Letter sent Sunday 15.07.12 to Independant, Guardian, Scotsman & Herald.
Also sent to local paper The Ileach in Islay.
Dear Editor,
I have, for some time, been very concerned about the ConDem government’s plans in England insidiously to privatise my NHS slowly and by stealth. I have written several times to our MP Alan Reid (LibDem) asking him to vote against the changes, and he has ignored my pleas. I have also lobbied other MPs and Members of the House of Lords, to no avail.
I do realise that in Scotland healthcare is devolved to the Scottish Government and we are not, at present, in danger of these changes happening this side of the border. However I find that the general public are totally unaware of what’s going on down south. People I talk to, both in England and Scotland, haven’t a clue unless they are sick because it’s not being widely reported in newspapers, on the BBC, ITV or even my favourite C4N. I can’t understand why the media is getting away with it.
I care passionately about the NHS. It is the most important service, which can be offered to the citizens of the UK. It was considered hugely satisfactory by the great majority of the public before Andrew Lansley insisted on railroading in huge changes; which were not endorsed by professionals working in the Service.
Doctors are being asked to take salary cuts or lose their jobs.
Because of huge imposed savings, hospitals are going bankrupt and some are closing because they can’t make ends meet. Private companies are rubbing their hands and are waiting for the government to sell them off cheaply so that their shareholding pals can take grants from central government, provide services and make profits. Companies like SERCO and Virgin are queuing up for this privilege. Now; is it me being naïve or do private companies have to make a profit by their very nature? That’s the way they work in our capitalist society so that shareholders can earn tons of wonga; isn’t it? So, the cash one of these private companies already receives to provide Children’s Services in Devon, for example, has to be used to fund the children’s services, pay staff, rent venues and have some left over to pay dividends. Private providers will therefore not be able to use all the cash previously used directly by the NHS, to make the services successful. Could this be a blatant rip-off? The only way I can see this working is by cutting services and staff wages.
Plans have been suggested to pay regional wages in the public sector so a large saving can be made out of remuneration for staff doing the same work in Darlington as staff in central London but being paid considerably less. Do you want to endorse this behaviour thereby lowering the standard of living of NHS employees, or do you like me, object strongly?
You may say that I am worrying unnecessarily and that the SNP Government in Edinburgh would not ever endorse this kind of carry-on. You may be right but what if private providers offer initially to fund services in Scotland at knock-down prices like a “loss leader”? Don’t you think our Scottish Government, of whatever colour, would be tempted to give it a go? Money saved could be spent elsewhere…..schools are short of cash too. It’s a slippery slope and one I want to be avoided at all costs.
One evening last month, there was allegedly just one doctor on call overnight in the whole of Cornwall. Obviously a huge staffing cost saving. This service is provided by a private company and paid for by your NHS. Aren’t you glad you weren’t suffering from an acute abdomen in Cornwall on that night? I have no idea how often this situation is repeated and I haven’t checked because frankly I am horrified. We are looking to have a full complement of six GPs in Islay. If we were in England this would indeed be pie in the sky!
When the Bill to make these changes was analysed it was found in Clause 12, to include the fact that if you or I were to fall sick in England, there was no incentive or commitment by English GPs to treat us or to admit us to a hospital bed south of the border, unless in an emergency. It would be at the discretion of the individual doctor because we would not be registered with a GP in England. I wonder if this upsets anyone else in Islay or in the wider community. Who knew of this small print? Whatever you think of Independence from England, you might still fall ill whilst visiting the deep south, and require NHS treatment. However you just might have to pay. I understand that some NHS Walk-In Centres are asking for £25 before you see a medic; £300 is being charged for varicose vein operations and £120 for a 12 week antenatal ultrasound scan. The patients have to pay up or they won’t get the service. This is our NHS and we cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand because we are fortunate enough to live in Scotland.
Our MPs and MSPs work for us. They are paid from the public purse and should listen when we ask for support for the things we hold dear. These are the people who could make a considerable difference. Why are they staying so quiet?
Yours sincerely,
Patricia M Farrington. MBE
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