All Out for the National Demonstration to Defend the NHS!

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All Out for the National Demonstration to Defend the NHS!

Thousands Turn Out to Save Bridlington Hospital

Rally to Oppose the Closure of A&E at St Richard's Hospital Chichester

British Condemnation of New US Aggression against Cuba

The national demonstration to defend the NHS is taking place in London on Saturday, November 3. It cannot be accepted that the government follows the agenda of the monopolies in privatising the NHS and cutting services and closing departments and hospitals against the public will. Neither can it be accepted that big business increasingly claims ownership and profits from a public service built by the hard work, sacrifice and dedication of million of people who have worked in it and paid for its creation. The task of the moment is to unite in a powerful force to safeguard the future of the NHS. Big business and governments that represent the interests of the privateers should not be allowed to decide its future. The profits pocketed by the private sector should be disgorged and the whole service run for the public good and not the enrichment of a few.

Whose NHS? Our NHS!

Who Decides? We Decide!

Demonstration to defend the NHS Saturday, November 3

Over 3,000 people marched through the streets of Bridlington on Saturday, October 20, in the largest demonstration yet by health workers, supporters of the hospital and patients to keep vital services open at Bridlington Hospital.

Protesters turned out in force over the Trust’s plans to close the Cardiac Monitoring Unit and two acute medical wards at Bridlington Hospital which the health workers and their unions have consistently said will put patient's lives at risk. The fear is that, if these services are allowed to close, the 22 mile distance patients will have to travel to Scarborough hospital for emergency treatment could prove fatal.

Kevin Coyne, Unite National Officer for Health, who addressed the rally said: "Unite are delighted to support the ‘Save Bridlington Hospital Campaign’ and the 3,000 strong turnout demonstrates local resident's concern about the threatened closure of these vital services at Bridlington hospital.

"Unite will continue to work with our members and local residents to defend these services. We are urging the Chief Executive to rethink the closure plan and everyone in Bridlington to continue to lobby their MP."

Unite Regional Officer, Terry Cunliffe, who also attended the rally said: "The massive turnout shows the massive support the hospital has as the local residents fear the closure of these critical wards and the Cardiac Monitoring Unit could put their own and their families’ lives at risk.

"People believe they have been misled by the trust and their support shows that they will not stand by and let these closures go ahead without a fight."

Unite officials have a meeting planned with the Trust next week to discuss the ongoing consultation which ends in March 2008.

(source: Unite)

A rally was held on Saturday, October 27, to oppose the closing of the Accident and Emergency units at the St Richard's Hospital in Chichester. Reportedly 15,000 people took part in the demonstration and rally afterwards where speakers stated their views. Banners included that of Portsmouth Pensioners Association.

Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones spoke passionately on the need to keep the units open. The cathedral at Chichester could care for your spiritual needs but St Richard's was for the here and now, was one of the comments he made. Other well-known people from the world of acting spoke, such as Patricia Routledge (known for her portrayal of Hyacinth Bouquet).

(source: Ryde & East Wight Trades Union Council)

Strong reactions by solidarity organisations in Britain and MPs followed the announcement on Wednesday, October 24, by US President George Bush of new measures against Cuba.

In a direct response to Bush’s statements, the chair of the All Party Group of MPs on Cuba, Dr Ian Gibson, said that "the aggressive interventionist foreign policies of the US were not appropriate in Iraq and they are not appropriate for Cuba. The US must stop attempting to undermine the sovereignty of nation states and recognise the important strategic role Cuba now holds in Latin America. We must promote stability through engagement and leave behind these US bullying tactics"

Dr Gibson recalled that last year 183 countries voted at the United Nations against the illegal US blockade of Cuba and only four countries voted to support the policy. A similar vote is expected at the UN vote tomorrow, October 30.

Meanwhile MP Colin Burgon, who recently joined Dr Gibson on a trip to Cuba as part of a parliamentary delegation, said, "The ignorance of international law of the current US President is very well known. However, this latest statement on the internal affairs of Cuba is tantamount to calling for a coup against a sovereign state. The arrogance of the US is both worrying and lamentable."

The director of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign, Rob Miller, urged the British government to "make it clear that engagement is a far better policy than aggression, intervention, destabilisation and conflict, and it should distance itself urgently from Bush and his Cuba 'cold war' policy".

According to a release posted on the internet, the Cuba Solidarity Campaign [http://www.cuba-solidarity.org.uk] urged the government to ask Washington to pursue a policy of engagement with Cuba not aggression. The campaign will further call on the Foreign Secretary to make an urgent public statement to distance Britain from US policy and condemn President Bush’s comments.

(source: Cubanews)