National Nurses United

achievements of the NHS and to defend its core values. Rallying to the cry, "I love the NHS," thousands of healthcare workers and others gathered from across the United Kingdom to join in what was indeed a celebration of the NHS. Stilt walkers, steel drums, and brass bands provided a colorful backdrop for the banner-carrying, flag-waving nurses, midwives, porters, cleaners, caterers, medical secretaries, doctors, physiotherapists, healthcare assistants, and public marching through the heart of London to Trafalgar Square. Dave Prentis, Trades Union Congress president and general secretary of Unison, Britain's largest trade union, was visibly moved as he welcomed the crowds to Trafalgar Square. Prentis reiterated why the march and rally were being held: "To celebrate the many successes of the NHS as it approaches its 60th birthday, to show support for a dedicated team of staff and a public health service widely acknowledged as being simply the best. And to get the message across to the government that the NHS must stay that way, remaining true to its founding principles of free healthcare for all, from the cradle to the grave—care based on patients' needs, not their ability to pay." Frontline care providers and the unions that represent them have Karen Jennings, a nurse and head of health for Unison, is also become increasingly alarmed at the threat posed to the NHS by market-based healthcare. While the Labor Government has increased optimistic about how recent government shake-ups will affect the funding to the NHS over the last decade, improving services and out- NHS. "We are working on more involvement of frontline nurses in comes, it has, at the same time, introduced an increasing number of decision-making processes and are encouraged by the appointment private-sector initiatives to the NHS. These initiatives have proved to of Alan Johnston as health secretary," said Jennings. "He is a man be a financial drain. As Kevin Coyne, national secretary for the health who understands workers' needs and labor principles." The NHS continues to be popular with the public. In polls, the sector at Unite, a two million-member union, explained on Nov. 3, "privatization has been an experiment in the NHS and it has gone NHS is consistently viewed as Britain's favorite institution, outrankwrong. It should be stopped now. Where it has been introduced it has ing even the royal family. Patient satisfaction rates are impressive, as led to fragmentation of services and confusion for patients and staff. reflected in a recent survey by the Healthcare Commission, an indeOur members and the public are here today to send a clear message pendent watchdog of the NHS, in which 92 percent of patients describe the care they receive as good, very good, or excellent. that we support the NHS as a publicly-funded service." The public perception of the quality and value inherent in the NHS is Alex Nunn of Keep Our NHS Public, a campaign launched in September 2005 as a coalition of various pressure groups and associa- supported by academic research. "The NHS is a famous model for healthtions, explained why the fight against healthcare privatization is so care delivery around the world, widely copied and providing universal important. "The NHS deserves such a campaign because it is the and comprehensive coverage," according to David Price, senior research highest expression of social solidarity that we have in Britain," Nunn fellow at the Centre for International Public Health Policy at Edinburgh said. "It represents a vision of a different world, not motivated by University. "The government's attempts to introduce private initiatives are plainly having a negative impact on how the system operates. Privatiprofit but by need and human compassion." Campaigners are buoyed by the U.K.'s recent change in leadership. zation reduces the control of the local authority. Under the NHS, Tony Blair's time as prime minister ended disgracefully as he fielded resources are allocated according to need. You cannot allocate resources criticism regarding his stance on the Iraq War and his eagerness to according to need if you have competing healthcare markets." Price also promote the private sector. Commentators noted not only that Blair noted that the cost of running the NHS is more efficient than the Ameriwas out of tune with national sentiment on the continuing war, but can model; currently 12 percent of the total budget in the U.K. is spent on administering the service, as opposed to roughfelt also that several hurried and ill thoughtly 30 percent in the United States to cover marout initiatives were a direct result of his taste COST-RELATED ACCESS keting, claims processing, paperwork, and for privatization. New Prime Minister Gor- TO CARE FIGURES other administrative costs associated with a don Brown, on the other hand, is seen by UK US private system—not including profits. many as being more favorable to "Old Labor" Prentis echoed Price's comments in welideals. Brown has already made one signifiSick adults who did 8% 40% coming NHS supporters on Nov. 3 by saying, cant change in the government's direction on not fill prescriptions "NHS Together is calling on the government healthcare with his appointment of Alan or skipped doses to foster a spirit of cooperation and collaboJohnston, a former trade union leader, as ration between hospitals and surgeries, not Secretary of State for Health. Nunn is one of Had a medical problem 4% 34% damaging competition. We don't want to see the hopeful: "The Labor party has lost its but did not visit doctor hospitals spending taxpayers' money adverway in defending the NHS. This has left the tising for patients." unions as the bearers of the soul of the NHS. Skipped a test, treatment, 5% 33% Community outrage at patchwork privatizaWith a new prime minister there is a chance or follow up All figures from the Commonwealth Fund, 2005 (latest figures available) tion has been widespread and well publicized. to change the policy." 20 REGISTERED NURSE W W W. C A L N U R S E S . O R G NOVEMBER 2007

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