams and Board Members of Bart’s Health NHS Trust
Our NHS was founded on the principle that it should be a universal service, available to all, free at the point of use, and funded by general taxation. Based on the principles of social solidarity and pooled risk, it is the cornerstone of shared political and ethical life in Britain.In recent years, however, this universal eligibility has been challenged by a dangerous and misguided Government scheme to charge ‘overseas visitors’ to Britain. This scheme has denied healthcare to thousands of people living in the UK, British citizens and migrant families alike - both through the introduction of a ‘health surcharge’ on visa applications and more recently the introduction of upfront charging and ID checking across the NHS.
As communities served by Bart’s Health Trust, we are shocked by the impact of this policy on the lives of local residents and the shared values of our NHS. There are already too many cases in Bart’s Health Trust of vulnerable migrants being charged for care, of sick people being mistakenly denied access to free care, and of our friends, family and neighbours being fearful of approaching their doctor in case the information they provide is used to detain or deport them.
Bart’s Health has a responsibility to promote health and equality in the communities it serves, to work to end health inequality, and to provide a welcoming space for all who need it. These “Hostile Environment” policies directly contravene the Trust’s own laudable commitment to being welcoming, equitable, respectful and collaborative.
We need to have trust in our NHS Trust. We need Bart’s Trust to stand up for the rights of all who access its services.
We the undersigned call on Bart’s Health NHS Trust to:
1. Stop asking patients to prove their immigration status.
a. Immediately cease the requirement that all maternity patients at Newham and renal patients at the Royal London provide two forms of ID prior to receiving treatment.
b. Stop using the current ‘pre-attendance form’ that threateningly asks for unnecessary immigration related information and requires that patients consent to the sharing of that data with the Home Office.
2. Suspend up-front charging and evaluate the impact of charging on our community
a. Immediately suspend the practice of charging patients upfront for treatment. It has devastating consequences for the many people who are forced to make the choice between destitution and good health.
b. Conduct a thorough evaluation of the impact of charging for NHS services on people’s willingness to seek treatment, on equality, and on public health.
3. Stop collaborating with the Government’s “Hostile Environment”
a. Remove all posters and display boards threatening people with charges for their care. They are designed to install fear and deter people from accessing services.
b. Promote a welcoming environment in the Trust with posters reassuring patients their immigration status will not be challenged when seeking healthcare in Bart’s Trust.
c. Work with community, faith and voluntary sector organisations to ensure that Bart’s Health NHS Trust is a welcoming environment for all who need to access healthcare.
Please read the below open letter written to the Barts Board and complete the petition on the link provided. Thank you
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGOJDuKjLQ7no6m895vtAE0Z-XzZHAVhm4lOEqRnXf3r_T2A/viewform
Maintaining a National Health Service for All
Open letter to Chief Executive Alwen Williams and Board Members of Bart’s Health NHS Trust
Our NHS was founded on the principle that it should be a universal service, available to all, free at the point of use, and funded by general taxation. Based on the principles of social solidarity and pooled risk, it is the cornerstone of shared political and ethical life in Britain.In recent years, however, this universal eligibility has been challenged by a dangerous and misguided Government scheme to charge ‘overseas visitors’ to Britain. This scheme has denied healthcare to thousands of people living in the UK, British citizens and migrant families alike - both through the introduction of a ‘health surcharge’ on visa applications and more recently the introduction of upfront charging and ID checking across the NHS.
As communities served by Bart’s Health Trust, we are shocked by the impact of this policy on the lives of local residents and the shared values of our NHS. There are already too many cases in Bart’s Health Trust of vulnerable migrants being charged for care, of sick people being mistakenly denied access to free care, and of our friends, family and neighbours being fearful of approaching their doctor in case the information they provide is used to detain or deport them.
Bart’s Health has a responsibility to promote health and equality in the communities it serves, to work to end health inequality, and to provide a welcoming space for all who need it. These “Hostile Environment” policies directly contravene the Trust’s own laudable commitment to being welcoming, equitable, respectful and collaborative.
We need to have trust in our NHS Trust. We need Bart’s Trust to stand up for the rights of all who access its services.
We the undersigned call on Bart’s Health NHS Trust to:
1. Stop asking patients to prove their immigration status.
a. Immediately cease the requirement that all maternity patients at Newham and renal patients at the Royal London provide two forms of ID prior to receiving treatment.
b. Stop using the current ‘pre-attendance form’ that threateningly asks for unnecessary immigration related information and requires that patients consent to the sharing of that data with the Home Office.
2. Suspend up-front charging and evaluate the impact of charging on our community
a. Immediately suspend the practice of charging patients upfront for treatment. It has devastating consequences for the many people who are forced to make the choice between destitution and good health.
b. Conduct a thorough evaluation of the impact of charging for NHS services on people’s willingness to seek treatment, on equality, and on public health.
3. Stop collaborating with the Government’s “Hostile Environment”
a. Remove all posters and display boards threatening people with charges for their care. They are designed to install fear and deter people from accessing services.
b. Promote a welcoming environment in the Trust with posters reassuring patients their immigration status will not be challenged when seeking healthcare in Bart’s Trust.
c. Work with community, faith and voluntary sector organisations to ensure that Bart’s Health NHS Trust is a welcoming environment for all who need to access healthcare.
On Saturday 30th June, members of our group joined thousands of people from all over the country, coming together to celebrate the 70th year of the founding of the NHS. In glorious sunshine we marched from Portland Place to Downing Street and let it be known that our NHS is here to stay!
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Members of our group will be meeting up on Saturday 30th June to join the NHS at 70 Demo/celebration! We will meet at Stratford Station at 10.15 to leaflet before taking the train to join the procession starting at Portland Place, W1A. For all our website friends who follow us do feel free to join our group and come along to help celebrate our NHS is still going strong after 70 years!
Details: Saturday 30 June 2018
Assemble 12pm, Portland Place, London W1A 1AA
(nearest tubes: Oxford Circus / Great Portland St)
March to Downing Street, Whitehall.
Details: Saturday 30 June 2018
Assemble 12pm, Portland Place, London W1A 1AA
(nearest tubes: Oxford Circus / Great Portland St)
March to Downing Street, Whitehall.
Members of our Organising Committee met on Sunday 10th June. Group members reported back on various meetings they attended including the Barts Board, North East London Save our NHS ( NELSON), Newham CCG etc and we learnt more about changes and developments with the health committee following the local elections. Key dates and activities over the next months include:
Monday 25th June or Thursday 28th June 8am leaflet Newham Hospital re NHS demo Saturday 30th June NHS Demo.Portland Place W1A. Meet Stratford station 10.15 to leaflet before taking train to Portland Place
Monday 25th June or Thursday 28th June 8am leaflet Newham Hospital re NHS demo Saturday 30th June NHS Demo.Portland Place W1A. Meet Stratford station 10.15 to leaflet before taking train to Portland Place
- Saturday 14th July Forest Gate Festival (we have a stall between 11.30am to 3pm. Leafleting, petitions, puppets, sell badges etc
Members of our Organising Committee met again on Sunday 6th May at our new venue, the Black Lion Pub in Plaistow, generously hosted by the proprieter. Group members reported back on various meetings they had attended including the Barts Board (Roz), Healthwatch (Martin and Jess) and we learnt about the changes the developments with the health committee following the elections. The group will be very active over the next few months with many events taking place. We invite Newham residents to join us on the following meetings and action events:
- Meeting of the 6 Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Committee, Unex Tower, Stratford on 9th May 12.30 onwards
- The Celebrations to mark the 70th Birthday of the NHS on Saturday 30th June (details to follow)
- Forest Gate Festival where members of our group will be raising awareness about local health and our SaveOurNHS activities
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A few members of our group (see images below) joined other campaigns and practice staff at Chrisp Street on Thursday to demonstrate against GP at Hand, a scheme which results in moving money from local GP practices. Hundreds of young healthy Londoners are signing up to this scheme which means they can access a GP smart phone service. They are being de-registered from their GP practice, which is consequently left with older, chronically ill patients. It could ultimately undermine the NHS. See the link here to the Evening Standard account https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/doctors-protest-nhs-smartphone-video-appointment-service-a3802401.html . More information is attached in the leaflet below.
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It was a very good turnout on Sunday 4th March for our Organising Committee meeting with 14 people joining in after the snow conditions following in the wake of the 'Beast from the East'! We were joined by guest speaker Paul Atkinson, who informed us about the situation affecting people with mental health issues around the work for welfare rules. Other members of the group reported back on the meetings they have attended at BARTS Board, Healthwatch and our stand at the Stand up to Racism on Friday 2nd March. If you would like to know more about our work, please contact us at newsonhs@gmail.com.
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The Newham Save Our NHS AGM took place on Monday 19th February 2018, at St Johns Church in the centre of Stratford. Over 30 people attended with many new faces joining us to ask questions and find out more about the campaign. We were delighted to hear from guest speaker Dr Jackie Applebee, NHS, Unite and BMA Activist who gave a comprehensive overview of how the NHS has arrived in the situation it is in today and gave an insight into what the future might hold for the NHS.
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We had another very productive group meeting on Sunday 14th Jan with 10 members attending despite the cold January day.
SaveOurNHS group in Newham will be in full force at the NHS Day of Protest on Saturday 3rd February. Details of the day are provided on the poster (pictured).
We will be leafleting the local community to raise awareness of the Day of Protest, join us on the following days:
Newham hospital Friday 26th Jan at 7.30AM - 9AM
Stratford Station forecourt - Saturday 27th Jan 11.30-1pm
SaveOurNHS group in Newham will be in full force at the NHS Day of Protest on Saturday 3rd February. Details of the day are provided on the poster (pictured).
We will be leafleting the local community to raise awareness of the Day of Protest, join us on the following days:
Newham hospital Friday 26th Jan at 7.30AM - 9AM
Stratford Station forecourt - Saturday 27th Jan 11.30-1pm
Newham Hospital currently displays posters warning:
"NHS hospital treatment is not free for everyone"
The poster says this applies if
'you are visiting the UK' or
'not living here legally or permanently'
Why have these posters ?
Q. At a time when the NHS is underfunded by the government, why does it ask hospital staff to check people's immigration status?
A. Is it a way to blame others, instead of looking at the government record of underfunding the health service?
In fact, migrants pay taxes and contribute to the NHS. Many migrants also work hard as NHS employees in a whole range of jobs, and also in poorly paid social care jobs.
Newham Save our NHS fears these Barts Health posters because:
1. When immigration enforcement is put into the NHS people get scared and do not know what bits the NHS they are entitled to.
2. When sick people are scared of going to the doctor, their health gets worse.
3. The NHS end up treating more in A & E and it ends up costing the NHS more.
5. All and any patients could fear the NHS if they had to show ID.
6. Imagine any pregnant woman who does not have a driving licence and who has never been abroad, so she does not have a passport. She might live with her parents and not have her own paperwork. How will she feel when she is asked for ID to access care? This is only one of many problem cases that could be created ... of people who are entitled to free care, but who do not get it.
What can you do:
Find out more about the campaign against punishing vulnerable people in the NHS.
Learn more about your rights as a patient. Look at this website: www.docsnotcops.co.uk
"NHS hospital treatment is not free for everyone"
The poster says this applies if
'you are visiting the UK' or
'not living here legally or permanently'
Why have these posters ?
Q. At a time when the NHS is underfunded by the government, why does it ask hospital staff to check people's immigration status?
A. Is it a way to blame others, instead of looking at the government record of underfunding the health service?
In fact, migrants pay taxes and contribute to the NHS. Many migrants also work hard as NHS employees in a whole range of jobs, and also in poorly paid social care jobs.
Newham Save our NHS fears these Barts Health posters because:
1. When immigration enforcement is put into the NHS people get scared and do not know what bits the NHS they are entitled to.
2. When sick people are scared of going to the doctor, their health gets worse.
3. The NHS end up treating more in A & E and it ends up costing the NHS more.
5. All and any patients could fear the NHS if they had to show ID.
6. Imagine any pregnant woman who does not have a driving licence and who has never been abroad, so she does not have a passport. She might live with her parents and not have her own paperwork. How will she feel when she is asked for ID to access care? This is only one of many problem cases that could be created ... of people who are entitled to free care, but who do not get it.
What can you do:
Find out more about the campaign against punishing vulnerable people in the NHS.
Learn more about your rights as a patient. Look at this website: www.docsnotcops.co.uk
Our Organising Committee met on Sunday 26th November to discuss latest developments with local and East London wide health provision. Members of the group reported back on the meetings they had attended over the past month.We discussed next steps for our group and North East London SaveOurNHS joint meetings.
- Some key outcomes and notices from the meeting include:
- Ron and Francis will be attending national Keep Our NHS campaign forums to link our local campaign to the national picture.
- Raising awareness of the People's Assembly March for the NHS in March 2018. More details to follow
- Publicising the campaign by DocsnotCops against NHS Trusts having to check patients for ID before treatment can be given. For more details check website http://www.docsnotcops.co.uk and see their poster below.
- Our AGM will be in February 2018. More details to follow, watch this space.
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Another good meeting today of our Organising Committee over coffee at the Central Park Cafe in East Ham. There was much to discuss with the changes being introduced to the NHS. Details of our meetings can be requested via our email.
Members of the group continue to be actively engaged in what is happening across many aspects of local and east London wide NHS infrastructure. Members reported back on relevant meetings they have attended at the Newham Trades Council, lobbying the Labour Party, Healthwatch, Inner London Scrutiny and Council, the Barts Board, North East London Save Our NHS joint group meeting and Newham CCG. Our Group has also been busy supporting the campaign against proposed closure of St George's Hospital A&E in Redbridge, which will have enormous ramifications on Newham and neighbouring hospitals. Members supported the march on 14th October and we will be stepping our efforts to support the fledgling campaign in Redbridge.
Over the next month we are involved in a number of meetings and would like to invite all interested to support or attend the following meetings:
Members of the group continue to be actively engaged in what is happening across many aspects of local and east London wide NHS infrastructure. Members reported back on relevant meetings they have attended at the Newham Trades Council, lobbying the Labour Party, Healthwatch, Inner London Scrutiny and Council, the Barts Board, North East London Save Our NHS joint group meeting and Newham CCG. Our Group has also been busy supporting the campaign against proposed closure of St George's Hospital A&E in Redbridge, which will have enormous ramifications on Newham and neighbouring hospitals. Members supported the march on 14th October and we will be stepping our efforts to support the fledgling campaign in Redbridge.
Over the next month we are involved in a number of meetings and would like to invite all interested to support or attend the following meetings:
- 24th October - Newham Health Scrutiny meeting at the East Ham Town Hall, at 7pm. The meeting is open to public
- 26th October - Larry Sanders (brother of Bernie Sanders) will be speaking at the Adult Social Care Meeting at the East Ham Working Men’s Club, 2 Boleyn Rd, E6 (near Priory Road).
- 4th November - All are invited to attend a Conference organised by Health Campaigns Together to discuss:
- Workshops on key campaigning issues identified by affiliates
- Geographical networking and alliance building
Newham Save Our NHS says 'SAVE KING GEORGE'S A & E.'
Saturday 14th October 2017 'SAVE KING GEORGE A & E' saw a cross-borough Rally to oppose the planned closure in 2019 of the Accident And Emergency provision at King George's Hospital in Redbidge. At a time of high population growth in north-east London, we need an extra new hospital in north-east London to meet the needs of the growing population. So closing King George's A& E will make the service worse for the people in Redbridge and neighbouring boroughs. Neighbouring councils are joining Redbrdge, (which will lose its only A & E Dept) to say, 'SAVE KING GEORGE'S A & E.'
Saturday 14th October 2017 'SAVE KING GEORGE A & E' saw a cross-borough Rally to oppose the planned closure in 2019 of the Accident And Emergency provision at King George's Hospital in Redbidge. At a time of high population growth in north-east London, we need an extra new hospital in north-east London to meet the needs of the growing population. So closing King George's A& E will make the service worse for the people in Redbridge and neighbouring boroughs. Neighbouring councils are joining Redbrdge, (which will lose its only A & E Dept) to say, 'SAVE KING GEORGE'S A & E.'
'SAVE KING GEORGE'S A & E.' The marchers from Barking and Dagenham, including Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, Cllr Rodwell (right) arrive at Redbridge Town Hall for the rally on Saturday 14th October, 2017. The route of the march had included Queen's Hospital, Romford, in the borough of Havering. Hard-working staff at Queen's Hospital will be under even more pressure King George Hospital A & E closes as planned in 2019. Queen's Hospital is another reason why King George A & E in Redbridge must stay open
'SAVE KING GEORGE'S A & E.' Jackie Turner, a GP, chairs the rally at Redbridge Town Hall on Saturday 14th October, 2017. Two Council leaders, Cllr Athwal (Redbridge) and Cllr Rodwell ( Barking and Dagenham) join two Ilford MPs , Mike Gapes MP and Wes Streeting MP to praise the work of NHS staff and to say that King George A & E must not be closed as planned in 2019. Closure will mean local people will suffer a worse service. King George has already had its maternity service taken away and now it is planned to remove the A and E in 2019.
'SAVE KING GEORGE'S A & E' The crowd at Redbridge Town Hall for the rally on Saturday 14th October, 2017, included concerned patients, who added their voice. People came not only from Redbridge, but from Newham, Havering, Barking and Dagenham, and Waltham Forest. They were all concerned by the knock-on effect the closure of King George A & E would have in adjoining boroughs across north- East London. Patients and hard-working NHS staff will be affected. Newham Hospital and Whipps Cross Hospital will both face extra pressure and more demand if the A & E at King George closes as planned n 2019.
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Members of our NewhamSaveOurNHS group supported the march to oppose the closure of King George's Hospital A&E in Redbridge on Saturday 14th October.
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Our NewhamSaveOurNHS attended the next Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Meeting on Thursday 28th September at Unex Tower, 5 Station Street, Stratford E15 1DA.
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Our NewhamSaveOurNHS group met on Sunday 24th September in the lovely environment of Central Park, in East Ham. It contrasted with the grim changes going on in the NHS under the cover of the new Accountable Care Services being set up across the NHS, without consultation. We are focusing our activities around demanding consultation opportunities by attending CCG forums.
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Members of our group supported the SERCO demonstration at JP Morgan in August where SERCO strikers demonstrated outside the building as shareholders met for the AGM. SERCO strikers went on to join with strikers at the Bank of England and British Airways - all fighting against low pay. Members of our group will also be attending a lobby of Barts Health AGM at 5.30 on 13th September at Stratford Town Hall in solidarity with the SERCO strikers. All welcome to join us.
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Thanks to Ron and Jan for hosting our last meeting of the Organising Committee, at their lovely home on Sunday 16th July. Sadly, Coffee 7, our regular venue has closed down and we are looking into a new meeting venue.
We discussed the changes to the East London Health Care Partnership (ELHCP) where it was reported that Newham Councillors will not be signing up to the Partnership and it's implications for cuts in healthcare. For more information and a copy of the minutes contact us on newsonhs@gmail.com . Members of the group agreed to continue to support the SERCO strikes that will be continuing over the next few weeks. Members of the group will be attending the joint East London campaigns and CCG meetings. Also a date for the diary is the Barts Health Trust meeting on 13th September followed by the AGM in the evening. Watch this space for more news over the Summer. |
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Members of Newham Save Our NHS supported the SERCO Strike on Saturday 15th July as well as the wider campaign by striking auxiliary NHS staff. Members of trade union Unite who work for public services organisation Serco and are based at hospitals within Barts Health NHS Trust are taking strike action in a dispute over pay. Cleaners, domestic staff, porters, and security staff based across four London hospitals in the Barts Health NHS Trust began 48 hours of strike action on Tuesday 4 July 2017 after 99% of Unite members who took part in the strike ballot voted in favour of strike action. The dispute revolves around a proposed pay increase. Unite members employed by Serco are seeking a £0.30 an hour wage increase.
Our Chair, Ron Singer, can be seen on this video giving a speach in support of the Strike.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtU-RxD9BK8&feature=youtu.be
Our Chair, Ron Singer, can be seen on this video giving a speach in support of the Strike.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtU-RxD9BK8&feature=youtu.be
12 members of our NewhamSaveOurNHS enjoyed the vibrant People's Assembly Against Austerity march on Saturday 1st July. There were young and old, as well as many parties across the spectrum alongside plenty of old and new campaigns. Our Newham Group made its mark with Phil on the megaphone. We were thrilled that Jill was able to join us on the day.
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Our Organising Committee met on Sunday 18th June and discussed a number of issues. Upcoming Events for the begining of July can be found via contacting newsonhs@gmail.com
In the meantime please join us at the Forest Gate Festival – Saturday 15th July –Osborne Road where members of NewhamSaveOurNHS will be hosting an information stand with lots of info about what's happening to our NHS in Newham. Contact newsonhs@gmail.com for more information. For more details about the Festival: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/forest-gate-festival-2017-stalls-booking-tickets-33575192304 Members of Newham SaveOurNHS group were in full support of the fledgling SaveOurNHS group in Redbridge, over the past two Saturdays - 27th May and 3rd June. We raised awareness of the closure to St George's Hospital A&E department. Many local residents were not aware of the situation. Around 200 people signed our petition and were interested in attending a march, hopefully to be organised in October 2017. Please look out for details on our website. |
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CHECK OUT THE VIDEO BELOW FOR AN EXCELLENT EXPLANATION ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE NHS
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#search/newsonhs%40gmail.com/15baa9bc7e89f75b?projector=1 |
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IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS WORTH READING -THE NHS PRIVATISATION DOCUMENT
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/NEXT-STEPS-ON-THE-NHS-FIVE-YEAR-FORWARD-VIEW.pdf Members of NewhamSaveOurNHS showed our full support to the campaign to save the A&E at King George's Hospital in Ilford on th 18h March. With nearby A&Es already unable to cope, closing it would be a disaster. 500 people came along to show their support for the NHS services in their area.
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20 members of our NewhamSaveOurNHS group joined over 50,000 people marching against cuts to the NHS as part of the OurNHS national demo on Saturday 4th March. It was an excellent turn out!
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At our Public Meeting on 15th February, we heard about the proposed closure of the Acute Day Hospital in Newham. The Newham Recorder also had a front page article on the proposed closure. We had not been able to find out about public consultation on the plans. So we asked questions about it at the East London Foundation Trust (ELFT) Board meeting on the 23rd February, 2017. Dr Ron Singer, Chair of Newham SaveourNHS, has also asked the Newham CCG about it. Members of our Group attended the ELFT Board Meeting, whose Chief Executive commented re: Newham Day Ward and other services that - at this time of year, and it happens every year, we look at cash efficiency savings - redesign services - work differently while improving care - reduce bed occupancy - consultation might bring feedback so proposals might change - the needs of users is most important - the impact of quality and safety is monitored'.
Their Chair said, in response to public questions, that the Newham Acute Day Hospital is not being closed, the service is being reconfigured. The Trust decided not to take the proposal to Overview or Scrutiny since it is a reconfiguration not a closure. Newham CCG has been involved. We are waiting to find out about the public consultation. Here is the Save Acute Day Hospital petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/183463
Our efforts are building towards the national demonstration in support of the NHS on Saturday March 4th, called by the national NHS campaigns, Unite, Peoples' Assembly. Other bodies are also joining in. See details https://keepournhspublicgmcr.com/2016/11/14/national-nhs-demonstration-4th-march-2017/
Their Chair said, in response to public questions, that the Newham Acute Day Hospital is not being closed, the service is being reconfigured. The Trust decided not to take the proposal to Overview or Scrutiny since it is a reconfiguration not a closure. Newham CCG has been involved. We are waiting to find out about the public consultation. Here is the Save Acute Day Hospital petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/183463
Our efforts are building towards the national demonstration in support of the NHS on Saturday March 4th, called by the national NHS campaigns, Unite, Peoples' Assembly. Other bodies are also joining in. See details https://keepournhspublicgmcr.com/2016/11/14/national-nhs-demonstration-4th-march-2017/
The above image shows members of our group promoting our Public Meeting to publicise the devastating plans for cuts and reorganisation in Newham's Health Service. See below leaflets for details
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We had a very successful PUBLIC MEETING on Wednesday 15th February at St John's Church in Stratford.
The image to the left shows members of our group supplying local councillors with information about the STPs outside the full meeting of Newham Council on 30th January. 6 members of the group were able to attend the meeting in the visitor's gallery.
Below is an image of our January Organising Committee meeting at Coffee7. Our meetings take place once a month on a Sunday. See banner above for details of dates and times. |
Members of the Group lobbied the Inner East London Health Scrutiny Committee meeting on Tuesday 13th December from 5.45pm at Tower Hamlets Town Hall, Mulberry Place, Clove Crescent, E14 nearest DLR East India Quay). See images below
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To the right is an image of the meeting of our NewhamSaveOurNHS group at Coffee 7 in December 2016.
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Newham Save Our NHS held its AGM on 12th October at Durning Hall, Forest Gate. 24 Newham residents and interested people attended the meeting, including visitors from Waltham Forest, Tower Hamlets, Hackney SaveOurNHS and from organisations including Scrutiny, Healthwatch and others. The main speaker was Mary Burnett from Waltham Forest SaveOurNHS. She gave a very lucid and detailed account of recent developments in the NHS. It was a lively meeting with many new faces adding to the discussion. Ron Singer chaired the meeting. Details of the main points covered can be found on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NewhamSaveOurNHS/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
Members of our group were at the Tory Party Conference Demo in Birmingham yesterday (Sunday 2nd October) organised by UNITE and attended by 20,000 people!
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The August meeting of our Organising Group was very well attended with 14 members discussing a variety of local health issues following attendance by group members to meetings of the Barts Health Board, local CCG and Newham Scrutiny, where we have a good presence.
Our new leaflets highlighting the Government's planned cuts to local health services (detailed in item below) were given out at the Forest Gate Fair last month with a good local response. These plans for radical local cuts, which we've been campaigning about, have now been made public and highlighted in the recent Guardian article below:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/aug/26/nhs-plans-radical-cuts-to-fight-growing-deficit-in-health-budget
The group will have its AGM and dates are soon to be announced. All Newham residents are welcome.
Our new leaflets highlighting the Government's planned cuts to local health services (detailed in item below) were given out at the Forest Gate Fair last month with a good local response. These plans for radical local cuts, which we've been campaigning about, have now been made public and highlighted in the recent Guardian article below:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/aug/26/nhs-plans-radical-cuts-to-fight-growing-deficit-in-health-budget
The group will have its AGM and dates are soon to be announced. All Newham residents are welcome.
July's meeting of our Organising Committee was very well attended, and included new members. We discussed the effects on the NHS as a result of the vote to leave the European Union. Group members also reported back on the meetings they have been attending of Barts Health Group and other local health forums where we have an active presence.
Ron has prepared a new leaflet to publicise huge cuts and damaging reorganisation due to take place at Newham Hospital to meet NHS England's plan to produce 'sustainability' directives in NHS regions (under government instruction) to meet the lack of money in our local NHS. Details of the new leaflet are as below.
Ron has prepared a new leaflet to publicise huge cuts and damaging reorganisation due to take place at Newham Hospital to meet NHS England's plan to produce 'sustainability' directives in NHS regions (under government instruction) to meet the lack of money in our local NHS. Details of the new leaflet are as below.
The leaflet outlines how despite East London's population being set to grow by 270,000 within 10 years:
http://www.walthamforestccg.nhs.uk/downloads/aboutus/publications/governingbodymeetings/2016/TST-Part-3-High-impact-changes.pdf
Our response here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2EsnxjE2sD5WkhMeFJpbkdvZmEtYVpXdDZIWElud0hPUlFz/view?usp=sharing
- 165 fewer GPs across Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest
- Slimmed-down A&Es at Newham and Whipps Cross with no emergency surgery at either hospital at night. Patients will be ‘stabilised’ and then transferred by ambulance to Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel (RLH).
- ‘Complex’ operations and emergency operations at night at RLH only
- Fewer operations and services at Newham hospital making it a less attractive place to continue training and working in
- These major changes have been poorly publicised. Public and staff are not aware of how their local NHS will be changed for the worse.
http://www.walthamforestccg.nhs.uk/downloads/aboutus/publications/governingbodymeetings/2016/TST-Part-3-High-impact-changes.pdf
Our response here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2EsnxjE2sD5WkhMeFJpbkdvZmEtYVpXdDZIWElud0hPUlFz/view?usp=sharing
The Organising Group met on Sunday 8th May. As usual a number of members have been involved in attending meetings at various Newham Health meetings including representatives attending the Newham CCG and SCRUTINY meetings. Also a member attended the Barts Trust Board Meeting held in public on May 4th 2016, at Newham Hospital to ask questions on the following topics:
Private Patient Partnership with Nuffield Health
Barts Trust identifies (April 2016 TB53/16a) the risk of PFI because of its "impact on long-term financial stability of the Trust."
Long contracts for private firms to provide Facilities Management Soft Services.
Details of the responses received can be found on the following link: http://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/about-us/our-board/board-papers/
Group members will continue to support the Doctor's Strike. See our Facebook page for more information.
Private Patient Partnership with Nuffield Health
Barts Trust identifies (April 2016 TB53/16a) the risk of PFI because of its "impact on long-term financial stability of the Trust."
- How much is the Trust paying SKANSKA and other firms/consultants to prepare the site and prepare the contracts for the new Private Patient Unit?
- How will these costs be paid? Are they added to the PFI?
- What is the balance between projected costs to the Trust / projected income to the trust of the new Private Patient Partnership.
Long contracts for private firms to provide Facilities Management Soft Services.
- Is the trust aware of the risks associated with long contracts for combined provision of FM Soft Services ? The risks are for both staff ( eg job losses) and patients ( eg poor services when there is a cut in staffing).
Details of the responses received can be found on the following link: http://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/about-us/our-board/board-papers/
Group members will continue to support the Doctor's Strike. See our Facebook page for more information.
The Group is meeting early in April to discuss the Junior Doctor's Strike and how the Group will be supporting them. The next Junior Doctors' Strike will go ahead on this Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th April from 8am. Please join our support picket outside the A&E at Newham Hospital from 7.45am ON BOTH STRIKE DAYS.
The Newham Save Our NHS organising group met on 7th February. Members of the group reported back on meetings they attended at the Newham Clinical Commissioning Group AGM, Joint East London Campaigns meetings and Keep our NHS Public amongst other relevant public meetings. The group continues to actively monitor the state of health service provision in the borough and support the Junior Doctor's and Student Nurse's strikes.
The Newham Save Our NHS organising group meeting on 17th January looked back on: the Junior Doctors' strikes; the Student Nurse's dispute; problems with local GP surgeries; the admission by Barts Health that their financial functions are "broken" - currently £24.4m off track with £115.6 m deficit, and looked forward to Jan 30th Health Campaigns Together meeting and ways in which we can support the Junior Doctors' 48 hour walk-out on Jan 26/7.
At our December meeting we discussed the Junior Doctors' Campaign and our fears that Jeremy Hunt and the Government is just holding off on imposing the contract on Junior Doctors until the Trade Union Bill passes (let's hope it doesn't). We also learned about how Junior Doctors are joining forces with the Nurses preparing to protest the loss of their training burseries in the Autumn Statement (at a time when the NHS is struggling to recruit enough staff!). We also learned about the new Health Together umbrella group uniting health campaigns and heard about the latest moves against the TTIP. See more information about TTIP below.
Newham Save our NHS were present at the handing in of the national TTIP petition to No 10 Downing street on Monday 30th November.
Members of the Newham Save NHS campaign group joined a national coalition of health cmapaigners to deliver a petition signed by 140,000 people calling on David Cameron to protect the NHS from an EU trade deal called TTIP. Anne-Marie Duff, together with doctors dressed in scrubs and activists from the People’s NHS, Save our Surgeries and Keep our NHS Public delivered the petition signed by people from across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales to 10 Downing Street.
TTIP – a trade deal being negotiated between the EU and the US – could mean American multinationals or any firm with American investors could sue the UK government if it moved to take privatised health services back into public ownership. Actress Anne-Marie Duff, joined the campaign and said: "We can't afford to take risks with the NHS. It saves our lives and brings our children into the world regardless of who we are. The NHS makes us all equals. The TTIP trade deal puts that at risk because it could make privatisation irreversible. I want the government to think again and protect the NHS from TTIP."
Ron Singer, our Chair, attended the handing in of the petition to Downing Street.
http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/14115304.Dorset_campaigners_join_actress_Anne_Marie_Duff_on_protest_march_in_London/
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/national/news/14111671.Petition_seeks_assurances_over_NHS_protection_in_EU_US_trade_deal/
http://www.irishexaminer.com/world/actress-anne-marie-duff-leads-petition-against-eu-and-us-trade-deal-368684.html
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/petition-seeks-assurances-over-nhs-protection-in-euus-trade-deal-34244868.html
Members of the Newham Save NHS campaign group joined a national coalition of health cmapaigners to deliver a petition signed by 140,000 people calling on David Cameron to protect the NHS from an EU trade deal called TTIP. Anne-Marie Duff, together with doctors dressed in scrubs and activists from the People’s NHS, Save our Surgeries and Keep our NHS Public delivered the petition signed by people from across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales to 10 Downing Street.
TTIP – a trade deal being negotiated between the EU and the US – could mean American multinationals or any firm with American investors could sue the UK government if it moved to take privatised health services back into public ownership. Actress Anne-Marie Duff, joined the campaign and said: "We can't afford to take risks with the NHS. It saves our lives and brings our children into the world regardless of who we are. The NHS makes us all equals. The TTIP trade deal puts that at risk because it could make privatisation irreversible. I want the government to think again and protect the NHS from TTIP."
Ron Singer, our Chair, attended the handing in of the petition to Downing Street.
http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/14115304.Dorset_campaigners_join_actress_Anne_Marie_Duff_on_protest_march_in_London/
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/national/news/14111671.Petition_seeks_assurances_over_NHS_protection_in_EU_US_trade_deal/
http://www.irishexaminer.com/world/actress-anne-marie-duff-leads-petition-against-eu-and-us-trade-deal-368684.html
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/petition-seeks-assurances-over-nhs-protection-in-euus-trade-deal-34244868.html
Our latest Organising Group meeting took place on Sunday 15th November at the Cafe 7, in Forest Gate.
Members of the group reported back on meetings they attended at the Newham Clinical Commissioning Group AGM, Joint East London Campaigns meetings and Keep our NHS Public amongst other relevant public meetings. The group continues to actively monitor the state of health service provision in the borough.
If you would like to know more about NewhamSaveOurNHS Group and what we do, please join us at our monthly meetings which take place at Coffee7 in Forest Gate. The date of the next meeting is provided above.
Newham SaveOurNHS group was well represented at the Manchester Anti-Austerity and Privatisation Protest at the Conservative Party Conference on 4th October.
Some images of the group with our banner is shown below.
Members of the group reported back on meetings they attended at the Newham Clinical Commissioning Group AGM, Joint East London Campaigns meetings and Keep our NHS Public amongst other relevant public meetings. The group continues to actively monitor the state of health service provision in the borough.
If you would like to know more about NewhamSaveOurNHS Group and what we do, please join us at our monthly meetings which take place at Coffee7 in Forest Gate. The date of the next meeting is provided above.
Newham SaveOurNHS group was well represented at the Manchester Anti-Austerity and Privatisation Protest at the Conservative Party Conference on 4th October.
Some images of the group with our banner is shown below.
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At our Organising Group meeting in August we were delighted to welcome Jos Bell (pictured left) - Chair of London's Socialist Health Association - who talked us though the mysteries of Mancs Devo as well as giving us a personal account of what's been happening with the NHS in South and West London. The hour we'd allowed for her talk and questions sped by - next time, we'll know to allow more time! LATEST HIGHLIGHTSRAISING AWARENESS OF TTIP IN NEWHAM
On Saturday 22nd August Newham Save our NHS members in collaboration with 38 Degrees to raise awareness of TTIP amongst the local community and gave out leaflets and information at Stratford Station. |
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END AUSTERITY NOW MARCH
organized by The People’s Assembly
Saturday 20th June National Demonstration in London
Newham Save Our NHS was well represented at the People's Assembly March Against Austerity and Privatisation in central London yesterday. London Health groups joined campaigners of all age groups representing just about every campaign that has grown up in the past 5 years. Demonstrators came from all over the country including trade unionists, environmental campaigners, church groups and individuals keen to show opposition to the government policies that have already caused a rise in child poverty statistics.
An estimate of 250.000 was given by the organisers and we certainly reached Parliament Square 2 hours after the first groups arrived. Everyone very keen to continue this united opposition to benefit cuts and contraction in our health services. It promises to be a busy autumn. For anyone who can't imagine how big the London Demo was, check out the link… https://youtu.be/YyigIfAzMqo
organized by The People’s Assembly
Saturday 20th June National Demonstration in London
Newham Save Our NHS was well represented at the People's Assembly March Against Austerity and Privatisation in central London yesterday. London Health groups joined campaigners of all age groups representing just about every campaign that has grown up in the past 5 years. Demonstrators came from all over the country including trade unionists, environmental campaigners, church groups and individuals keen to show opposition to the government policies that have already caused a rise in child poverty statistics.
An estimate of 250.000 was given by the organisers and we certainly reached Parliament Square 2 hours after the first groups arrived. Everyone very keen to continue this united opposition to benefit cuts and contraction in our health services. It promises to be a busy autumn. For anyone who can't imagine how big the London Demo was, check out the link… https://youtu.be/YyigIfAzMqo
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UPDATE FROM RECENT ORGANISING GROUP MEETINGS
JUNE 2015
Our June meeting looked at the CCG's plans to cover for the closure of the Vicarage Lane Walk-In Centre, The latest Barts Board meeting - more strong questions for the new board - and the council's health meetings, as well as planning our involvement for Saturday's anti-austerity and privatisation March to Parliament
MAY 2015
Great organising meeting today 24th May at CoffeE7. Although the election result has been a real downer, it was good to take time to reflect on what we've achieved with over 3 years of consistent campaigning and a group that has not only retained a number of its founder members but built a strong core of regular attendees around them.
Other discussion points included this week's CQC inadequate judgements on Newham University Hospital, the Royal London Hospital and Barts Health Trust -... and that great elephant in the room not mentioned in the reports - the trust's huge PFI pressures
Meanwhile, it looks like our next event will be the Anti-Austerity/ Anti-privatisation march on June 20th when our banner will be on the move again alongside our fellow health campaigns, while the next attack on NHS staff would seem to be an attempt to remove anti-social hours payments from nurses (one of their few ways of topping up what, especially in London terms, are not strong levels of pay). Apparently Unison, Unite and the RCN will be looking to ballot members soon on potential action.
Our next meeting will be on June 14th
JUNE 2015
Our June meeting looked at the CCG's plans to cover for the closure of the Vicarage Lane Walk-In Centre, The latest Barts Board meeting - more strong questions for the new board - and the council's health meetings, as well as planning our involvement for Saturday's anti-austerity and privatisation March to Parliament
MAY 2015
Great organising meeting today 24th May at CoffeE7. Although the election result has been a real downer, it was good to take time to reflect on what we've achieved with over 3 years of consistent campaigning and a group that has not only retained a number of its founder members but built a strong core of regular attendees around them.
Other discussion points included this week's CQC inadequate judgements on Newham University Hospital, the Royal London Hospital and Barts Health Trust -... and that great elephant in the room not mentioned in the reports - the trust's huge PFI pressures
Meanwhile, it looks like our next event will be the Anti-Austerity/ Anti-privatisation march on June 20th when our banner will be on the move again alongside our fellow health campaigns, while the next attack on NHS staff would seem to be an attempt to remove anti-social hours payments from nurses (one of their few ways of topping up what, especially in London terms, are not strong levels of pay). Apparently Unison, Unite and the RCN will be looking to ballot members soon on potential action.
Our next meeting will be on June 14th
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Central Hall Westminster on 24th April. Bring back the NHS. Watch 10 fantastic speeches from this event.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLckWfCEcTJ37mYlPBrNfju1NlxxNAr44D Join Newham Save Our NHS at Stratford Station at 11 to 12:30 Saturday 25th April.
We will be joining the PFI protest bus at 12:30 for a tour of Newham then on to Tower Hamlets for those who can. The bus is coming from Waltham Forest so covering the three Boroughs affected by the Barts Trust PFI debt. Let's keep the NHS and the outrageous PFI deals which are driving trusts all over the country into debt in the public eye in the run up to the election. Banners and leaflets in plenty! #BinBartsPFI Supported by Newham and Waltham Forest Save our NHS, Tower Hamlets Keep Our NHS Public and People v. Barts PFI 
REINSTATMENT
Charlotte wins! Bart's bullying management trounced. A great victory for Charlotte and for all health workers suffering bullying for speaking out for their patients. CHARLOTTE MONRO PERSONAL STATEMENT 31st March 2015 I am really happy to be returning to work with my team and the rest of the staff at Whipps Cross Hospital, and Barts Health NHS Trust. And I look forward to being able to contribute to the work I understand is now under way, in response to the CQC report, to bring about improvement in our hospital. It's vital that Whipps Cross becomes again a hospital of choice for health staff to work in, where they can provide the best standards of health care to our local population, and find a good future. Health staff must be able to speak out for their patients and services without fear. They must be free to organise themselves in trade unions and stand as representatives knowing that their rights as a union rep will be respected, and that the role of an independent union campaigning for the interests of the staff, their patients and services is also respected. These were issues at the heart of my case. Its resolution will I hope contribute to building a climate of openness and confidence so needed in our health service. I want to thank my union UNISON for its backing and support in taking my case to tribunal, and to thank our highly committed legal team. I have been moved and inspired by the support from colleagues, from health campaigners and fellow trade unionists, and so many other people. It has held me up through some pretty difficult times and brought home that the issues I faced have far wider significance for people. Together we are standing up for what we believe in and this has made all the difference. Let’s continue to do so for the future of our NHS. 
Thursday 19th March Protest.
Tower Hamlets Keep Our NHS Public and Save Our Surgeries invite you... this Thursday 19th March at 2pm to a protest by patients and NHS staff in defence of our GP surgeries on the traffic island @ junction of Commercial Road and Burdett Road, E14 7HG The Limehouse Practice, Gill Street, Is among local practices and others in deprived areas under threat of closure from government cuts. Bring supporters, banners and placards and display the flier #THKONP |
Read this blog about the Bart's Trust PCFI and last Saturdays #BinthePFI bus
http://wire.novaramedia.com/2015/04/barts-health-the-real-life-consequences-of-pfi-in-the-nhs/ Breaking News !
Barts Trust put into special measures after adverse CQC report. The chief executive , head nurse and Chair have all resigned in the last month and the debt is £93 million. Blame the PFI not the staff! Links to media coverage:- http://konpmedia.com/2015/03/17/pfi-scheme-to-blame-for-barts-nhs-trust-special-measures/ http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/mar/17/barts-health-whipps-cross-hospital-special-measures-cqc-report?CMP=share_btn_tw http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/wfnews/11858804.Your_NHS__Barts_resignations_inevitable_given_soaring___93m_deficit/?action=success#comments Click on this link for a good article about the dangers of the Mutual illustrated by Hinchingbrooke hospital. Several other hospitals planning to go down this route including Moorfields eye Hospital which provides services for East London patients. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/19/hinchingbrooke-hospital-scandal-mutual-privately-run
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Great new video of Newham Save our NHS and others at the Stratford rally for Save our Surgeries
http://youtu.be/tCnExsQcSNE Front Page of Newham Recorder!
Stratford rally at the start of the Newham leg of Saturdays march and rally for #saveoursurgeries http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/on_the_march_in_stratford_to_save_gp_surgeries_1_3676455 Link to great pics of the march and rally on Saturday
http://www.demotix.com/photo/5182067/east-londoners-oppose-cuts-and-privatisation-66-year-old-nhs&popup=1 More at http://facebook.com/SaveOurGPSurgeries Here's a video of Newham SONHS at the Stratford rally before leafleting with the campaign bus then joining the main march http://youtu.be/pGuAr9QiL2Qleafleting March and Rally Saturday 5th July East London
Save Our Surgeries march and rally July - promises to be bigger and louder than the June 4th event! Newham practices are affected by the funding cuts to GP surgeries as are Tower Hamlets and Hackney, Yorkshire rural practices, university practices and many more up and down the country. NHS England which is now responsible for G.P contracts seem to have adopted a slash and burn policy even though there is a 40% increase in patients going to their G.P. Funding to GPs is going down not up and services are at breaking point. Join us - patients staff and GPs on Sat. 5th July. |
Ron Singer chair of NewhamSONHS
The campaign bus is in Newham 12- 1:30 starting in Stratford Station so come on board! Or join the main march at Altab Ali Park Whitechapel (Aldgate East tube, 25 bus) to London Fields Lido Hackney for rally. Speakers include Dianne Abbott MP Roshonara Ali MP Proff.Allyson Pollock of London University, GPs and patients from Newham Tower Hamlets and Hackney. We will be joined by campaigners from Yorkshire and Essex.
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Crowd of 500+ in Altab Ali Park yesterday for Save Our Surgeries march and rally. Our speakers and supporters -Rushanara Ali MP, Dianne Abbott MP, Lutfur Rahman mayor Tower Hamlets, Maureen Baker chair of the Royal College of GPs, Allyson Pol...lock Professor of Public Health Research and Policy Queen Mary College, patients and GPs from Newham Hackney and Tower Hamlets and messages of support from public health workers striking on Thursday, Lynn Brown MP, Stephen Timms MP, Rafia Munni health advocate. More and more GPs are going public all over the country about cuts in funding for their surgeries and the danger of having to close. Jeremy Hunt are you listening!!
(photo by GP magazine) 
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There was demonstration of Newham Save Our NHS today with the Save our Surgeries campaign, outside NHS England's Open day in Islington in protest against the withdrawal of funds from GP practices in East London including practices in Newham.
We will be at the Forest Gate festival on Saturday 21st at 11am, Osborne Road E7. We will have banners, leaflets and petitions and would love to talk to as many people as we can (and also join in the fun at the festival!)
We will be at the Forest Gate festival on Saturday 21st at 11am, Osborne Road E7. We will have banners, leaflets and petitions and would love to talk to as many people as we can (and also join in the fun at the festival!)
Newham Save Our NHS talking to the public about our Campaign in Forest Gate on 12th April.
SAVE our Surgeries
Brilliant march in Tower Hamlets organised by Save Our Surgeries. Great support from the community marching with us cheering from the balconies of the tower blocks and tooting from their cars . Packed meeting at Kingsley hall with terrific speakers and support from the RCGP the BMA and Unite the union. Newham practices affected by the cuts also and Newham save our NHS marched too. We fight on. Watch this space. Diary Dates
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Round 2 of Save our Surgeries on 5th July, the anniversary of the founding of the NHS!
We have music and a battle bus which will be visiting Newham. Newham surgeries are affected by funding cuts just as in Tower Hamlets and Hackney. At least five surgeries are very badly affected. Visit your GP surgery and find out if they are supporting the campaign and what you can do to help. 
SAVE OUR SURGERIES
Changes to funding of GP surgeries mean deep cuts to 98 GP surgeries across the UK including 5 in Newham 5 in Tower Hamlets and 12 in Hackney. Some may have to close -if not this year then in future years as the funding of general practice continues to be woefully inadequate. For more details see - www.facebook.com/saveOurGPsurgeries |
