When Dr Philippa Whitford saw what was happening to the NHS, she faced one of the toughest decisions of her life. Should she continue to treat the patients in the job she loved as a breast surgeon? Or should she take up a calling that was every bit as challenging: become an MP? (more…)
News / Blog
PFI Fire Safety Failure: The First of Many?
The first trust to engage with a PFI scheme, Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, has encountered major problems with fire safety owing to construction flaws. These are now being put right – at public expense. Which raises a grave question: who pays for PFI failures? It looks to be the public. (more…)
BMA chief slams ‘7-day NHS week’ for what it is: empty rhetoric
Head of the BMA Dr Mark Porter has roundly criticised the government’s opening ‘promise’ to make the NHS a ‘7-day-a-week service’: by pointing out that it actually already is one, needs more money to stay that way let alone improve, and can only improve if it gets the investment to be better co-ordinated. Which this government….
The NHS matters, whoever you voted for. But the dangers are still not seen
A post-election poll by leading political pollster Lord Ashcroft has demonstrated that the NHS is a high priority to most voters – whoever they vote for. Which is encouraging news for NHS campaigners, if only the message can get across. Which it must, if the NHS so many care passionately about is not to split up….
Private is not necessarily bad – but it should be unnecessary
Doctors for the NHS have added their voice to the debate over whether private practice is unethical following a BMJ editorial, in a leading national tabloid – the Daily Mirror. (more…)
The Health Manifestos
We’ve abridged all of the main parties’ manifestos so you can see their policy on health. (more…)
The Greatest Show on Earth? It should be
The power of entertainment will be used to tell the truth about what is happening to the NHS: it will also give a very good night out. Bring Back the NHS is a star-studded celebration about the NHS and will happen on Friday 24 April at Westminster Hall, London, 1900. (more…)
Powerful Parody Shows the True Face of ‘Market Ideals’ for the NHS
A powerful piece of parody on NHS privatisation – Fleece the Nation – has been produced by the NHS Federation, depicting the massive NHS sell-off as a slick advertising campaign. Getting the point across with perfect timing. (more…)
BMA (Silently) Backs NHS Bill Principles
The Council of the British Medical Association has agreed to support legislation which implements ‘strong and clear’ BMA policies on the NHS – which are reflected in the NHS (Reinstatement) Bill, laid before Parliament last week. But the BMA remains silent on what should be a triumph of its own processes. (more…)
Up-to-date facts and figures
See Up to date figures for the latest figures relating to health and social care spending, bed numbers, medical staff numbers, A & E attendance, cancer targets, PFI costs and much more. This is an extraordinarily useful resource compiled by Dr John Lister.