Why you should be in Balham this Tuesday night

KOSHH campaigner Colin Crilly writes about why everyone who cares about the NHS should attend a public meeting this Tuesday night (27 October) at 7.30pm in Balham:

If you believe all that you read and see in the media, you would be forgiven for thinking that the NHS is on its last legs, and no longer fit for purpose. However, there is a much bigger story going on, one that is nearly all but being ignored by our news papers and television: The privatisation of our health service.

St George's Hospital (Tooting) is facing huge financial problems, mental health services in Queen Mary's (Roehampton) are being cut, and now St Helier (Carshalton) and Epsom Hospitals are facing the real threat of being demolished. These cases are just the latest in a pattern that has gone on for the last 30 years or so, regardless of what party happens to be in power.

The fact is that a state-run health service is the most efficient health service. All of the layers of bureaucracy that have been introduced, as well as companies coming in with a profit-before-care agenda, have left our health service in the poor state that we see today.

We also have the legacy of the appalling debts from PFI (Private Finance Initiative) contracts. These contracts come with outrageous levels of interest that will take decades to pay back. In real terms, government investment in our NHS has been reduced for some time. Beware, we are heading towards a US-style health insurance system.

If you are concerned about these issues, want to find out more, and would like to help save our hospitals and health services, we urge you to attend our public meeting on Tuesday 27 October. The venue is the Balham Baptist Church, 21 Ramsden Rd, SW12 8QX and the meeting starts at 7.30pm.

Click here for more information.