Press Release 01/07/2016 - Stroud Against the Cuts

Campaigners to celebrate 68^th birthday of NHS

What: Celebratory gathering with 1940s music, open mic for tributes and speeches, facepainting, ‘NHS colours’ theme

Where: Pocket Park, next to Trinity Hall, opposite Stroud Hospital

When: 6-8pm Tuesday 5^th July, photo-call 6.30pm

Contact: James Beecher – 07734 058789 | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Following a weekend of events exploring the past, present and future of the NHS held at Stroud Valleys Artspace last week, community group Stroud Against the Cuts are holding a small gathering to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the NHS on 5^th July 1948, and are inviting people to attend to share stories of their experiences.

The event comes as the overnight closure of the Minor Injuries Unit at Stroud Hospital, and parking fines at Beeches Green Health clinic are regular features in local news, and as questions arise over whether funding for the NHS will increase as hinted by the successful Vote Leave campaign.

Earlier this year, NHS doctors took historically unprecedented strike action and Gloucestershire has recently seen the A&E at Cheltenham downgraded, non-emergency ambulances handed over to private company Arriva to manage, and some NHS pharmacy services now handed to Lloyds Pharmacy. Nationally, waiting lists are up and there are widespread stories of access to and quality of treatment declining.

James Beecher, one of Stroud Against the Cuts organisers’ said: “On the NHS’s birthday we’ll be celebrating its founding principles and its importance to healthcare provision. It is necessary to have a health system that enables access to healthcare when you need it, provided by well-trained, well-rewarded workers. We want a health system that provides comprehensive, high quality care – promptly and universally, and paid for in the fairest way – through progressive taxation. To be affordable, such a system will need to be publicly owned and run – which is far more efficient. All of this has been under threat in recent decades, but it has rarely been more important than now that we come together to defend and extend the NHS.”

Recently the group held a weekend of events featuring international health policy expert John Lister, a Corporate Watch workshop on researching the private companies taking over the NHS, and advice for health and social care workers, as well as film screenings, music and comedy. Stroud Against the Cuts led a successful campaign in 2011/12 to defend local community health services from privatisation, and is set to launch a petition against the parking fines and arrangements at Beeches Green.

Ahead of the anniversary of the founding of the NHS on July 5th 1948, we've organised a weekend of events exploring the past, present and future of the NHS and how we can campaign to ensure healthcare for all.

We're kicking it all off with 20 questions on the NHS at The Retreat pub quiz - 9pm at the Church St pub (just off the High St, by Sunshine Health Food shop).

The main event is a day of talks, workshops and stalls, 10am-5pm on Saturday 18th - including workshops on researching privatisation, organising in health and social care workplaces and in community campaigns. There will be activities for children at the SVA (12.30-1.30pm), and parents will be able to leave children at the regular creche at the nearby Stroud Baptist Church on Saturday morning.

Caroline Molloy - Editor of OurNHS will offer tips on campaigning and attempt to answer all your niggling NHS questions (11am-12noon), Mark - a Unison rep and member of the Protect CCHP campaign which successfully fought privatisation of children's NHS services in Bristol and South Gloucestershire - will provide a training session for health and social care workers on organising in workplaces (12.30-1.30pm), and Corporate Watch will run a session on researching the private companies taking over our NHS (1.30-3.30pm).
Other health workers and speakers will join us for a panel debate, and we'll have a keynote speech on the past, present and future of the NHS (3.30pm - 4pm, followed by Q&A and debate till 5pm).

This is accompanied by a weekend-long exhibition at the Line Gallery in John St - "How Come We Didn't Know" - featuring Keep Our NHS Public member Marion Macalpine's series of photographs exploring the hidden privatisation of our NHS.

We're also screening Michael Moore's documentary comparing health systems internationally and the health insurance industry, SiCKO, 7-9pm on Saturday night and further entertainment comes in the form of HEARTBEAT! A night of comedy, video and music at the SVA, John St. 8pm - late on Friday night, and a 'Doctors and Nurses' closing party with the Vine Club 9.30pm - late on Saturday night.

Attendance to all events bar the Vine Club Closing Party is free - but we will be seeking to recover costs and collect donations to help us fund our NHS campaigning activity.

For more information read our latest newsletter for our supporters.