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McCarthy calls for Bristolians to Save our NHS
Kerry McCarthy MP is encouraging Bristolians to express their profound opposition to the Government’s NHS reforms by responding to the Government’s ‘listening exercise’ before the consultation closes on Tuesday 31st May.
Bristolians can express their concerns about the Government’s chaotic NHS reforms by visiting the Department of Health website at: http://healthandcare.dh.gov.uk/listening-exercise-how-to-get-involved/
Kerry has received an almost unprecedented number of letters and emails from hundreds of her constituents who are deeply concerned that the Government’s reforms will be disastrous for the NHS and will inevitably lead to privatisation. In April, Kerry wrote to the Prime Minister and Nick Clegg, to express her constituents’ significant opposition. Notably, Kerry emphasised to the Prime Minister that for her constituents the NHS is a national service, provided equitably on the basis of need; not on the basis of ability to pay or what generates the most profit.
While encouraging Bristolians to make their voices heard, Kerry said: ‘I am encouraging everyone in Bristol to express their opposition to these dangerous NHS plans by responding to the Government’s listening exercise. As it stands at the moment, the Bill is motivated by the Government’s ideological aversion to state health care and it will result in longer waiting times, post-code lotteries, restricted treatments, as well as a reduced focus on public health promotion and compromised commissioning decisions for GPs. All because the Prime Minister values competition, markets and profit above high quality care available to everyone.
As waiting lists hit a three year high, my constituents feel very strongly that the Government’s reforms will ruin our NHS. They are rightly worried that the Government’s plans to abolish the cap on private patients, combined with the scrapping of waiting list targets, will push NHS patients to the bottom of the queue in NHS hospitals.
We need to take action now, as the Government’s so-called listening exercise is about to close. Time and time again, doctors and nurses throughout the country not to mention patients have rejected the Government’s plans. It is now time that the people of Bristol have their say and express their strong opposition before it’s too late.’’
