Mtg room PACKED to fight to Defend Camden NHS

Thanks to everyone for the fighting spirit of the meeting last night about the plans in South Camden. It was packed to overflowing - sorry to those of you who had to stand or could not get in. This is just a quick note of what was agreed.

The meeting agreed to campaign against any threat of privatisation of local GPs, and to back GPs and patients if they opposed plans for a Polyclinic or GP led health centre at UCLH.

We agreed to demand proper consulation from the PCT including a public meeting for local people. The consultation should include other options to improve local services other than moving to UCLH.

Other suggestions made at the meeting, such as a referendum and a demonstration will be discussed at our next meeting which is:

Tuesday September 6.30pm in Somers Town Community Centre, Ossulston Street, NW1 (down the side of the British Library- different venue because Town Hall not available).

We will be doing a stall at the Marchmont Community Festival this Saturday.

Meet at 1pm at the Marchmont Street entrance to the Brunswick centre.

Future Dates:

Next NHS London meeting Tue 23 September 10.30-12.30 South side office, 105 Victoria St,SW1

Public Meeting for North Camden Wed 24 September Fleet Community Centre

Camden Council Health Scrutiny Meeting Thurs 25 September 7pm Camden Town Hall

Camden PCT meeting Monday 29 September 2pm Agm 4pm at St Pancras Hospital

No Confidence in Camden PCT-Defend our National Health Service.

Keep Camden’s GPs in the NHS

OPEN LETTER

We the undersigned patients in Camden wish to express our concerns about the future of National Health Service General Practice in this borough.

Government plans threaten to move public funding from local GP practices to private companies who are primarily accountable to shareholders rather than patients.

We have no confidence in the Camden Primary Care Trust to protect NHS services in this area.

Camden PCT has already transferred three surgeries in Camden to United Health, one of the largest US private health insurance companies.

• Many patients in these surgeries complained they were not consulted.
• Doctors complained the goal posts were changed during the tendering process making it impossible for GPs to compete against huge private companies.
• Camden Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee referred the lack of consultation over the decision to put services out to tender to the Secretary of State.

Camden PCT proposes moving a number of GP surgeries into Polyclinics at University College and Royal Free Hospitals. The PCT chairman stated publicly at a meeting on 1 July 2008 there were no plans to privatise Polyclinic services. But documents have been disclosed showing the PCT had discussions with Richard Branson’s Virgin Healthcare inviting them to run Camden’s Polyclinics.

The PCT does not intend consulting over any possible private tendering of GP services.

We all value and depend on our local doctors. We want to be treated by GPs who see us as patients not customers. We urge Camden PCT to halt any further plans for privatisation of GP services and instead to add their voices to those campaigning to ensure our GPs are kept local and in the NHS.

NAME ORGANISATION/ POSITION

This letter will be sent to NHS London, the Secretary of State for Health and Camden Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee.

Please add signatures to this letter by email to defendcamdennhs@gmail.com or post to Camden Keep Our NHS Public c/o 194 Levita House, Ossulston St, NW1 1EZ