Battersea CLP notes
• 12 years of Conservative underfunding , neglect and mismanagement have left our NHS with waiting lists at the highest on record and the lowest level of patient satisfaction since 1997
• those needing mental health support have been particularly let down
• that the imposition of US style structures such as Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) in the Health and Care Act 2022 shows how corporate involvement in policy making leads to private profits at the expense of patient care and workers' pay
• that the personal experiences of many in countries with healthcare for profit systems, most notably the USA, warn of the dangers of privatised healthcare systems
• a quarter of mental health beds have been cut, over a third of children were turned away from mental health services last year alone, and right now 1.6 million people are waiting for mental health treatment
Battersea CLP reaffirms
• Labour's unequivocal commitment to a publicly funded, publicly provided, publicly accountable, universal and comprehensive National Health Service.
• There must be direct employment of NHS workers, ending commercialisation and fragmentation and the use of outsourcing, private providers and public private partnerships within the NHS.
• Ending outsourcing better enables our friends and allies in the union movement to secure fair pay and conditions for their members, whose work during the pandemic saved tens of thousands of lives.
• Health services are of better quality, more equitable and cost-effective when nationally planned and provided by democratically-accountable, public authorities with local expertise.
Battersea CLP believes Labour must-
• commit to returning all privatised portions of the NHS to public control upon forming a Government;
• not accept donations from companies interested in outsourcing NHS functions;
• commit to support GPs so that everyone can access care when needed and staff are developed and valued;
• allow medical professionals to use a variety of appointment types (e.g. virtual or in-person) based on medical need
• provide more places for General Practice, Nurse Practitioners, and other staff roles where a shortage exists
• commit to a national well-being strategy in which mental health prevention is embedded within wider aims. The strategy would elevate the importance of mental health and link to other policy areas of our society and economy.
Battersea CLP calls on a future Labour Government -
• To repeal the Health and Care Acts of 2012 and 2022 and to reverse and eliminate Integrated Care Systems .
• To establish a publicly funded, publicly provided, publicly accountable, universal and comprehensive National Health Service
• To return all privatised portions of the NHS to public control upon forming a Government;
• To ensure a Labour government and economy are fit to handle another pandemic with proper preparations and regulations.
• To ensure Labour invests in research that focuses on epidemiology, biomedical sciences and research in other STEM fields, bracing for all forms of a pandemic.
• To establish a publicly funded and publicly provided National Care Service with care and support for independent living for all who need it.
We want a country with world-class public services that work for everyone right from the start, from the NHS and social care, to education and children’s and youth services. Click here to have your say on how we can reinvigorate Britain’s public services and provide the best care and support for all.
