Action against the Coalition Government's planned Health and Social Care bill has so far largely been what ministers will have expected and planned for, since privatisation of the NHS was first mooted (long before the 2010 general election).
As a result, such action is being largely ignored by those who will vote, and indeed by the mainstream media.
We are calling for a Day of Action on Wednesday 14th March
As a result, such action is being largely ignored by those who will vote, and indeed by the mainstream media.
We are calling for a Day of Action on Wednesday 14th March
By Dr. Robert
Action against the Coalition Government's planned Health and Social Care bill has so far largely been what ministers will have expected and planned for, since privatisation of the NHS was first mooted (long before the 2010 general election).
As a result, such action is being largely ignored by those who will vote, and indeed by the mainstream media. Last week's effort by the TUC, the ultimately ineffective Save The NHS rally (
http://www.goingtowork.org.uk/saveournhs/) might as well not have happened. Over 170,000 people have signed a government e-petition ( http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22670), and not only does the said government ignore this, the mainstream media have been almost silent as well.
The history of effective campaigns and social movement suggests that petitions and letters, now emails and tweets, are rarely enough. These forms of activism are as easy for their targets to ignore as they are for supporters to sign up to. Really effective campaigns require people in the streets, and bodies put on the line.
As the UK Uncut and Boycott Workfare campaigns, like others before them, have show, dispersed action can be much harder for the police to contain than rolling kettles, and supervise under methods of 'total policing'. Brutality is harder to inflict in the glare of high-street shoppers and their mobile-phone cameras (which is not to say that the police will not resort to violence anyway).
The weekend's Liberal Democrat conference should have made clear to anyone left with a shred of faith in that party that, despite the lies and spin, the Liberal Democrat party has essentially merged with the Conservatives (see here for a detailed rebuttal of Nick Clegg and Shirley Williams latest attempts: http://abetternhs.wordpress.com/2012/03/10/ldconf/).>
It is abundantly clear that this bill is not the result of pressure from the people, nor indeed does it arise entirely from politicians pushing ideological agendas. This bill is the result of widespread lobbying by private healthcare companies (see: http://socialinvestigations.blogspot.com/2012/02/nhs-privatisation-compilatio... and http://www.spinwatch.org/blogs-mainmenu-29/tamasin-cave-mainmenu-107/5417-tak...).
By targetting these companies, we can make it clear that while 'Millions back Lansley's reforms', it is millions of pounds, not millions of people. We can bring this issue into the headlines. Maybe, just maybe, it is still possible to stop this bill. It is certainly possible to let the private companies and lobbyists know what we think of them.
We are calling for a Day of Action on Wednesday 14th March (more details soon).
A "Don't let Richard Branson asset-strip the NHS!" Protest has been called for Saturday 17th March, 11am - 2pm (See here for a poster here: http://healthalarm1159.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/120317branson.pdf and also the facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/255160124568190/)
There is also a follow on event on Saturday 17th March, aimed at the Department of Health in Whitehall: http://www.facebook.com/messages/100002320198642#!/events/107457682717979/
We support these larger demos as they are allow people who cannot or do not feel able to take part in civil disobedience to make a stance. We also feel they can be good opporunities to publicise direct actions, make contacts, and share information.
It is important to say that even if the bill is stopped, there will still be campaigning to do. Not only to stop privatisation of the NHS through other means, but to put this in a context of a wider fightback against austerity, and for a better world.
This is our NHS, our system of enabling access to healthcare for the poor and vulnerable. Are we happy to let it go quietly? Are we happy to let private companies profit from our disease, illness and accidents?
(post inspired by tweets on the #BlockTheBillBuilders hashtag, and by Tim Hardy's post here: http://beyondclicktivism.com/2012/03/11/take-direct-action-to-save-the-nhs-bl..)
More:
An enormous number of private health companies, not to mention accountancy firms and think-tanks, have been involved in drafting and lobbying for the Health and Social Care Bill and other legislation leading to the privatisation of the NHS.
We have selected 5 Key Targets, mentioned below, and with their own pages elsewhere on this site. Conveniently, it's also a five stage process to take action: 1. Pick a target, 2. Make some leaflet, posters, placards and banners (resources available on our website soon), 3. Pay a visit, 4. Tell the world, 5. Relax (don't forget to rinse and repeat!)
We also mention some of the other names you are welcome to research yourselves.
Target 1.Alpha Healthcare. See their website here: http://www.alphahealthcare.co.uk/
Why are they a target? Amongst other things, see here: http://eoin-clarke.blogspot.com/2012/02/c1million-pounds-of-private-health-care.html
Target 2. Virgin Care. See their website here: http://www.virginlifecare.co.za/home/
Why are they a target? Amongst other things, see here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/09/nhs.health2, here http://www.facebook.com/pages/Virgin-Medical/100393136701448, and here: http://www.branson-pickle.com/.
Virgin Care is also poised to take over health services in Surrey. See here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/patrick-butler-cuts-blog/2011/sep/19/social...
Target 3. Care UK. See their website here: http://www.careuk.com/
Why are they a target? Amongst other things, see here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jul/29/prk.
They've been targetted before, too (just over a year ago), see here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/mar/08/nhs-activists-protest-care-uk
Target 4. The Private Hospitals Alliance. See their website here: http://www.phalliance.org.uk/
Why are they a target? Amongst other things, see here: http://www.phalliance.org.uk/policies/NHS-private-income-cap, and here: http://politicalscrapbook.net/2012/02/general-healthcare-group-nhs-kidney-scandal/
Target 5. Serco. See their website here: http://www.serco.com/
Why are they a target? Amongst other things, see here: http://sercofilm.co.uk/index.php/news/12-serco-film/news/40-serco-cornwall-s-gp-service, also here: http://socialinvestigations.blogspot.com/2012_02_01_archive.html. You may also enjoy this short video on "the biggest company you've never heard of": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szNLMtgI7hU&feature=related
Other names you may be interested in researching (many more to come):
For information on the links between these companies and politicians who have been and will vote on the Health and Social Care Bill, see: http://socialinvestigations.blogspot.com/2012/02/nhs-privatisation-compilatio...
Abbott Laboratories
Alere (previously Inverness Medical)
Allianz SE
Ansell Ltd NPV
AstraZeneca
Beachcroft (law firm that offers analysis on government, parliamentary and regulatory matters in the health sector)
Biocompatibles
BTG pharmaceuticals
BUPA
Chime Communications group
Circle (Chief executive of Circle Ali Parsa was an Executive Director of Goldman Sachs. Conservative Lord Griffiths of Fforestfach is a Director of Goldman Sachs bank, provider of services to healthcare firms.)
Cumberlege Connections
Evercore (bank involved in healthcare deals)
Fidelity International
GlaxoSmithKline
Global PR network
Hawkpoint Partners
Healthcare Communications Association
Huntsworth communications group
Huntsworth Health
Johnson & Johnson
Korn/Ferry International
Croda International
Interserve
Lansdowne UK Equity Fund (backers of private hospital group Circle Holdings)
Marsh Inc
McKinsey
MSB Ltd
Norbrook Laboratories
Novartis
Novo Nordisk
Parity Group
Pfizer Inc
PricewaterhouseCoopers (claims to have “been at the heart of shaping [healthcare] reforms and working with clients to respond to the opportunities they present”)
Prudential
Reckitt Benckiser
Siemens AG
Smilepod Hygiene Ltd
Teijin Home Healthcare Limited
Teijin Pharma Ltd
Telehealth Solutions
UBS bank (healthcare division earned the firm over $1billion since 2005, Conservative Lord Garel-Jones is an MD)
Unilever Ventures
Vectura
Vodaphone group plc (Yes, Vodaphone. They produced a report which showed how they can help drive efficiency in healthcare costs promoting the use of SMS texts which go via them and other mobile phone companies. South-Central ambulance service NHS trust have appointed Vodaphone UK as their communications partner)
Zenith hygiene Group
Still more:
BLOCK THE BILL BUILDERS: Direct action to save the NHS, Sat 17th March
The following reposted from: http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/actions/847
"BLOCK THE BILL BUILDERS
Direct action to save the NHS.
An enormous number of private health companies, not to mention accountancy firms and think-tanks, have been involved in drafting and lobbying for the Health and Social Care Bill and other legislation leading to the privatisation of the NHS.
At the end of the NHS demonstration on Saturday, we are calling on people to take action against private health companies who will unsurprisingly benefit from the NHS bill.
As the demonstration comes to an end, please look the for signals (they will instantly come clear) and together, visit a target..
The Facebook event for the NHS demonstration:
http://www.facebook.com/events/107457682717979/
More details on #blockthebillbuilders
http://block-the-bill-builders.posterous.com/
http://beyondclicktivism.com/2012/03/11/take-direct-action-to-save-the-nhs-bl..."
Action against the Coalition Government's planned Health and Social Care bill has so far largely been what ministers will have expected and planned for, since privatisation of the NHS was first mooted (long before the 2010 general election).
As a result, such action is being largely ignored by those who will vote, and indeed by the mainstream media. Last week's effort by the TUC, the ultimately ineffective Save The NHS rally (
http://www.goingtowork.org.uk/saveournhs/) might as well not have happened. Over 170,000 people have signed a government e-petition ( http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22670), and not only does the said government ignore this, the mainstream media have been almost silent as well. The history of effective campaigns and social movement suggests that petitions and letters, now emails and tweets, are rarely enough. These forms of activism are as easy for their targets to ignore as they are for supporters to sign up to. Really effective campaigns require people in the streets, and bodies put on the line.
As the UK Uncut and Boycott Workfare campaigns, like others before them, have show, dispersed action can be much harder for the police to contain than rolling kettles, and supervise under methods of 'total policing'. Brutality is harder to inflict in the glare of high-street shoppers and their mobile-phone cameras (which is not to say that the police will not resort to violence anyway).
The weekend's Liberal Democrat conference should have made clear to anyone left with a shred of faith in that party that, despite the lies and spin, the Liberal Democrat party has essentially merged with the Conservatives (see here for a detailed rebuttal of Nick Clegg and Shirley Williams latest attempts:
http://abetternhs.wordpress.com/2012/03/10/ldconf/).> It is abundantly clear that this bill is not the result of pressure from the people, nor indeed does it arise entirely from politicians pushing ideological agendas. This bill is the result of widespread lobbying by private healthcare companies (see:
http://socialinvestigations.blogspot.com/2012/02/nhs-privatisation-compilatio... and http://www.spinwatch.org/blogs-mainmenu-29/tamasin-cave-mainmenu-107/5417-tak...). By targetting these companies, we can make it clear that while 'Millions back Lansley's reforms', it is millions of pounds, not millions of people. We can bring this issue into the headlines. Maybe, just maybe, it is still possible to stop this bill. It is certainly possible to let the private companies and lobbyists know what we think of them.
We are calling for a Day of Action on Wednesday 14th March (more details soon).
A "Don't let Richard Branson asset-strip the NHS!" Protest has been called for Saturday 17th March, 11am - 2pm (See here for a poster here:
http://healthalarm1159.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/120317branson.pdf and also the facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/255160124568190/) There is also a follow on event on Saturday 17th March, aimed at the Department of Health in Whitehall:
http://www.facebook.com/messages/100002320198642#!/events/107457682717979/ We support these larger demos as they are allow people who cannot or do not feel able to take part in civil disobedience to make a stance. We also feel they can be good opporunities to publicise direct actions, make contacts, and share information.
It is important to say that even if the bill is stopped, there will still be campaigning to do. Not only to stop privatisation of the NHS through other means, but to put this in a context of a wider fightback against austerity, and for a better world.
This is our NHS, our system of enabling access to healthcare for the poor and vulnerable. Are we happy to let it go quietly? Are we happy to let private companies profit from our disease, illness and accidents?
(post inspired by tweets on the #BlockTheBillBuilders hashtag, and by Tim Hardy's post here:
http://beyondclicktivism.com/2012/03/11/take-direct-action-to-save-the-nhs-bl..) More:
An enormous number of private health companies, not to mention accountancy firms and think-tanks, have been involved in drafting and lobbying for the Health and Social Care Bill and other legislation leading to the privatisation of the NHS.
We have selected 5 Key Targets, mentioned below, and with their own pages elsewhere on this site. Conveniently, it's also a five stage process to take action: 1. Pick a target, 2. Make some leaflet, posters, placards and banners (resources available on our website soon), 3. Pay a visit, 4. Tell the world, 5. Relax (don't forget to rinse and repeat!)
We also mention some of the other names you are welcome to research yourselves.
Target 1.Alpha Healthcare. See their website here:
http://www.alphahealthcare.co.uk/ Why are they a target? Amongst other things, see here:
http://eoin-clarke.blogspot.com/2012/02/c1million-pounds-of-private-health-care.html Target 2. Virgin Care. See their website here:
http://www.virginlifecare.co.za/home/ Why are they a target? Amongst other things, see here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/09/nhs.health2, here http://www.facebook.com/pages/Virgin-Medical/100393136701448, and here: http://www.branson-pickle.com/. Virgin Care is also poised to take over health services in Surrey. See here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/patrick-butler-cuts-blog/2011/sep/19/social... Target 3. Care UK. See their website here:
http://www.careuk.com/ Why are they a target? Amongst other things, see here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jul/29/prk. They've been targetted before, too (just over a year ago), see here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/mar/08/nhs-activists-protest-care-uk Target 4. The Private Hospitals Alliance. See their website here:
http://www.phalliance.org.uk/ Why are they a target? Amongst other things, see here:
http://www.phalliance.org.uk/policies/NHS-private-income-cap, and here: http://politicalscrapbook.net/2012/02/general-healthcare-group-nhs-kidney-scandal/ Target 5. Serco. See their website here:
http://www.serco.com/ Why are they a target? Amongst other things, see here:
http://sercofilm.co.uk/index.php/news/12-serco-film/news/40-serco-cornwall-s-gp-service, also here: http://socialinvestigations.blogspot.com/2012_02_01_archive.html. You may also enjoy this short video on "the biggest company you've never heard of": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szNLMtgI7hU&feature=related Other names you may be interested in researching (many more to come):
For information on the links between these companies and politicians who have been and will vote on the Health and Social Care Bill, see:
http://socialinvestigations.blogspot.com/2012/02/nhs-privatisation-compilatio... Abbott Laboratories
Alere (previously Inverness Medical)
Allianz SE
Ansell Ltd NPV
AstraZeneca
Beachcroft (law firm that offers analysis on government, parliamentary and regulatory matters in the health sector)
Biocompatibles
BTG pharmaceuticals
BUPA
Chime Communications group
Circle (Chief executive of Circle Ali Parsa was an Executive Director of Goldman Sachs. Conservative Lord Griffiths of Fforestfach is a Director of Goldman Sachs bank, provider of services to healthcare firms.)
Cumberlege Connections
Evercore (bank involved in healthcare deals)
Fidelity International
GlaxoSmithKline
Global PR network
Hawkpoint Partners
Healthcare Communications Association
Huntsworth communications group
Huntsworth Health
Johnson & Johnson
Korn/Ferry International
Croda International
Interserve
Lansdowne UK Equity Fund (backers of private hospital group Circle Holdings)
Marsh Inc
McKinsey
MSB Ltd
Norbrook Laboratories
Novartis
Novo Nordisk
Parity Group
Pfizer Inc
PricewaterhouseCoopers (claims to have “been at the heart of shaping [healthcare] reforms and working with clients to respond to the opportunities they present”)
Prudential
Reckitt Benckiser
Siemens AG
Smilepod Hygiene Ltd
Teijin Home Healthcare Limited
Teijin Pharma Ltd
Telehealth Solutions
UBS bank (healthcare division earned the firm over $1billion since 2005, Conservative Lord Garel-Jones is an MD)
Unilever Ventures
Vectura
Vodaphone group plc (Yes, Vodaphone. They produced a report which showed how they can help drive efficiency in healthcare costs promoting the use of SMS texts which go via them and other mobile phone companies. South-Central ambulance service NHS trust have appointed Vodaphone UK as their communications partner)
Zenith hygiene Group
Still more:
BLOCK THE BILL BUILDERS: Direct action to save the NHS, Sat 17th March
The following reposted from:
http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/actions/847 "BLOCK THE BILL BUILDERS
Direct action to save the NHS.
An enormous number of private health companies, not to mention accountancy firms and think-tanks, have been involved in drafting and lobbying for the Health and Social Care Bill and other legislation leading to the privatisation of the NHS.
At the end of the NHS demonstration on Saturday, we are calling on people to take action against private health companies who will unsurprisingly benefit from the NHS bill.
As the demonstration comes to an end, please look the for signals (they will instantly come clear) and together, visit a target..
The Facebook event for the NHS demonstration:
http://www.facebook.com/events/107457682717979/ More details on #blockthebillbuilders
http://block-the-bill-builders.posterous.com/ http://beyondclicktivism.com/2012/03/11/take-direct-action-to-save-the-nhs-bl..."
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