March to save the NHS

PROFITABLE PARTS of the National Health Service are, more and more, being parcelled up and sold off. The US-owned United Health and Humana private sector health care companies, which are implicated in corruption charges in the US, are among 14 private companies about to take over Primary Care Trust commissioning in the health service.

At the same time 22,000 people have lost their jobs In the NHS as a result of millions of pounds worth of cuts with more to come. Trade union activist Len Hockey from Whipps Cross hospital Unison branch is calling for everybody who wants to save the NHS to join the Unison-led demonstration on 3 November (see page 5 for details).

But, he says, the march must be the start of a real campaign. "This demonstration should reflect the anger, determination and resolve of NHS workers to defend the health service, so it continues to run as a service based on people's needs rather than private greed."

The 3 November demonstration should act as a springboard for a major campaign of action which can unite groups such as Keep our NHS Public, People United to Save Hospitals and fighting trade union branches, to fend off attempts at spending cuts, closures and privatisation both nationally and locally.

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

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