Nov 23rd, 2016
NHS Crisis in the news
By charlotte
For the last couple of days, the NHS crisis has made news headlines. Jeremy Hunt’s plans to cut frontline services and hospital beds is now no secret. [1] Hospital beds are already crowded, without further cuts. Asthma attacks, bad falls, or car accidents could put any of us in need of a hospital bed – and the idea of turning up to an overcrowded hospital in an emergency doesn’t bear thinking about.
38 Degrees members are the reason that this story has made headlines. Thousands of us chipped in to fund the 38 Degrees research that fuelled this news. And hundreds of thousands of us have signed the petition that was reported in the papers. [2] Now millions of people have heard about the strain our NHS is under.
Here’s a short video of the people-powered media coverage. Please take two minutes to watch it:
There’s more to do to make sure our NHS survives to care for us, our children and our grandchildren. Most of the emails you get from 38 Degrees ask you to do something – sign a petition, make a donation, or write to your MP. But sometimes, it’s good to pause and remind ourselves that we’re making progress.
NOTES:
NHS England: Sustainability and transformation plans:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/futurenhs/deliver-forward-view/stp/
NHS England: Sustainability and Transformation Plan footprints:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/stp-footprints-march-2016.pdf
[2] Give the NHS more funding: 38 Degrees petition:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/givethenhsmorefundingpetition
Investigating secret plans for NHS cuts: 38 Degrees Blog:
https://home.38degrees.org.uk/2016/11/22/investigating-secret-plans-nhs-cuts/
[3] A record of a debate in Parliament about Sustainability and Transformation plans, 14th September 2016. 38 Degrees’ research is mentioned at the start of the debate as being crucial in exposing the plans:
