OUR NHS DESERVES BETTER: 72nd anniversary events – 4th/5th July

Keep our NHS Public and other campaigns are marking the 72nd NHS anniversary by sharing their ‘2020 vision’ for better health care. Left Unity is supporting these events.

“This NHS anniversary weekend Saturday 4^th and Sunday 5^th July, Keep Our NHS Public, Health Campaigns Together, The People’s Assembly Against Austerity and We Own It, are calling for nationwide local events and a national online rally on Sunday 5th July at 3:30 PM to say, ‘Our NHS deserves better’.

Sunday 5th July is the 72nd anniversary of the NHS. It was created in the aftermath of World War II, (a conflict that saw 67,100 British civilians killed) to create something better for us all.

During the coronavirus crisis in 2020, NHS and Social Care workers have been called upon to work on the frontline to keep us safe. They have often had to work without proper resources and PPE, within an already failing system. Many have been forced to sacrifice their lives. In the UK we have now reached the frightening number of excess deaths linked to coronavirus of 64,000 (up to 28 May 2020), the second-highest death toll in the world. The NHS deserves better, we all deserve better. 

This is a damning indictment of recent Government policy and its mishandling of our NHS. When we emerge from this deadly crisis, this can no longer be tolerated. This is also a critical moment when the systemic inequalities in our society are starker than ever. We, therefore, demand an immediate end to the hostile environment, all migrant charging stopped and an urgent investigation into the disproportionate death toll in Britain’s BAME community during this pandemic. Likewise, the many disadvantages placed on disabled people and others with additional needs has never been clearer. We believe this moment gives us a unique opportunity to demand we not only rebuild the NHS but go much further and call for radical reform of social care provision.

Covid-19 has exposed what’s wrong with healthcare, in the ‘spirit of 2020’, it’s time to rebuild and go much further. Here are some of our demands that make up our ‘2020 vision’ for the NHS:

• Rebuild and properly fund the NHS
• Proper pay and respect for all NHS and care staff
• End racism in the NHS and end all migrant charges
• NHS out of all Trade Deals
• Public Health back in public hands
• Go further: Radical reform of social care

CLICK HERE FOR KONP EVENTS PAGE FOR MORE INFO AND LOCAL EVENT DETAILS”

Other events include:

On Friday 3rd July there will be a march from St Thomas’ Hospital to Downing Street with a banner listing the number of dead – challenging the Tory disaster handling.

On Saturday evening there is a broader national call for a minute’s silence at 8pm and people to put candles in their windows to remember all those who have lost their lives.

On Sunday morning 5th July Leeds KONP and supporters will be out again doing a motorcade starting in South Leeds at 11am. If you would like to join us, please email leedskonp@yahoo.co.uk to let us know so we can plan to have one or more groups and routes and firm up rendezvous points. We will have some printed posters and banners but DIY signage, balloons etc very welcome.   

The Sunday rally/webinar from 3.30 – 4.45pm organised by Keep Our NHS Public,  Health Campaigns  Together, People’s Assembly and ‘We Own it’ can be watched on national KONP’s facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/40921988278/) or on YouTube.

On Sunday at 5pm there will be an official national clap which is another good opportunity to get banners, flags and placards out  in your local area.