Socialism and Health Jan 2013

Socialism and Health the magazine of the Socialist Health Association January 2013

Defending the NHS Inside you will find a pictorial summary of the sessions we are running around the country under the title Defending the NHS—details on the back cover. This is designed to answer two questions—What exactly do we think the NHS is, now, and if it is under threat, how could it be defended.

The last part is very difficult to address at present. The NHS reforms do present opportunities for public and patient involvement, but its very hard to see how effective they will be. Please let us know how things look where you are.

Annual General Meeting Details on p 7.

Our Aims ..

Universal Healthcare meeting patients' needs, free at the point of use, funded by taxation Democracy based on freedom of information, election not selection and local decision making Equality based on equal opportunity, affirmative action, and progressive taxation

Editor Irwin Brown Socialist Health Association 22 Blair Road Manchester M16 8NS 0161 286 1926 irwin@sochealth.co.uk

Planning: This diagram from the Interim Report on the Future Provision of Medical and Allied Services 1920 by Lord Dawson of Penn illustrates the importance of planned and co-ordinated services to those who wanted to see a National Health Service rather than the incoherent pattern which had evolved of charitable, municipal and commercial provision.

This diagram was produced by the Medical Practitioners Union in 1945 to illustrate the plans produced by the Churchill government. The division between the services run by the proposed Central Medical Board and those run by the proposed Joint Board of County and County Borough Councils is very obvious, but this was not what was enacted.

1948 The Scottish NHS was legally distinct—and free medical care had been provided in the crofting counties since 1912 in Scotland, but the pattern of services and organisation was not very different from England

In 1974 came the first great reorganisation, largely taking local authorities out of the NHS but bringing Community Health Councils in as an alternative patient voice

Under the 1997 Labour Government structural reorganisation became a way of life—too frequent to illustrate or for most people to comprehend

Under the coalition the rhetoric was always about putting the patient at the centre, but it was choice of provider that was proposed as the mechanism.

Annual General Meeting 2013 All members are invited to the AGM which will take place at noon on Saturday 9th March at Social Action for Health 1B Mentmore Terrace, Hackney E8 3DQ Agenda 1. Apologies for absence: 2. Minutes of the last AGM 3. Matters arising not elsewhere on the agenda 4. Annual Report 2012, Chair and Director’s Report 5. Financial report 6. Constitutional Amendments (if any: 7. Officers nominated: a) elected by ballot of members Chair: Secretary: Treasurer: Central Council (20 to be elected, not including the 3 Officers): 8. Other members of Central Council West Midlands:(5) London:(11) Scotland: (4) Wales: (3) Each nationally affiliated organisation is entitled to a representative Unison – Guy Collis Unite - Barrie Brown Society of Radiographers – Warren Town GMB – Rehana Azam 9. Officers elected at the AGM Vice Chairs (4): Auditors (2): Delegates to Labour Party Conference 2013 (deadline 21st June): Delegates to Socialist Societies

Executive: 10. Co-options to Central Council proposed: 11. Proposed affiliations to other organisations: a) existing: 1.Labour Party centrally and Regional Labour Parties Medact, NHS Alliance, James Lind Alliance, Drugs and Health Alliance, Smokefree Action (and associated bodies) Jeep Our NHS Public National Voices Friends, Families and Travellers b) New (if any): 12. Nominations to Labour Party offices (if any): National Executive Committee, National Constitution Committee (deadline 21st June): 13. Labour Party Constitutional Amendment if any: 14. Resolutions (if any): Central Council meetings generally take place at noon on Saturdays in London and last for no more than 3 hours.

Proposed future meetings: 22nd June , 21st September (Brighton) 11th January 2014 NB If you want paper copies of any of the documents please notify the director.

Socialist Health Association Events 04/02/2013 13:00 - 17:00

Clinical Trust in a more competitive NHS Toynbee Hall, London with

Sally Brearley Chair of the Nursing and Care Quality Forum, Angela Coulter Director of Global Initiatives at the Foundation for Informed Medical Decision Making, Boston, Brian Fisher Chair of the Socialist Health Association, PPI lead NHS Alliance, Liz Kendall MP Shadow Minister for Care and Older People, Jeremy Taylor Chief Executive, National Voices

08/02/2013 14:00 - 16:30

Defending the NHS Barnabas Centre, Shrewsbury

09/02/2013 11:00 - 13:00 Shropshire

Defending the NHS Craven Arms Community Centre, Craven Arms

11/02/2013 14:00 - 16:00

Defending the NHS St. Andrew’s Methodist Church, Worcester

11/02/2013 18:00 - 20:00

Defending the NHS Wolverhampton Civic Centre, Wolverhampton

23/02/2013 09:30 - 17:00 Inequality, Statistics, and York Priory Street Centre, York This is the Radical Statistics Conference where we will be doing a presentation 09/03/2013 12:00 - 15:00 details inside)

Annual General Meeting 2013 Ment House, Hackney London (More

15/04/2013 18:00 - 20:00

Defending the NHS Islington Town Hall, Islington

06/05/2013 13:30 - 16:30

Defending the NHS NE Derbyshire District Council, Chesterfield

22/06/2013 12:00 - 15:00

Socialist Health Association Central Council Pimlico Library, London

21/09/2013 14:00 - 17:00 Brighton

Socialist Health Association Central Council Quaker Meeting House,

For all these events you need to book, and for some there is a fee. More on our website www.sochealth.co.uk

Membership of the Socialist Health Association Martin Rathfelder—Director Free entrance to local branch and central council meetings; reduced fees for our conferences; SHA Journal Socialism & Health and frequent email bulletins about developments in health politics; voting rights as a member of a Socialist Society affiliated to the Labour Party; opportunities to contribute to the development of health policies.

Membership costs £10 for individuals with low income, £25 for Individuals , £25 for Local Organisations To join post or email your details to admin@sochealth.co.uk Socialist Health Association 22 Blair Road, East Chorlton, Manchester, M16 8NS. 01612861926