The battle against the government’s controversial reform of the NHS reaches a climax today, as UNISON joined protests around the country.
Chief among these is a Save Our NHS rally at Westminster, this evening.
UNISON is urging its members to redouble their efforts to halt the health and social care bill, both today and over the next fortnight.
The union believes that the bill’s final days in the House of Lords will determine its future – and that of the NHS.
The Tories are prepared to accept the amendments made by the Lords so far, to prevent any further debate in the Commons – meaning the bill could be passed into law by the end of the month.
But peers are being encouraged to make further amendments, on issues such as the private patient income cap, which would wreck the government’s plans.
“Make no mistake, this is our last chance to save the NHS,” warned UNISON head of health Christina McAnea.
“It seems the government is trying to rush the bill through, with no further chance for MPs to debate it. So we have to force their hand, by getting the bill amended in the House of Lords.”
Current changes to the bill have done nothing to address its most damaging aspects, which will lead to the fragmentation of the NHS and put profits ahead of patients.
As the battle for the health service reaches its end game, UNISON members around the country are voicing their opposition to the bill with a number of Save Our NHS rallies and events.
As well as the national Save Our NHS Rally, at Westminster Central Hall tonight, these include:
- 2 March: Kings Lynn evening rally;
- 3 March: Manchester rally, 11am at Albert Square, in conjunction with NWTUC and Labour Party, and with Andy Burnham amongst the speakers;
- 3 March: Drop the Bill rally, Norwich;
- 3 March: Save our NHS rally, Southampton;
- 7 March: Day of Action in Plymouth;
- the week of 12 March – UNISON’s A Million Voices for Health Week across the West Midlands, with 42 events addressing both the health bill and pensions.
There were leafleting events throughout the Northern region today, including Berwick, Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, Hartlepool, and Tyneside.
“These demonstrations are coming at exactly the right time,” said Ms McAnea. “This is our last chance to do something that could have a profound effect on the health bill.”
UNISON is asking branches across the union – not just health branches – to join their local events, as well as continue to lobby their MPs and peers. You can urge members of the House of Lords to vote against the raising of the private patient income limit via the TUC goingtowork.org.uk website here
The pressure on the government continues at the Liberal Democrat conference next week, when rebel Lib-Dems will propose a motion calling on their party “to work together to achieve the withdrawal or defeat of this flawed and unpopular bill.