KONP statement on coronavirus

In the light of the imminent health emergency posed by the coronavirus Keep Our NHS Public calls on the Government to take the following steps:

NHS and social care staff  Recognise that many NHS and social care staff, including many staff in outsourced and privatised care, cleaning, catering, portering etc services, have no entitlement to Statutory or other sick pay. Ensure these staff receive full financial compensation for time off when they are sick or ‘self-isolating’ to avoid the risk that these staff may feel they have no alternative but to report for work.

NHS migrant workforce: Recognise that the acute level of staff shortages throughout the NHS requires all restrictions, both residential and financial, on non-resident health and care workers to be immediately lifted in order to urgently fill the almost 100,000 NHS vacancies (including some 44 000 nurses) in the NHS, and many more in social care. This includes the entire ‘points based’ system for migrant workers from EU and non-EU countries, namely the minimum pay/salary threshold, the so-called ‘reduced’ visa of £464 for medical professionals and the annual £400 compulsory health insurance charge for each family member using the NHS. 

NHS charges for migrants: Coronavirus makes it essential that everyone who may have been exposed has access to the NHS if medically appropriate. Charges on patients unable to prove their entitlement to free NHS care and DHSC sharing of personal data with the Home Office for the purpose of immigration enforcement are both known to have a major deterrent effect. These patients may avoid contact with the healthcare system for fear of debt or adverse impact on their immigration status even if their treatment is in fact free. In addition, in order to trace contacts of any infected patients, the NHS needs the confidence of the entire community, regardless of immigration status. To safeguard the whole community, government must suspend the charging regime and end Home Office data-sharing immediately pending a full independent review of the impact of these policies on public health, human rights, healthworkers professional ethics and the functioning of the NHS.



Left Unity is active in movements and campaigns across the left, working to create an alternative to the main political parties.

About Left Unity   Read our manifesto

Left Unity is a member of the European Left Party.

Read the European Left Manifesto  

ACTIVIST CALENDAR

Events and protests from around the movement, and local Left Unity meetings.

ongoing
Just Stop Oil – Slow Marches

Slow marches are still legal (so LOW RISK of arrest), and are extremely effective. The plan is to keep up the pressure on this ecocidal government to stop all new fossil fuel licences.

Sign up to slow march

Saturday 9th March: national march for Palestine

National demonstration.

Ceasefire NOW! Stop the Genocide in Gaza: Assemble 12 noon Hyde Park Corner to the US Embassy

Full details

More events »

GET UPDATES

Sign up to the Left Unity email newsletter.

CAMPAIGNING MATERIALS

Get the latest Left Unity resources.

Leaflet: Support the Strikes! Defy the anti-union laws!

Leaflet: Migration Truth Kit

Broadsheet: Make The Rich Pay

More resources »