After some discussions with a number of anarchists who work within or alongside the NHS, a few of us have set up an online discussion forum at www.radicalhealthcare.dailyforum.net

We settled on the title ‘Radical Healthcare Workers’ because we want this project to be aimed at those people who consider themselves radicals and who work in or alongside mainstream healthcare in Britain.

Why do we feel there’s a need for a project like this?

- Because there are plenty of radicals within the healthcare system, but within such a huge sector we are often isolated and left to navigate the complexities of healthcare by ourselves, instead of as part of a radical community.

- Because working in healthcare involves elements such as dignity, health, compassion, inequality, power, addiction, and oppression that resonate with the wider struggle.

- Because healthcare, and the NHS in particular, looks very different from the inside. There needs to be a space to constructively criticise mainstream healthcare without being forced into a simplistic defensive position or reactionary alternative.

- Because the UK has both a massive economic deficit and a new government that is ideologically opposed to universal healthcare, and for all the election pledges to not cut NHS spending, the years ahead hold cutbacks, restructuring and privatisation.

- Because even before the restructuring by a new government, the NHS is in crisis. Many of us work in trusts deemed to be ‘failing’, with little sign of things getting better.

- Because as workers we often find ourselves expected to work ever harder; with inadequate equipment, poor management and unsatisfactory support.

- Because we find ourselves ignorant of radical healthcare histories – of hospital occupations and strikes. With greater discussion and sharing of ideas, we can educate ourselves and learn from the past.

This is a call-out for radical healthcare workers to join the forum at www.radicalhealthcare.dailyforum.net and start participating in the discussions there. The forum is private so until you register you won't be able to read or contribute.

In addition to this at the London Anarchist Bookfair on Saturday 23rd October 2010 there will be a meeting for anarchist healthcare workers to discuss, network, and make plans around issues relevant to working in or alongside the NHS. There is no set format or agenda for the meeting, so please think of topics and announcements of relevance and interest to bring to the meeting. Have a look at the Bookfair website (www.anarchistbookfair.org.uk) nearer the time for more details.