threaten to destabilise local NHS Trusts, and could force a potentially devastating series of hospital closures.
In response, NHS consultants, anti-privatisation academics, campaigners including London Health Emergency, MPs, and representatives of the major health unions have been invited to a meeting to launch a major appeal for a campaign that will reach out to every town and city across the country. The urgent need for such an Initiative has been underlined by developments and Patricia Hewitt's policy announcements since the May 5 General Election, which show that private provision is no longer seen as a means of bringing extra capacity to the NHS, but has become the very object of government policy.
Billions have been allo. cafed for the sole purpose of purchasing services from the private sector, while NHS Trusts and Primary Care Trusts tals are warned that "losers" in this new, unequal market, where the odds are stacked strongly against them, will face closure.
• The first group NHS hospitals now face privatisation as, by central decision, they are offered up for bids from private providers.
• Primary care, too, faces the creation of a new private sector: days after New Labour won its third term, Department care poses a major threat to universal, comprehensive health care. The new competitive market will favour the bestresourced NHS Trusts, but run the risk of forcing the closure of hard-pressed but vital hospital services in deprived areas.
No serious debate was held before New Labour embarked on this radical departure in policy, on the basis of a statement by Health Secretary John Reid on June 24 2004, and a distance travel.
Taxation of aviation fuel (currently it is not taxed at all, by international agreement)
De-emphasise speed: capitalism is constantly demanding speed-up. Did you know that the energy required to accelerate, and to overcome friction increases to the square of the velocity?
Reduce unnecessary transport of goods. Food to be produced locally whenever possible.
Get rid of "luxury" travel. To paraphrase an old socialist demand; all government and JOLLY officials to get "worker's car"; i.e. a modest car.
Use of waste for fuel
Move freight onto rail
More public transport and better integration; lower fares.
Public transport to be more discussion lasting just an hour and twelve minutes.
Few members of the electorate are yet aware of the scope of the change that was pushed through without parliamentary scrutiny, and so far there has been little sign of the political opposition to these policies which opinion polls show to be alive and well in the wider population.
That's why it's vital to take steps now to build a campaign that will link up all those trade unionists, campaigners and activists at national and local level who stand opposed to this direction of change in the NHS and want to defend its core principles.
On the agenda for any new campaign must be a series of local meetings to rally support around the country, the publication of leaflets and pamphlets to explain and popularise the case against the government's reforms, and collecting together the information on the cuts, closures and privatisation that seem set to hit the NHS this autumn. • More details will be posted as they become available, on the LHE website www.healthemergency.org.uk.