Hundreds of people from all walks of life packed Manchester cathedral to back the Junior Doctors fighting back against the NHS cuts to services and privatisation of the NHS.
Dr Siema Iqbal speaks above, with a signer to the right. The Tory Government contracts will put patients lives at risk and will slash salaries. Many medical professionals spoke, all passionately, including Dr Gurshuran Johal. "If we don't do something now we're going to lose the NHS-this is the undoing of the NHS, it starts with us and then it'll be everyone else", "We ARE going to fight for it". "Unity is strength and needed".
(Forgive the poor quality photo- just a phone snap).
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
- Martin Niemöller
Many thousands of doctors already work as private contractors to the NHS. That is how our GPs are employed.
ReplyDeletePublic satisfaction with GP services is high, demonstrating that private provision of NHS services can work well, and has done so since 1948 when GPs refused to become NHS employees despite pleas from the Labour government.
As long as NHS services are free at the point of delivery I don't think most people mind who provides them.
Most people who campaign against privatisation of NHS services are NHS staff who want to keep their typically generous public service terms and conditions which are very expensive for ordinary hard working taxpayers to afford.
A final point. Many doctors in NHS hospitals do not seem to have any ideological problems with private provision of health care as they also work in private hospitals to boost their already quite generous NHS incomes.
Many present day junior doctors will be doing exactly the same when they become more experienced and able to get that lucrative, private work.
Having had just thrown a Tory government that deserved the kick in the teeth it got, I can just say keep up the pressure.
ReplyDeleteWith you all the way William!
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