The NHS celebrated its 65th birthday at the weekend with a ringing endorsement from the public, who have voiced high praise for the service – and fears about the dangers of it falling into the hands of the private sector.
As UNISON regions and branches around the country celebrated the anniversary, general secretary Dave Prentis said it was crucial that the union “redouble our efforts to defend the NHS’s founding principles.”
He called the NHS “our last remaining beacon of social solidarity.”
The public would seem to agree.
In a survey compiled for The Mirror and ITV’s Daybreak, 85% of respondents in England and Wales said they were satisfied with their most recent experience of the NHS, with 72% stating that they would have faith in the service to look after them or a loved one if they were to fall ill.
The majority still believes in the founding principles of the NHS – with 78% of people agreeing that it should always remain free at the point of delivery, and 74% opposed to the idea of taxpayer-funded healthcare being provided mainly or wholly by the private-sector.
One aspect of the poll will make particularly uncomfortable reading for the government – of those who voted Conservative at the last general election, a mere 6% supported taxpayer-funded healthcare provision being provided mainly or wholly by the private sector.
UNISON members today are marking the anniversary with parties and protests nationwide.
Twitter has been buzzing with a combination of pride, praise and fighting talk.
Mr Prentis, who is to address a Manchester rally this evening, said that, “despite everything that has been thrown at it by successive governments, our NHS remains the fairest and most cost-effective health service in the world – second to none.
“It continues to provide peace of mind to millions, safe in the knowledge that the quality of your care has nothing to do with the health of your bank balance.”
He also praised “the amazing work performed 24/7 by the NHS and its staff.”
UNISON head of health Christina McAnea added: “More than ever before we need a functioning NHS that is free at the point of use and still holds true to the principles that Nye Bevan laid out in 1948.”
However, government cuts and reforms have led to what Mr Prentis also described as “a service creaking under the pressure of cuts, privatisation and structural upheaval”, with thousands of NHS jobs being lost and many more threatened.
There have even been debates about when – rather than if – the NHS will have to introduce charging; while the Tories have apparently considered a cap on the number of visits a person can make to their GP within any one year.
At UNISON conference Mr Prentis called on the TUC to organise a mass rally in defence of the NHS, at the Tory Party conference in Manchester on 29 September.
This will now take place.
Meanwhile, UNISON is calling for:
- minimum staffing levels to ensure that patients and staff are safe;
- proper funding – NHS funds should be protected rather than siphoned off in “efficiency savings” to the Treasury;
- patients not profit – taxpayers’ money to be spent on improving the quality of patient care, rather than paid to management consultants or company shareholders.
The union is asking union members and the public to spend a minimum of 65 seconds to help it save the NHS. Individuals can:
- use our website to find out about and support our campaign;
- sign the online petition here that asks for changes that will make it easier to see what private companies are planning for our NHS;
- use your Facebook and Twitter accounts to spread the word about what is happening to the NHS, and urge your family and friends to help us save it. Go to www.facebook.com/ournhsourfuture and follow @UNISONOurNHS. Use hashtag #NHS65
Those members who can spare more than 65 seconds should contact their branch to find out how to with local campaigning and recruiting.
