No room at the dentists inn - unless you pay

We already have a reduced A&E service at Chorley hospital. Rationing of healthcare seems to be flavour of the day, including dentistry! 

{My Story}
Today I had a look online to check the availability of NHS dentists in the local area. My spouse and I called in a local dentist & asked if we might register as  NHS patients. What happened next was shocking....

"we're not accepting any new NHS customers, only private", said the receptionist. I noted the word 'customer' then looked round noting the large waiting room was empty. So I said "but the place is empty, are you saying there are places available but only to private patients?"

The receptionist replied "yes, but there are reasonable plans available for example £55.00 for a first 45 minute consultation with any further payments made monthly".

The pre-rehearsed line about financial costs seemed to roll off the receptionists tongue as if by rote. 

I noted the receptionist shifting in the chair as if anticipating what I was about to say. Rather than debate the blatant discrimination of turning away those NHS 'customers' who can't afford to pay (twice) I simply said...

"We do pay. We pay into a collective system for dentistry called the National Health Service. It's a system where everyone supports each other in times of need. It's a system that does not discriminate or turn people away who, for whatever reason, cannot afford to pay".

"If I was to pay privately, I'd be going against the principles of a universal healthcare system I love. I'd be pushing out other NHS 'patients' resulting in this dentist treating only those who can pay privately. It would no longer be 'taking on NHS customers".

So as you can see folks, I had no means to pay as a private 'customer', and for this reason only, I was refused treatment and shown the door.

When we got home I decided to look again at the website of the dentist I'd just visited. But this time a little closer, and one sentence stood out highlighting the hypocracy of my experience. The sentence was...

"our practice caters for all"

Ironically, the dentist is called {My Dentist} on Dole Lane, Chorley.

The  {My Dentist} website then shows a list of NHS treatments and costs, with a band 3 crown costing the NHS 'customer' £256.50.

Our NHS is the best, safest and most affordable healthcare system in the advanced world. Yet slowly but surely it is being eroded and converted into a private payment system where those who can pay will, and those who can't are either shown the door, asked to setup a payment plan, or go without.

Related Links

Half of NHS dental practices are not accepting new adult NHS patients

Healthwatch CumbriaShire and the fading patient voice

Healthwatch contract mergers, is this the end of the patient voice?

As of the 1st May 2018, the Healthwatch Lancashire contract will be delivered by the Cumbria-based People First Independent Advocacy PLC.

Ironically, Healthwatch Lancashire, the so-called 'public voice' for Health & Social Care in Lancashire, have just been appointed a new chief executive 'David Blacklock' who was previously the chief executive of the very same...People First Independent Advocacy based in Cumbria.

One imagines this is some sort of transformation or integration of contracts and all those other buzz words used these days. But the appointment to the Lancashire Healthwatch of the Cumbria based advocacy company boss doesn't appear to be just 'coincidence'?

Company house also shows the new C.E. for HW Lancashire was also appointed as the People First Independent Advocacy company secretary last July (2017).  [1]

The Cumbria-based advocacy service which includes other business elements now has the contract for what happens with the peoples voice on health care services in Lancashire.

Over the years, the local opinions and voices of local people has gradually been distanced with several mergers of patient forums into larger unaccountable organisations.

Here's an extract from the book NHS for Sale: Myths, Lies & Deception.....

The patient voice was strongest when represented by Community Health Councils (CHCs). CHCs could and did visit and report on local NHS services, organise local campaigns and hold NHS bureaucrats to account. They were abolished by Alan Milburn in 2003, and replaced by a succession of weak bodies culminating in Healthwatch, established by the Health & Social Care Act. 

Real patient voice has become politically inconvenient as more NHS ‘reforms’ have been pushed through against the wishes of the public.

The proliferation of local NHS campaigns and action groups is an indication of the fact that many people feel that legitimate avenues of enquiry and complaint have been closed to them, leaving little option but to take to the streets in order to be heard.

Public bodies such as Healthwatch Lancashire have come under fire as playing little or no role in defending any of the threatened hospitals and services, and which few people even know exist. 

The People’s Inquiry concluded that Healthwatch in its current form is unlikely to deliver an effective voice for local communities, and recommended that they be wound up, with new bodies established that should be separated from the CQC and modelled on the old CHCs. 

They should link up with local community organisations, pensioners groups and other community organisations, and be given the statutory powers to inspect hospital and community services, to object to changes which lack public acceptance, and to force a decision on contested changes from the Secretary of State. 

The invisibility and impotence of Healthwatch is rivalled by many of the Health & Wellbeing Boards (HWBs), which were also established under the HSC Act. However HWBs are not NHS bodies, but controlled locally by councils with social service responsibilities. The unusual flexibility of the phrasing of the Act gives council extensive discretion on how public and outward-going the HWBs should be. 

There is the possibility to make them campaigning platforms, or a way to hold local health managers to account. But so far not one council has taken the chance to co-opt campaigners, community leaders and advocates of patient groups, and create HWBs as a vibrant, proactive public forum for scrutiny of local NHS commissioners or providers. 

The London People’s inquiry again recommended a substantial change, calling on councils to ‘make underachieving and narrow Health & Wellbeing Boards into genuine platforms for the planning and scrutiny of public health, health and social care in each borough’. 

It suggested that one way forward might even be to merge HWBs with Healthwatch, to create a single, clear and authoritative, democratic voice for local people that will monitor and scrutinise local health and social care services and plans for future developments, but also champion patient complaints.

Meanwhile, Healthwatch Lancashire has remained publicly silent on all the cuts, privatisation, integration and NHS devolution that's going on at the moment, and remains so far below the radar that very few people have ever heard of our `independent consumer champion in health and social care'...

Healthwatch should be independent of all health care providers so it can scrutinise them if it needs to? This could now be a bit tricky. The contract is now held by a PLC which opens all sorts of commercial opportunities, including with local authorities.

Instead of scrutinising proposed NHS reforms campaigners call Slash, Trash and Privatise plans (STPs), Healthwatch Lancashire appear to be promoting them. Hosting several public events involving STP leaders over the last 12 months.

With Cumbria now holding the contract for peoples voices in Lancashire, it's only a matter of time before we have a single contract for Healthwatch England, whereupon all campaigners of patient voice may as well pack up their bags and emigrate...


https://healthwatchlancashire.co.uk/news/healthwatch-lancashire-welcomes-a-new-chief-executive/


https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/05438407/filing-history

first NHS judicial review on ACOs - highlights

Chorley NHS campaigners with others in Leeds

Campaign group '999 Call for the NHS' were in Leeds High Court on 24th April for the hearing of the Judicial Review of NHS England’s contentious Accountable Care Organisation (ACO) contract. The challenge was that the contract’s introduction of a new payment mechanism is unlawful under current NHS and social care legislation and national tariff rules.

A message from 38 degrees

Thanks to everyone who signed the petition to stop the dismantling of the NHS and thank you if you made it to Leeds for the first Judicial Review on Tuesday 24th April [2018].

If you couldn't get there, here are a few highlights.

This Judicial Review marked the first of the legal challenges to the change from a National Health Service, to a Neighbourhood Health Service, (Simon Stevens' words I'm told), where the possibilities for postcode lotteries are magnified hugely and £22bn is being cut from the funding that would otherwise have been allocated by the Treasury by 2020.

Campaign groups from Chorley, Darlington, Dewsbury, Grantham, Huddersfield, Leeds,  Manchester, Slaithwaite,  Stafford, and Oxford, to name but a few, plus concerned individuals, gathered outside the court for the rally and some went into court afterwards. We were all lifted in spirits by the wonderful choir.

The Slaithwaite story was of a success, showing that together we CAN make a difference.

There were more contributions than we can include here and thank you to all who sent stories and messages of support which were read out at the start.

Other stories are in the links...a speaker from where 999 Call for the NHS started, in Darlington, a Consultant from Leeds, and the struggle in Oxford.

Now we wait for the ruling. Find out more about the day in court here.

And please share with this link http://bit.ly/999JRreport

And also share the petition...https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-the-plans-to-dismantle-our-nhs

This is a huge challenge but together we ARE making a difference. We must fight for the NHS as a comprehensive service for all. Nobody will do it for us.

Checkout the facebook page.

Thanks for your part in this. We couldn't do it without you.

Christine
38 degrees

Nottingham NHS sell off to private Circle

Over at Nottingham’s so called ‘health economy’ there's another struggle going on out of National public view.

The Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have contracted a private provider to run The Circle Nottingham Treatment Centre which employs over 150 experienced consultants and performs diagnostics and treats cancer as well as other illnesses.

The new STP arrangements everywhere in England, renamed Integrated Care Organisations and Systems are having to make cuts and Nottingham is no different. So now the CCG wants to procure the contract for less money.

It is on the cards that the private, for-profit company, most famous for handing back the contract for Hinchingbrook Hospital and owned by Toscafund , will sue the CCG.

How can that be fair? What are the odds they’ll win?

This is hot on the heels of the undisclosed sum awarded out of court to Virgin when it challenged NHS England 6 CCGs and the Council, in the Surrey ‘health economy’.

The odds are seemingly, not stacked in NHS hospitals favour, because they are doing more work than they are being paid for. The harsh ‘control totals’ ie permitted spending amount, do not provide enough money to do the job, so they can’t save or ‘increase efficiency’ . Then they are penalised, for not hitting A&E targets for example and previously promised 'Transformation' money withdrawn.

The relentless move to close hospitals goes on. We’ve just found out about South Tyneside’s Save our Hospital campaign, which needs help on crowdjustice.

As Jeremy Hunt says, he wants to re-direct NHS services by suspending tariffs .

It doesn’t really matter what the name is, the plan is the same. STP Integrated Care Systems will mean ‘managed care’ ie less care, fewer services, fewer medics.

We are fighting this with every bit of our strength because it is ideologically driven and completely unnecessary! Stay updated by clicking to recieve updates. You can unsubscribe later.

A final tribute?

At the same time as all the hospitals which haven't yet been closed, were full and some patients were experiencing third world conditions, the Department of Health organised an award ceremony. Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt got one for 'services to patient safety.'

You couldn't make it up!

HELP STOP THE ROT! Click the link and support below...
Article from 38degrees "STOP the New Plans to Dismantle Our NHS"

NHS Campaigners demand A&E reopen after two years of protesting

Chorley & South Ribble NHS campaigners marched through Chorley town centre today to mark two years since the A&E at Chorley was closed.

A BIG THANK YOU TO GRUPO SAMBAFRIQ
Protesters today accompanied by a Samba drum band marched all the way from Chorley & South Ribble district hospital to Chorley town centre.

The demonstration, fronted by the samba drum band 'Sambafriq' comes only a few weeks after protesters marked the 100th week of protests since the A&E was closed in April 2016.

Sambafriq band Chorley town centre

The previous demonstration on March the 10th marked the 100th week of protests since the A&E closed. It also coincided with the anniversary of a rally back in March 1975, when hundreds of people marched to call for a 24/7 casualty service for the district.

Then (1975 B&W) and Now

The demo in March drew bikers from all over the county who came out in force to support A&E campaigners who created a chain of supporters from Preston Road to Euxton Lane entrances.

Rivington Barn Bikers and others from surrounding area

The A&E department was closed in April 2016 with the hospital trust board blaming a shortage of staff but was reopened in January 2017 part-time (8am-8pm) after pressure from campaigners, the local MP and councillors.

Fired by a sense of injustice, campaigners have since gathered outside the hospital on Euxton Lane every Saturday morning from 10am to 11am  to campaign against the closure of the A&E unit.

But campaigners are as adamant as ever to get the A&E reinstated full-time and have vowed to 'remain on the gate' at the hospital until the A&E is reinstated full-time.

Volunteers Needed -  Can You Help?

Our Chorley & South Ribble NHS campaign organisers are currently looking for volunteers to help out with organising events and other activities.

You don't need any special skills, just the will and determination to help out where you can. If you want to help out feel free to join our facebook forum (link below) and leave a message. Alternatively use the Contact form above top left of this page.


Protect Chorley Hospital from Cuts & Privatisation

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Who can we entrust to save our NHS, if not ourselves

An article in 'the Guardian' today exposes the truth about Labour peers supporting STPs and privatisation of the NHS. 

Thu 15 Mar 2018
In todays newspaper, Warner and Oldham said "The NHS England Five Year Forward view [the document all STPs are based on] and related initiatives are important steps in the right direction". Norman Warner and John Oldham

Norman Warner (Lord Warner) served as a Labour health minister from 2003-07 and now sits on the cross benches and Sir John Oldham is the adjunct professor for global health at Imperial College, and is the former chair of the Independent Commission on Whole Person Care.

Labour advisor 'Simon Stevens' the current boss of NHS England devised the Five year forward view, a document all STPs are based on. As with John Oldham's global health operations, Stevens was ex vice president of U.S firm Unitedhealth's Global operations wishing to implement profit making American healthcare models across Europe. Stevens' Five year view is to implement insurance-based Accountable Care Organisations (ACOs) here in England.

Labour peer' Lord Carter' also supports the STP models and recently visited Preston county hall in Lancashire meeting with health trusts and civic leaders debating his private care at home model.

Today however, Warner and Oldham suggested something that would shock many traditional  Labour supporters. They suggest the following principles should apply to sourcing new revenue for the NHS and care system.

■ creating an 'extra tax' to be paid by workers on zero hours contracts
■ increase in taxes for the elderly ensuring they 'pay their fair share'
■  Lifestyles costly to the NHS and care system should exact a premium (this means those with unforeseen circumstance such as being overweight due to medications would pay extra premiums)
■ REMOVING winter fuel allowance for some pensioners & increasing taxes for pensioners with money above the basic state pension (tax on hard earned savings)

Warner & Oldham claim the above is needed to generate a 'reliable source of income' for the NHS. Paying no attention at all to where money can be saved such as removing bureaucracy and the internal market Warner's party created, they instead plough on with the old chestnut that we all need to pay more and more....

In an attempt to justify these disgraceful attacks on working people, Warner and Oldham in their Guardian news article proceed to scaremonger the public with stories about what 'might' happen if their draconian principles were not implemented.

Ironically, the former Labour health minister Lord Warner, who has 'formed an unholy alliance with the rightwing thinktank Reform' ; supports upfront charges for the NHS. In the case of Reform, this would be a "suggested" £10 NHS "membership fee" per month. 

The article in today's Guardian is reminiscent of how many Labour MPs and Peers support and promote private companies or policies then leave to work for the private sector industry, i.e. the 'revolving door'. Warner is certainly in that category.

New Labour's 'Tony Blair' appointed Carter as a Labour peer in 2004.
Lord Carter co-founded private nursing home company 'Westminster Health Care' in 1985 with Martin Bradford. He's been lobbying for the private care-home sector to take on more patients from over-stretched NHS hospitals ever since Simon Stevens revealed the STP plans for England.

Carter was also previously president of Mckesson enterprise ltd international operations group (business portfolio holder), Mckesson specialise in orthopedic imaging/consultancy private sector work.

In 1985, Lord Carter founded Westminster Health Care which he built into a leading health care provider and subsequently sold in 1999. Carter is now a private investor and director of public and private companies in the fields of insurance, healthcare and information technology.

Previously many Labour politicians have made full use of the 'revolving door' between the private healthcare industry and government. Alan Milburn and Patricia Hewitt are among the ten previous health ministers who have taken lucrative consultancies with private health care companies.

If this is the view of Labour peers such as Lord Carter and Lord Warner (now a cross-bench peer), then what do Labour MPs think of all this support for changing the NHS into a private insurance-based American model?

Who can we entrust to save our NHS, if not ourselves?


Related Links

Warner & Oldham's Guardian news article

In 2006, Labour Peer Lord Warner supported a secret plan to privatise an entire tier of the NHS in England 

Both Warner and Carter claim NHS hospitals are draining money from elderly care.

NHS users should pay £10 a month, says former Labour health minister Lord Warner

A new report by former Health Minister, Lord Warner, recommends charging people to see their GP, charging people for overnight stays in hospital, or even charging everyone £10 a month for NHS services. 

Revolving door & the cross-party white paper

New Labour's White Paper, was it the blueprint for the STPs five year forward view?

How has it got so far? [Part 1]

How has it got so far? [PART 1] THOSE who should be doing something about defending our NHS are turning a blind eye or partnering with others such as CCGs and privatisers. Some of those who should be defending the NHS are betraying the NHS and selling it off piecemeal (eg GPs on CCG boards). I can honestly put my hand on my heart and say those who could do something aren't, and they are allowing this to happen, and no amount of research or posts or letters I write or shouting I do appears to be getting through. So if all this goes pear shaped, then at least I/we as a group can hold our heads up high saying we did our best and we told you so. Let's not let it get to that stage. You don't know how precious something is until it's gone. That's the NHS, the envy of the world, yet it's being torn apart and handed over bit by bit to the private sector leaving what few NHS services we have left for the poor to fight over as pigeons to crumbs. What evil wishes England to adopt the worst healthcare system in the world (USA) and import it over here, if not for profit? We must never let an injustice pass us by, always question but never leave it alone thinking 'someone else will deal with it', they won't. If not me then who? If not now then when? It's now down to us, and at some stage people will realise just how serious the situation is and wished they'd attended meetings and rallied together to defend our NHS. Today, NHS England have given incentives to all GPs to join a GP federation to increase population list numbers to facilitate a future U.S. business model of an Accountable Care Organisation (ACO). South Cumbria are already rolling out the STPs [1]. Chorley & South Ribble with Preston CCGs are already implementing STP models such as 'care closer to home' by moving services such as audiology, ophthalmology, and ENT out of hospital into private provider clinics. And they have the remit to do this via the Health & Social Care act 2012 which opened up the market to any private provider. The message from the STP team is just 'go ahead and do it' (solutions design team publication 7) Clinical Commissioning Groups are now considering rationing up to 18 more medicines and treatments, taking the total so far to 33. The Lancashire teaching hospital trust propose to create a private subsidiary company, transferring NHS staff and assets to it - nineteen trusts have already done this. How has it got so far? How has it got so far? [1] http://www.healthierlsc.co.uk/news/latest-news/integration-community-and-acute-services