[Mer Health Authority decision, the fight goes on…]
Socialist Organiser1983 1983-07-07Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 5 →
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Mer Health Authority decision, the fight goes on other trade unionists in the area but they need to be strengthened and promises of supporting strike action must be sought in other hospitals if any equipment or patients are moved from the South London.
Workers should watch out for attempts to work out a Tadworth-type deal for South London Hospital. This would keep the hospital open by removing it from the NHS. It would be run jointly by the NHS and charitable consortiums and the charities would eventually take over the funding.
This would be nothing more than a return to the pre-NHS years when the working class only had access to health care as charity.
Tadworth was not a victory for the NHS. The South London will not be a victory if this kind of funding is used.
The DHA made it clear at the meeting that they would welcome this kind of initiative. The consultants and administrators would also see this as a good deal for them.
The only victory for the working class will be a fully staffed and fully functioning hospital run by the National Health Service. The money is available. see the accounts of the DHA, to see how much money is wasted on brand name drugs, and on deals with consultants in medical schools. The government has plenty of money. It prefers to spend it on bombs and wars.
The South London can be saved by the workers taking control of it now and declaring that they will stay and run the hospital and that it will stay open.