Socialism and Health May 2013

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Socialism and Health the magazine of the Socialist Health Association May2013 Editors Opening The Labour Party is beginning to formulate proposals for the policies it will campaign on in the 2015 General Election, and the SHA is contributing to that process. So far we have been pleased with the direction that looks like developing. There are still key areas of policy that need careful thought and as ever there will be a lot of detailed work required to support the big themes and announcements that will be used for campaigning. The SHA is doing all it can to support that process. Andy Burnham has made a number of significant speeches centred on the need to bring Social Care, Mental Health and Physical Healthcare into a more integrated package. Whole person care is starting to get wider attention. Diane Abbot has been touring the country talking mostly to Labour Councillors about how the new Public Health responsibilities of local authorities are working. Meanwhile the Government continues to dither about public health measures on smoking and alcohol. Diane is to speak at our forthcoming AGM. Liz Kendal has made some key speeches about the future direction for social care and gave us some ideas about current thinking at a recent SHA seminar. With the Care Bill now starting its journey and S75 established the emphasis should shift to policy development rather than structures. In the SHA we have more to do around social care, mental health and public health and some lively debate can be expected. We are looking for ways to involve as many members of the SHA as we can in this work.

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

This issue: Page 1 Page 2 posals Page 4

Editor’s Opening Social Care Government proPublic Health for 2015 election

Page 6 How does the NHS in England work now? Page 8

SHA Events Page 8

Editor Irwin Brown Socialist Health Association 22 Blair Road Manchester M16 8NS 0161 286 1926 irwin@sochealth.co.uk Please send contributions or ideas for articles


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