The New Dark Age

Yesterday we heard the bombshell announcement that the government is abolishing NHS England.

This means a MAJOR restructuring of our health service is coming. But is this really about ‘democratic control’, or a power grab that could accelerate privatisation? Here’s what we know and why alarm bells are ringing ⬇️

• Many campaigners have been critical of NHS England ever since its establishment via Andrew Lansley’s deeply unpopular reforms in 2012. However, its abolition now must be understood in the context of who’s shutting it down and why.
• If Labour claims this is about bringing more democratic control over the NHS, it’s vital that they actually listen to NHS patients and staff – and what we want is a properly funded public NHS, and an end to damaging outsourcing & privatisation.
• This announcement also comes at the same time as Integrated Care Boards (statutory bodies responsible for planning and funding most NHS services within a local area) being told they must cut costs by 50%! So this isn’t just reorganisation – it’s happening alongside a new iteration of austerity.
• Real democratic accountability for our NHS is welcome. But let’s be clear: this isn’t “more democratic” if Wes Streeting uses this power grab to keep pushing ideological cuts and privatisation that nobody voted for.
• The NHS is one of the largest organisations in the world – it does require technical and clinical experts and administrative staff to function effectively. So taking an axe to many of these jobs would severely impact frontline healthcare, and it’s patients who will suffer.

I went on Sky News last night to make these arguments, and call out Labour’s dangerous agenda of cuts and privatisation – click to watch a clip on Facebook, X or Bluesky.There are still so many unanswered questions about what this major announcement will mean. We’ll be watching closely and fighting for a truly public NHS that works for patients, not private profit.

But we NEED to be ready for whatever comes next. So today I am asking anyone who is able to make a donation – no matter how big or small – to help oppose austerity 2.0 and take on the corporations profiting from our NHS. William, will you make an urgent donation today?

Thanks so much for your support – we will keep you updated as the situation develops.

Diarmaid

Just Treatment Director