At our meeting in October we agreed to set up about 2 meetings a year which would aim to generate discussion and raise current and topical issues. In partnership with the Bevan Foundation, a left leaning independent think tank ( where there is considerable cross membership) we have arranged an open debate on the theme of
'Can you take politics out of the NHS and leave it to the professionals? '
It will be an open debate will contributions from Paul O'Shea , regional Secretary UNISON, Simon Jones, Chair, Cardiff and Vale Trust , ( in a personal capacity) and Eddie Coyle for the SHA.
The rationale for the meeting comes from the recent debates to 'take politics out of the NHS '
In the last few months , the idea of removing the NHS from direct political control has been widely discussed. All political parties are offering possible policies - aiming to do for the NHS what the Chancellor did for interest rates through the Bank of England! - on the face of it it has an appeal - no more government driven re-organisations and targets - no more difficult public protests for ministers to respond.
However, isn't the NHS inherently political - without the post war Labour Government it would never have been established - publicly funded universal care must be at the heart of a nation's politics?.
Even Bevan rhetorically argued that a dropped bedpan on the ward the Minister of Health should be able to hear.
The recent consultation on the reconfiguration of hospital services in Wales has indicated that local politics remains a key influence on the planning of the National Health Service.
At time when the core principles of the NHS appear to being challenged in England SHA Cymru wishes to lead a debate with the Bevan Foundation on the role of politics and the running of the NHS.
It will also be an opportunity to get together and discuss further activities and it is hoped to have a short meeting of members following the main meeting
Other events
March 3rd Day of the NHS - NHS Together , an alliance of all health trade unions and professional associations has called a day of action - much of the drive for this relates to changes occurring in the NHS in England - it has been a suggested that is also an opportunity to celebrate the NHS - but I am not aware of any events being planned in Wales.
More info on the TUC website ( www.tuc.org.uk/nhstogether/
Eddie Coyle , Eifiion Edwards and Eva Elliot for SHA Cymru
Tel: 01656-754472
Fax: 01656-754497
email: edward.coyle@nphs.wales.nhs.uk
Martin Rathfelder
DirectorPublish
www.sochealth.co.uk
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