Healthcare campaigners will be out and about this weekend in Reading in a further push to force the Government to scrap its Health and Social Care Bill. Talking to shoppers in local shopping centres and leafleting door to door, they will be highlighting the threats in the Bill, which will undermine the NHS we all need and value so highly.
Reading Lead Councillor for Health Bet Tickner says “It’s vital right now to step up our opposition to the government’s proposals to make health services a postcode lottery and to put financial pressure on NHS hospitals to take private patients who will queue-jump even if they are in less need. This is just wrong for the NHS.”
Cllr. Tickner added “All this upheaval is adding to the severe pressures on our NHS locally, where waiting times are up 153% and funding is being cut - despite promises from Mr Cameron before the Election.”
Deputy Lead Councillor for Health Matt Rodda says “The costs of this dangerous reorganisation are already huge - £25 million just for our area and rising. Originally the government said it would cost £2 billion overall - now PCTs are being told to put aside £3.5 billion! At a time when nurses locally have had a £600 pay cut, the RBH is being cut by £60 million and 600 jobs are to go.”
Reading’s campaign, supported by Reading Labour Party and trade unions in the healthcare sector, is part of a nationwide campaign this weekend dubbed All we want for Christmas is our NHS to try and prevent the bill’s final passage from the House of Lords back to the Commons, where Cameron and Lansley, the Health Secretary, will be able to push it through.
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