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Dear Jon, The government’s plans to privatise and fragment our NHS are taking shape in Birmingham, Hall Green. Local doctors are forming a Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) for the area. They’re going to get new powers to decide what health services you and your neighbours are able to access and who provides them. [1] Whether it’s treatment for diabetes, skin conditions, a broken arm or depression, profit-hungry companies like Virgin Care and Serco are circling, ready to bid for contracts by promising to slash costs. [2] The doctors on your local CCG will be under pressure from the government to hand out contracts to private companies. That could put vital services at risk. [3] But the last thing most doctors want is to carve up our NHS for private profit. Plus, the new CCG has a legal duty to listen to local people. [4] So right now, we’ve got a big chance to ask local doctors to use their new powers to protect our NHS, not privatise it. Together, we can make sure they hear from hundreds of local people as they make these crucial decisions. Can you add your name to the petition to your local CCG now? Donations from 38 Degrees members have funded lawyers to prepare robust wording for CCGs to write into their constitutions – protecting our NHS from the worst risks of the government's plans. [5] If we can get in early, while CCGs are still being formed, we can give doctors a better choice – one based on sound legal advice and the interests of patients, not private companies. 38 Degrees members will be able to work together to persuade their local CCG to write these safeguards into their constitutions. The government and the private health industry probably won’t like it at all, but there’s little they can do to stop people power. First things first. Can you add your name to the petition in Birmingham, Hall Green? Thanks for being involved, Becky, Marie, Robin, Ian and the 38 Degrees team PS: The website tool that links you up with your local CCG is new – you’re one of the first to test it. If you have any problems or questions, please let us know by emailing: emailtheteam@38degrees.org.uk NOTES |
A piece of PR we couldn’t be bothered to re-write.