ruinously expensive Private Finance Initiative, described even by Tory MP Edward Leigh as "the unacceptable face of capitalism," as the only means of financing most new hospital developments. Brown's latest budget outlined plans for even more PFI-funded projects in health and elsewhere, as NHS Trusts ruefully count the escalating cost of schemes already operational. Building magazine has just revealed that at least five early PFI projects have involved the Department of handing over leases as long UNISON's Health Conference has supported calls from its executive for a national demonstration in defence of the NHS to be held on October 13.
The long run-up was predictably controversial with some on the ultra-left who have been demanding a march in the summer, but it is likely to prove more viable as a basis for a mass mobilisation.
The last two months have seen a relative lull in activity on hospital closures and rationalisation plans as local NHS bosses have responded to angry local protests and put schemes on the back burner until after the local elections.
It is the threat of closure of local A&E and other highprofile services, and the danger of losing popular community hospitals that has been the driving force behind the storm of opposition to NHS 'reforms' up and down the country at the end of last year.
Only in Preston and a few surrounding areas have campaigners successfully mobilised in large numbers specifically to challenge the damaging growth of privatisation and its impact on local services.
A major national demonstration needs to combine both elements: and it needs to tap in to the strength, resources and networks of local unions, but also mobilise much wider community support than most union branches are used to - reaching pensioners groups, tenants associations and the wider trade union movement.
All of this will be easier to do in the autumn when the financial realities begin to reemerge and a number of the so-called "consultation" processes take shape in actual plans for closure.
But this does mean that plans need to be laid now for activities to keep the NHS high on the political agenda throughout the summer months and into the autumn: a September campaign of meetings, pickets and protests could help raise the heat - and the network of Keep Our NHS Public campaigns needs to be strengthened.