public meetings and open petitions

A Bromley borough resident concerned about cuts and privatisation writes -

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2206107/STOP-THE-CASUALTY-CLOSURES.html

This is the Mail on Sunday A&E petition webpage. The Mail is very influential among politicians, and reaches many people who are not aware of what is going on.  If they believe many people are interested, they will cover the NHS privatisation story more and better:

FaceBook users may have seen a page forwarded by a supporter with an invitation to sign and share. It's to ask for Freedom of Information about private sector organisations

https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38851

 There is a joint shadow SE London Commissioning Boards (Clinical Commissioning Groups) Meeting this coming Thursday (27th Sept) at Coin St Neighbourhood Centre, Stamford St, SE 1 9NH

CRISIS IN SOUTH LONDON HEALTH TRUST & CUTS TO PUBLIC SERVICES

Here is reminder of Bromley Cuts Concern and Bromley TUC's own joint public meeting tonight

ALL WELCOME

Invited speakers and guests

Gill George, Local NHS worker & Unite trade unionist 

Glenn Kelly, Staff Side Secretary, Bromley Council
Chris Baugh, Assistant General Secretary, PCS

John McDonnell MP, Chair of Labour's Representation Committee (LRC)

Chair: Mick Carney, Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA)

Musical entertainment from Strawberry Thieves Choir

Monday, September 24th, 7pm

HG Wells Centre

St Marks Road

Nr. Bromley South Station.

350-strong March from Woolwich to Save the NHS

Lynne Windeatt  of Greenwich & Bexley Trades Union Council writes: 

The Save Our Local Hospitals campaign was launched last Saturday September 15th with a 350-strong march from Woolwich town centre to Charlton comprising of local trade unionists - PCS, GMB, UCU, RMT, NUT, Unite and Unison, health campaigners from "Keep Our NHS Public" and "We Love the NHS", the local Labour Party, Greenwich & Bexley Trades Union Council, the Bromley pensioners group  and members of residents associations.

Speakers included Eltham Labour MP Clive Efford, Candy Udwin from "Keep Our NHS Public" and Andy Prendergast, a local GMB Official, all demanding that the government back down from any privatisation and/or closure plans for the three hospitals under threat - Queen Elizabeth in Woolwich, Queen Mary in Sidcup and Princess Royal in Bromley.

The march was loud and lively with constant chants to save the NHS.  The day was summed up by a local young female health worker at the Charlton Park rally who pledged that "we are not going to take this lying down".

The government’s plans to privatise and fragment our NHS are taking shape in South London including Bromley areas Lewisham West and Penge. Local doctors are forming a Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in the locality. Add your name at 38 Degrees petition to your local doctors here  

a future that works - spread the word!

March against further cuts to south London hospitals in Woolwich

Bexley News Shopper continues its support with excellent picture and story on south London's 'Save Our Local NHS Hospitals' campaign. 

 

Sarah Trotter's story from September 10 2012 © News Shopper, Bexley edition website 12/9/12

March against further cuts to NHS being held on Saturday; picture of previous protest organised by 

NHS Public.

Protestors who fear for the future of the NHS can march against further cuts to South London hospitals in Woolwich on Saturday.

Following the administration of the South London Healthcare Trust – which runs Queen Elizabeth in Woolwich, Queen Mary’s in Sidcup, and the Princess Royal in Bromley - campaigners are worried that services at these hospitals are under threat.

Staff, patients and residents are being urged to join the “Save South London Hospitals” march run by Greenwich and Bexley Trades Council (GBTC), Save our Local Hospitals and I Love the NHS.

Secretary of GBTC Lynne Chamberlain said: “Unless we fight back with great determination, what we have taken for granted since 1948 is going to be seriously under threat.
"We believe that the NHS should be free for all people. There is enough money to go around.
"We love the Olympics but if there is enough money for that, there should be for the NHS. How can there be money for war and not for the NHS? It doesn’t make sense.”

The protest takes place on Saturday (September 15) at 1pm in Woolwich General Gordon Square.
Campaigning group I Love the NHS has also drawn up a blueprint of services it believes the NHS should provide. It will be presented to parliament and to add your name visit
http://www.ilovethenhs.org.uk/greenwich-peoples-nhs-charter/

Don't forget to add your name to 38 Degrees' Open Letter to Jeremy Hunt here! 

Save Our Local NHS Hospitals

38 Degrees have led this blog's 'useful links' since day one. They've composed a message to new Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt HERE. Add your name to the Open Letter now -
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/jeremy-hunt-open-letter#petition

Here are two excellent photographs and story from August 31st © News Shopper 5/9/12/ Bexley edition.





PROTESTERS opposing a ward closure at Queen Mary’s Hospital have marched through Sidcup.
Campaigners are angry about the closure of the hospital’s gynaecological ward which treats women for conditions including cancer and fertility issues.
The ward, which closed at the weekend, has been moved to a mixed sex surgical ward at Queen Mary’s.
A group of 20 protesters travelled from Sidcup High Street to the hospital, where they presented a letter to the trust’s administrator, Matthew Kershaw.
Save Our Hospitals member Eileen Smith said: “We were supported by the passing public and many hoots from passing cars.”
An SHLT spokesman said: “We confirm that gynaecology patients will not mix with male patients while being cared for on these wards.
“We’re making changes to the way wards work to bring all our surgical wards together on one floor, so staff with surgical expertise can support each other in caring for our patients that have undergone surgery.”

Don't forget to add your name to 38 Degrees' Open Letter to Jeremy Hunt here!

Bromley NHS and Trades Council public meeting

Following on from August 16th's blog post - here are updated details of Bromley Against the Cuts trades union council open meeting planned next month.Chaired by local trade unionist Mick Carney (Transport Salaried Staffs' Association) with  confirmed line-up of invited speakers and guests. 

Crisis in South London Health Trust & Cuts to Public Services

Gill George, Local NHS worker & Unite trade unionist 

Glenn Kelly, Unison Staff Side Secretary, Bromley Council
Chris Baugh, Assistant General Secretary, PCS

John McDonnell MP, Chair of Labour's Representation Committee (LRC)

plus musical entertainment from Strawberry Thieves Choir

Monday, September 24th, 7pm

HG Wells Centre

St Marks Road

Nr. Bromley South Station.

ALL WELCOME

In the meantime, with news of more local activity, Fran Hook of 
Save Our Local Hospitals campaign (Tel: 0208853 2567) writes - We have found out that the Gynaecological Ward [ Cray Ward ] of 28 beds is being closed this coming weekend and moving to Chislehurst ward, which is a mixed sex surgical ward. the Gynaecological beds are being reduced to 10.  We do not know where these patients will be treated. There is also the issue of the Admin Staff being asked to cover admin over a 12 hours shifts over three sites, and they will have a one to one meeting with their managers.

 (clipping from Bexley Times E-edition, 30/8/12)

South London Healthcare Trust: sign the petition  

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/37287 

'A future that works'

"A future that works" is the slogan of the TUC's planned national demonstration on October 20th.  

Bromley Against the Cuts is using the TUC's campaign in an attempt to reboot Bromley Trades Council and revitalise concerned residents and local trade unionists' efforts to work together in solidarity. Here are three south London public events to kick things off in the next days and weeks.

Save Our Local Hospitals planning meeting

Wednesday, August 22nd, 7pm

Sidcup Labour Club

31-33 Sidcup Hill, Sidcup

All Welcome.

SAVE OUR LOCAL HOSPITALS!

Saturday, September 15th

Greenwich & Bexley TUC march and rally

Assemble 1pm General Gordon Square Woolwich (Opposite Woolwich Arsenal Train & DLR Station and bus stops), marching to Charlton.

Lynne Chamberlain, Secretary of Greenwich & Bexley Trades Union Council writes - 

For more details or for answers to any queries please do not hesitate to contact me at Greenwich & Bexley TUC, 16 Brewery Road Plumstead London SE18 7PT, Tel: 07884080602, or email Lynne.windeatt@btinternet.com

Next public meeting organised by Bromley Against the Cuts

A FUTURE THAT WORKS?

Monday, September 24th, 7pm

HG Wells Centre

St Marks Road

Nr. Bromley South Station.
All welcome. 

Invited speakers: 

A local health union representative (tbc)

Glenn Kelly, Staff Side Secretary, Bromley Council

John McDonnell MP, Chair of Labour's Representation Committee (LRC)

plus entertainment from the Strawberry Thieves Choir

Save Our Local Hospitals

Although Bromley Cuts Concern's blog here has been offline and without new posts this month, friends and supporters have been active out there in the real world. Here is an extract from a short report by Lynne Chamberlain, Secretary of Greenwich and Bexley Trades Union Council.
 

(On Tuesday July 24th) at the Old Bexley & Sidcup Labour Party HQ around 30 representatives of all the major local pro-NHS campaigns, CLPs and supporters, including the Greenwich & Bexley TUC,  sat down to form and agree, in a spirit of unity,  a co-ordinated campaign to protect our local hospitals. The campaign willl be called Save Our Local Hospitals and this is a major step forward in the fightback that will be essential if we are to stop our local hospitals being privatised or even worse.

A committee was formed and the meeting voted unanimously to support the Greenwich & Bexley TUC Save our Hospitals march from Woolwich town centre 1pm on Saturday September 15th 2012. Agreed by the council but exact details to be defined.

In addition Greenwich & Bexley TUC activists and Bromley Against the Cuts supporters have held two Save the NHS events meetings and taken hundreds of leaflets and postcards for public distribution among local residents and shoppers since the beginning of August.