August 2010

Dear NHS Supporter

Thank you for your response to our e-petition. We are now posting the list of signatories online and it already shows that there is widespread concern about the future of the NHS. But we still need to reach many more NHS Supporters who perhaps don't know the implications of the White Paper and who could help protect our NHS. Please go on helping us where you can. The future of the NHS does hang in t he balance, but there is much we can do to ensure that it survives. Read some of the suggestions below.

You'll also see that UNISON, UNITE and the National Pensioner's Convention are supporting the petition and using their networks to promote it. We're also talking to a range of other trade unions and community organisations to get this message out as widely as we can and enlist support.

The consultation period for the White Paper ends on October 11, and it is important for those of us who are already aware and concerned to communicate our opposition to the proposals before then.
IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY DONE SO ...

1. PLEASE SEND THE LINK TO OUR E-PETITION TO PEOPLE IN YOUR CONTACTS LIST
Most people think of themselves as NHS supporters, but many are yet to see that the NHS is being broken up and would support our campaign if they realised what the goverment's plans will actually lead to. Please encourage friends, family and colleague to look at our website,and sign the petition. The full URL for the online petition is:
 
 
On a technical point, a small number of people with certain internet browsers had some technical obstacles preventing them from signing up. These have now been resolved, so if at first you didn't succeed, please try again!
 
2. PASS ROUND OR POST UP HARD COPIES OF OUR PETITION
We have also created a printable pdf version of our petition with a summary of our main statement. Please print off copies to pass round or put up on noticeboards in workplaces or organisations where NHS supporters can see them. We've also made our full original statement available as a printable pdf if you want to use this alongside copies of the petition forms. Send us the lists when they're either complete - or as complete as they're likely to get - and we'll add them to our e-petition list.
 
3. HELP OUR CAMPAIGN GET PUBLICITY
Write to your local paper telling them about the implications of the White Paper and how it will mean cuts in jobs and services for your local NHS. Promote the online petition. Fese extracts from our short article on the petition or extracts from our commentary.
 
4. EXPRESS YOUR CONCERNS BEFORE THE CONSULTATION ENDS ON OCTOBER 11
 There is a downloadable consultation response form on the DoH website. Fill one in and return it by email or post to the addresses given at the end of the form. You could also let your MP know what you think: www.writetothem.com
 
5. MAKE A DONATION
We are working on ways to communicate the key issues to the millions of people who have either been uninformed or misinformed about their NHS. People who do not know what will happen to their health service and the serious consequences the restructuring will have for them and their families in the future. To help us do this please make a donation. Giving a regular amount by bankers' order spreads out your donation, reduces our admin, and helps us plan our investigations and campaigns for the future.
We are still working with journalists on ways to raise public debate about the White Paper in the media. By starting to lobby MPs as they return from their Summer break we aim to make the future of the NHS a major issue during the party conference season.
 
Further campaign resources and articles are being added to our website and we will continue to provide you with regular updates on the White Paper and our campaign to protect the NHS.
 
Finally, it's worth noting the recent comments of pro-market commentator Roy Lilley, which also help to see the White Paper in its true light:
 
"Commissioning is going to be done by self-employed GPs with private sector help. All the NHS supply-side services will be in social enterprises [businesses that retain profit] that are outside the NHS and their balance sheet is outside the reach of the Treasury. Does this look like privatisation to you? Well, it should, because it is. Andrew Lansley has done, by stealth, what Mrs T and Tony Blair never dared to do."
 
But together we can stop this process - we can protect our NHS.

Once again, thank you for your help so far. It really is appreciated.
 
With thanks,
 
Paul Evans
Director, NHS Support Federation