North West
Friends of Levenshulme
A community campaigning organisation dedicated to the principle that public services should be publicly funded. While the Friends of Levenshulme is not specifically a health campaign group it has been instrumental in the debate around the privatisation of GP services and the new GP-led health centre. Click here for the report on the local public meeting on the privatisation of GP services.
Website: http://levenshulme.wetpaint.com/
Hands off Hope Hospital
The maternity unit and neonatal intensive care unit of the Hope Hospital in Salford were threatened with closure under Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority’s Making It Better proposals. A decision is now expected to be announced in early December 2006.
This decision was delayed from September 2006 due to the unprecedented number of responses. Overall, the consultation received 55,000 formal written responses, 18,000 face to face contacts at public meetings and events and over 130,000 signatures on a number of petitions - the largest ever response to a health consultation in the UK.
Contact: via http://www.salford.gov.uk/handsoffhope
Website: http://www.salford.gov.uk/handsoffhope
Maghull Keep Our NHS Public
The group was set up in September 2006 at a well attended public meeting, in opposition to the proposed opening of an alternative provider medical service (APMS). Members of the PPI Forum have signed confidentiality agreements on grounds of commercial sensitivity, and are therefore prevented from discussing the plans in detail. The preferred bidder is understood to be Care UK. However, the PCT refuse to confirm this, again on the grounds of commercial sensitivity. The PCT claim that there is a problem with attracting GPs to the area despite an estimated 15 bids being made for the new practice.
A petition is being circulated around the community, and the group plans to present an estimated 1,000 signatures to the OSC. A campaign of letter writing to the PCT, councillors and the local MP, George Howarth, has also commenced. A lobby of George Howarth's next surgery is planned. The MP has been consistent in his support for the planned APMS.
The PCT chief executive, Leigh Griffin, has now said that perhaps there had not been adequate consultation and that a period of "consultation/information" will commence in January.
Contact: Jane Calveley - jane.calveley@seftoncvs.org.uk
Download campaign article
Maghull, Lydiate & South Sefton Action Group
The action group was formed in October 2006 to fight against the privatisation of GP surgeries in Maghull, Lydiate and South Sefton, proposed by the Primary Care Trust. Following a public meeting held at Lydiate Parish Hall on October 4th the group has now held numerous meetings and had various correspondence with the press, and the area has been extensively leafleted.
Following intense lobbying Sefton Primary Care Trust agreed to arrange three exhibitions and one public meeting announced in the local press. A public consultation was a legal requirement of the Health and Social Care Act 2003 section 11 which the PCT had tried to avoid. The group attended all the PCT board meetings, council meetings and Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings and intends attending all the exhibition style meetings that the PCT proposes in order to ensure that they are totally honest with the public. If the the PCT proceeds down the path of Care UK establishing a surgery it will be vital that the public is kept fully informed.
Contact: Max Ferrie - maxferrie@hotmail.com
Download 'letter to the editor'
Manchester Keep Our NHS Public
Contact: Jill Woodward - jillwoodward@aol.com
Merseyside Keep Our NHS Public
Merseyside Keep Our NHS Public campaign is currently organising opposition to the franchising of a new local GP surgery to a corporate multinational private healthcare company. The group also supports local trade unionists and community campaigns to oppose cuts and privatisation throughout the area.
Contact: Danny McGowan - dannymcgowan@hotmail.co.uk
Preston Keep Our NHS Public
Preston KONP was set up in February 2007 following the decision of Central Lancashire Primary Care Trust to restructure hospital and clinical services on market lines, with the first Clinical Assessment and Treatment Support centre (CATS) to be run by the 'for-profit' South African multinational Netcare. Although Netcare would take all profits, the NHS would foot the £2.3 million construction bill. This decision would inevitably lead to ward closures and job losses - it would also represent a dangerous invasion of the NHS by the market.
Following overwhelming local opposition, and vigorous campaigning by Preston KONP, the government came out against the PCT's plans. While the PCT initially seemed prepared to carry on regardless, on 18 December 2007 it was finally announced that the plan for Netcare to provide CATS services had been withdrawn.
This represents a major success for local campaigners and activists, in good time for the 60th anniversary of the NHS in 2008.
Contact: Debbie Turner (Unison, RPH), Janet Howarth (Unison CDGH), Terry Quinn (Amicus, RPH), Cllr Michael Lavalette (Preston City Council), Cllr Jean Al Serraj (Preston City Council
Website: http://www.prestonkeepournhspublic.org.uk/
Save Our Baby Unit Campaign, Wythenshawe
The campaign was set up in April 2006 in opposition to the SHA's "Making It Better" programme which aims to close or downgrade many similar facilities across Greater Manchester. The group has produced a petition and a newsletter explaining about the proposal to downsize the neo-natal intensive care unit at Wythenshawe Hospital, and against all the cuts in the NHS. Door-to-door leafleting, circulation of the petition, contact with the local press, distribution of an eye-catching "Save The Baby Unit" poster for window display and a series of local meetings have all helped to keep the issue in the public eye. People have been urged to write to the local MP and councillors in protest at the cuts in the NHS, and the group has lobbied Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe Labour MP) at his surgery to ask him to support the campaign.
Health service cuts leading to a shortage of local premature baby (neonatal) units have been responsible for the “unnecessary and avoidable tragedy” of the deaths of prematurely born babies, in the words of Lynn Worthington. Lynn is currently campaigning for a council seat to give the campaign a voice on the council.
Contact: Lynn Worthington, Hugh Caffrey - manc_sfe@hotmail.com. Tel. 07769 611320