Forum Topic

NHS march - 6 September

For info:'Many of you will be aware of the 999 ‘Call for the NHS’ March that has been working its way down the country.  It started in Jarrow and will arrive at Parliament on the 6 September.  It was started by a group of working mums committed to stopping the privatisation of the NHS and will be following the route of the original Jarrow Crusade.  The final leg of the march will start from Red Lion Square Holborn on 6 September, with campaigners gathering from 1.45pm with a 2.30pm march off to Westminster. Further details can be found at http://999callfornhs.org.uk/register-your-support/4583611134Clive Efford MP is also introducing a Private Member's Bill to stop David Cameron's privatisation. It will restore the duty on the Secretary of State to provide healthcare and importantly will repeal the Tory changes which force the market to the heart of the NHS.  Clive's Bill is due for Second Reading on the 21st November.'

Gail Peters ● 4401d4 Comments

The Jarrow March part 2?Lets hope the outcome is far better this time.  If memory serves, the ship building was closed and the marchers given their train fare back to Jarrow.

Nikki Howard ● 4401d

The original Jarrow March in 1936 was historic - unemplotment and misery were deeply felt and Ellen Wilkinson marched bravely with her comrades - this march on the 6th Sept might prove to be historic also - the weather looks good for the day anyways. Our NHS deserves to be saved.

Gerry Tan ● 4400d

What is the point of the march?It claims to be "against privatisation" and has support from Labour MPs as such but a cursory review of facts shows that:1. NHS clinical outcomes and volumes in secondary care did not significantly improve until the last Labour government introduced independent sector treatment centres.2. The volume of private sector provision was actually higher under the last government than the current one - and even now stands at around £5B a year off a budget of £116B3. Worldwide, where providers do not have some form of supply side competition, outcomes and efficiency improve more slowly i.e. competition drives quality.As Labour were the ones that signed up to the ridiculously expensive PFI deals, introduced private sector provision and the procurement frameworks - and did MORE of it than the current government, what point is the march actually making other than most Labour MPs seem to have conveniently overlooked the approach their own government took last time they were in power?

Chris Martin ● 4399d

The 999 Call for NHS is the people's campaign for the NHS. (Nothing to do with the Labour Party). The People's March was inspired by a group of local mums from Darlington. Joanna responded to the 999 call for NHS and the 999 Call for the NHS campaign was launched at the first rally in Darlington July 2013.Since then the 999 call for NHS have joined thousands of NHS campaigners across the country who are all responding to the 999 call for NHS. They have been recreating the march from Jarrow by marching 300 miles, through 23 towns & cities all the way to Parliament. To greet them In London tomorrow meet up at Ealing Broadway 12.30am and on to Red Lion Square for 1.45pm, leaving at 2.30pm for the final rally in Trafalgar Square at 3.30pm.  Rally & music with Owen Jones,the Darlo mums, other health campaigners - music from Billy Bragg & others.

Chris Hurley ● 4392d