NATIONAL PENSIONERS CONVENTION REPORT OF MEETING WITH LIZ KENDALL SHADOW CARE MINISTER

This Meeting Was Attended By Dot Gibson & Neil Duncan-Jordon, it Took Place On March 26th 2012.

NPC Dignity Code.

The shadow care Minister congratulated the NPC on the campaign and coverage it had organised in support of the Dignity Code (which she had signed). The NPC asked what she could do to promote it, both inside her own party and within Parliament more generally. She felt that it was important to get local authorities to adopt the code and suggested that the NPC meet with the Local Government Association to discuss the details, but did not suggest anything specific that she would do to promote the code any further.

Social Care White Paper. 

The shadow care minister explained that cross-party confidential talks were currently taking place surrounding the issue of social care, but as yet there was no agreement on the contents of the forthcoming White Paper. Rather than a progress report on the issue of funding which the Government has promised, the opposition are calling for Legislation. The shadow minister confirmed that the Dilnot Commission's recommendations were a small part of the discussions taking place and accepted that there were many other issues such as quality of care that still needed to be addressed. She was unable to confirm whether or not the Government were considering putting a cap of £100,000 on the amount an individual would ever have to pay for their care - and did not say whether Labour would support this approach or not.

National Care Service

The shadow care minister felt that Parliament was lagging behind the public on understanding the importance of social care, because many politician's had very little experience of the issue. Labour had not abandoned the idea of a National Care Service (as proposed in the 2010 election manifesto) but had yet to make decisions on future policy. If they did put it forward, it could be funded through a deferred payment scheme taken from the sale of the property after the individual had died (dubbed a death tax at the time). The shadow minister also said that it was important that the NPC kept up the pressure up on the political parties, to ensure that social care remained at the top of the political agenda.

IF YOU DONATE SUFFICIENT MONEY TO THE CONSERVSTIVE PARTY YOU CAN GET TO HAVE DINNER WITH THE PRIME MINISTER IN HIS FLAT.

We Have Now Been Given Another Glimpse Into How Corrupt Our
Political System Has Become.

Yesterday, we got another glimpse of how corrupt our political system is. The co-treasurer of the Conservatives was filmed giving a rare honest account of how lobbying can work. Donate enough money and you get to have dinner with the Prime Minister. That's probably not most people's idea of a great night out, but the Tory treasurer was in no doubt that it would pay off. "It'll be awesome for your business", he said. A ban on secret lobbying would help to weed out this kind of sleaze. New rules could force politicians to reveal who they are meeting and what they talked about. That's why 38 Degrees members have been campaigning to bring in these rules for ages.

After the MP expenses scandal, public pressure pushed all the parties to make big promises about tackling lobbying. But now its time to write the new rules, Cameron has come up with some weak rules that will not solve the problem. If we speak up together now, we can push him to go much further and bring in a real ban, not just a token gesture. Can you take 30 seconds to sign a petition demanding a ban on secret lobbying?
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/stop-secret-lobbying is

We know that David Cameron is worried about public anger about secret lobbying. back when a Labour Government was the main culprit, he described it as a "scandal waiting to happen". Now it's his own reputation on the line. A big Petition will show him that the danger will just keep on growing, if he does not introduce a proper legal ban.

38 Degrees members have voted to make it a priority to ban secret lobbying because we know the harm it does on other issues that we care about. How many secret dinners with private lobbyists did Cameron have whilst pushing through his NHS changes? help stop the rich and powerful whispering in the ears of MP's who are meant to be working for us - add your name to the petition now. 

Marie Campbell - 38 Degrees.

AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR OF CONTROVERSY AND DEBATE THE GOVERNMENT HAS GOT ITS NHS PLANS THROUGH PARLIAMENT.

This is indeed "Bad News" and it is not the result that any of us were hoping for.

The 38 Degrees petition was read out many times, and there were scores of MP's and members of the House of Lords who gave a passionate defence of the NHS, bur the votes were still lost, we did not achieve the desired result. They didn't totally get their own way, 38 Degree members - along with Doctors and nurses' groups, medical charities and even some politicians - forced through changes and delays. But while there are glimmers of hope, its still pretty grim. Most medical experts still warn that these changes will do horrible damage to our health service.

We came close and gave it everything that we had. A huge petition. Thousands of messages and phone calls to MP's and members of the House of Lord's. Hundreds of local events all across the UK. Money raised to hire in lawyers and run billboard and newspaper adverts. No one can say that 38 Degree members did not try our best. Now in this moment of disappointment, we need to decide what we do next. Shall we carry on our work to protect the NHS? Do we want to keep working together to slow down the changes and reduce the damage to our health services? Or is it time to move on and focus on other issues?

If 38 Degrees members wanted to keep going, it's likely that we could come up with some good ideas for things that we could do. Some Doctors are even volunteering to stand for election as "Save the NHS" candidates. Please take one moment to vote Yes or No - are you up for continuing to campaign to protect the NHS?
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/NHS-vote

This is not the first time that people power has had setbacks. Those of us who joined millions of others to march against the Iraq war may feel echoes today of another occasion when a different Government decided to ignore public opinion. And sometimes its tempting to give up and disengage from politics althogether. But 38 Degrees members have done so much to prove that people power can work. To give just one example, this spring many of us will enjoy walking in the woodlands that we stopped from being sold off. More than that, we are part of a much bigger story of ordinary people standing up for what is right, all through the ages. Votes for women, the minimum wage, the right to roam in our beautiful countryside. The creation of the NHS itself. Politicians ofter follow where people power leads.

There are now 1 million 38 Degrees members and we know that we can be a force for good in this country. It's not always easy, and there will be setbacks as well as moments of fantastic victory. But one thing is certain - if we keep working together things will work out better than if we did nothing at all. Please take 30 seconds to vote Yes or No on whether 38 Degrees should keep going with the campaign to protect the NHS. Thank you for being part of it and everything you've done.

David Babb's - 38 Degrees

THERE ARE SEVEN REASONS THAT CAN BE PUT INTO PLAIN ENGLISH THAT WAVERING MP:S, JOBBING JOURNALISTS AND THE PUBLIC WILL UNDERSTAND RELATING TO THE NHS

Think Yourself Lucky, Here is some further ammunition for use on the NHS Bill.

1. The Bill replaces three levels of management (DH, SHA, PCT) with Seven; (DH, NCB, 4 Clustered SHA, 50 Commissioning Support Groups, 300-ish CCG's, Clinical Senates and Health Watch).
2. GP's cannot "do commissioning"; it is to complex, they can not fit it in part-time and also look after patients. They can and should influence local commissioning decisions.
3. The complexity of buying health care is recognised by the DH who have invented "Commissioning Support Organisations" (not in the Bill), to help. They are intended to be private companies who have to decide what health care we can have on behalf of the GP's.
4. The Coalition Government has not saved millions in bureaucracy; they have shifted costs by sacking really experienced people who are now being re-hired to commission care on behalf of GP's.
5. No one is really worried about the "Private Sector" per-se. But, if you spend £100 on health care in the NHS you get one hundred quid's worth of health care less about 5% management costs. In the private sector you will get a hundred quid's worth less 3% management costs, 5% profit, 12% to pay bank loans and charges, plus a chunk for bonus's, dividends and a return for investors. And no provision for what happens if they go broke or get fed up.
6. There is no increase in patient choice; we are all stuck with our local GP who is stuck with his local CCG who are stuffed into CSO's who will decide what we can have and when we can have it. All the decisions about us are being made without us.
7. The NHS could have functioned Perfectly well without the passing of this Bill; it is performing pretty well now and could coalesce around what it is doing. but, waiting times are on the way up and we are getting fatter and older. The Bill that has now passed into law will do nothing about any of this and the service should be allowed to concentrate its efforts to meet those challenges.

Keith C

 

THE NATIONAL PENSIONERS CONVENTION (NPC) RESPONSE TO GEORGE OSBOURNES 2012 BUDGET - LOOKS AT ITS EFFECT ON PENSIONERS

This Budget Leaves Pensioners Bruised on Pensions, Tax Allowances, Retirement

 Age and Care.

Britain's biggest pensioner organisation, the National pensioners Convention (NPC) has criticised today's Budget announcement for failing to address the serious concerns of Britain's 11m older people. 

On the State Pension

Dot Gibson, NPC General Secretary said: - "The proposal to merge the basic and second state pensions into a single £140 a week payment is a classic case of smoke and mirrors - given that someone could retire today and get a combined basic and second state pension of £150 a week. In reality there will be no extra money to raise Britain's scandalously low state pension - just a different way of packaging the payment. Not only that but it will also create a two-tier pension system with existing pensioners still having to struggle with a complicated ,means-tested system that leaves one in four older people in Poverty."

On the Retirement Age

Dot Gibson, NPC General Secretary said: - "The announcement of an automatic review of the State pension age is clearly a forerunner of making people work up to 70 and beyond. The Chancellor is effectively stealing retirement years from millions of ordinary workers whose life expectancy is far lower than the very richest in society. This will hurt the low paid, part time workers in the north much more than the bankers in the city."

On Personal Tax Allowances

Dot Gibson, NPC General secretary said: - "The decision to freeze the age related personal tax allowances effectively means around five million pensioner tax payers will no longer get additional reductions in their tax over the coming years - whilst those on the top rate of tax will see their bills reduced. Many people will feel that they are being asked to forgo their reduction in tax to help out the super rich."

Welfare and Social Care

Dot Gibson, NPC General Secretary said: - "The Chancellor's pledge to cut welfare payments by £10bn over the next few years will also worry millions of pensioners who may think that their bus passes and winter fuel allowances might be under threat and the long-awaited Social Care White Paper is being delayed, without any explanation. While around a million older people are struggling with a broken care system that leaves many with expensive care that is often of poor quality. The money that the Chancellor is giving away in tax breaks for the richest in society would fund a National Care Service for all those in need. Pensioners will feel bruised by this Budget." 

For more information contact Neil Duncan-Jordan

07432-575251

JON ASHWORTH MP HAS CALLED A PUBLIC MEETING IN LEICESTER ON MARCH 17TH TO DISCUSS THE DANGER FACING THE NHS

This meeting will take place on Saturday March 17th at 2.00pm - Adult Education Centre, Wellington Street, Leicester.

The speakers will be - Jon Ashworth MP, John Lister London Health Emergency, and Dr Louise Irvine GP. Its the end of the English NHS unless we all fight for it.

The doctors, nurses, midwives, physiotherapists and others are opposed.

The Royal college of Nurses, the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of GP's, the Royal College of Radiologists, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, and the Faculty of Public Health are all opposed to the Bill.

Jon Ashworth MP has called a public meeting to discuss the threat posed by the Government's plans for the NHS. It is essential that the public understand why these plans threaten the future of the NHS. Please let others know about the meeting and persuade them to attend.

Abolition of a National Health Service.

We have become accustomed to free access to health care but Parliament is about to pass a bill abolishing our National Health Service. There will no longer be a National Health Service and no one will have legal or overall responsibility for meeting all our health care needs. The care you are entitled to may depend on how much you are able to pay. Companies and Corporations will deliver our health care.

Privatisation means that we will have to pay.

Entitlement to long-term care and NHS dentistry has already been replaced by charges and private insurance. If the Bill is passed, services to the ill and Ambulance, Dental, Child, Pregnancy, Mental Health, Sexual Health Immunisation, Cancer and Disease Screening services will no longer have to be provided to all residents in England free of charge. In future you may be required to pay for these services and to buy health insurance to cover the cost.

Profits will come before our care.

The Bill if passed will allow private companies to decide what care you are entitled to and whether you need to pay for it. Their priority is to make money for their shareholders, so the focus will be on profits, not patients.

Doctors will no longer be able to make decisions on our behalf.

Doctors will not have the final say in your care. Profit-making private health care companies, not doctors, will decide what care you can receive, where you receive it or whether you receive it at all. 

England will fall behind Wales and Scotland.

Wales and Scot;and will continue to provide all medical care free of charge and on the basis of need. If the Bill is passed, access to health care in England will be the worst in the UK. This is because the Bill repeals a legal right to the same services as those provided by the NHS in Scotland and Wales.

CANP@live.co.uk

38 DEGREES LAUNCHED THEIR MASSIVE NHS BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN ON MONDAY MARCH 5TH

"Mr Cameron you are making a big mistake with the NHS. Please, Please listen to us" Dr Brigid Sheppard.

It was all happening on Monday, when more than 130 huge bilboards went up in London, with many more to follow in high streets across the country. More than 20,000 38 Degrees members have chipped in over £300,000 to make this happen. Thank you so much. These billboards are going to be seen by millions of voters, and they are already causing a media stir. On Monday morning London GP and 38 Degrees member, Deborah, gave an interview which talked about the campaign on BBC London Radio and LBC 97.3, and there was also a lot of press coverage.

But we are not stopping there. Lots of 38 Degrees members have been in touch with the office this week asking for a poster version of the billboard to put up in their own window. They have pointed out a simple fact: the adverts will be seen by millions, but if we all put them up ourselves too we could reach even more poeple. Can you help sound the alarm even louder and make sure that your neighbours know about the threat to our health service? Click here if you would like a free poster or leaflets to help you to take the campaign to your very own street.

https://secure.38Degrees.org.uk/NHS-posters-and-leaflets

We know that behind closed doors the Government are making political calculations - is it better to change tack or to press on with the plans unchanged? The pressure is building - there will be a big march by NHS staff on Wednesday, and the Lib Dems will bebate an emergancey motion to scrap the plans at their conference this coming weekend. So this is the moment to ramp it up. As our NHS billboards go up in London and around the country, Local MP's and councillors will start to worry about what is brewing in their areas. More and more of them will start asking David Cameron what is he going to do to protect the NHS and reassure their voters.

So imagine how they will react if posters start appearing in windows up and down the country, and 38 degrees members start dropping leflets through their neighbours doors. Take this campaign to the streets where you live - get your free poster and leaflets today. Together, we are making sure that everyone undertands that the NHS staff are hugely opposed to these changes. Its been a long campaign and we have done a huge amount together so far - but the NHS is too precious for us to give in now. Lets keep up the pressure.

Marie Campbell - 38 Degrees

FOLLOWING THE LAUNCH OF THE NPC'S DIGNITY CODE LAST WEEK PLEASE SUPPORT THE LOBBY ON MARCH 20TH 2012

The NPC are now making plans for the next stage of their FAIR CARE CAMPAIGN

with a national lobby. 

Following the tremendous launch of the NPC's Dignity Code last week, we are now making plans for the next stage of our Fair Care Campaign with a national lobby planned for March 20th, 1-3 pm, in Committee Room 14. We have confirmed that the speakers will include: -

Margaret Hodge MP, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (who recently did a report into Southern Cross), Baroness Greengross from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (who recently did a report into home care services), Liz Kendall (shadow care minister), Allison Roche Unison, and Dot Gibson, NPC General Secretary. Care Minister Paul Burstow has also been invited to speak.

Anyone wishing to attend should request a ticket from the NPC Office. This allows the NPC to keep a check on the numbers attending and ensures that everyone gets a seat. Please encourage your members to attend this very important event,

Neil Duncan-Jordan National Officer NPC

PLEASE LOBBY THE LORDS OVER INCREASING PRIVATE WORK IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE

The Health and Social Care Bill has now entered the last stages of its passage through the House of Lords.

The Government's controversial Health and Social Care Bill is now in the last stages of its passage through the House of Lords. Over the next weeks, Peers will be debating amendments to the Bill before voting on it. It's our last real opportunity to get significant changes made to measures, which could break up and sell off parts of our health service.

One crucial area of concern is the proposal to lift the Private Patient Income Cap. This would allow NHS hospitals to switch priorities and take on a greater proportion of private paying patients - making up to 49% of all income. This change threatens to push NHS patients to the back of the queue for treatment, as hospitals under pressure to make savings try to boost private income. Waiting lists could soar as those able to pay to jump the queue have greater opportunity to do so.

The Lords are due to debate three amendments to the Bill, which seek to stop the raising of the Private Patient Income Cap. I've just taken action to "adopt" and write to a member of the House of Lords, asking them to vote for the amendments.

You can use Going to Work's "Adopt a Peer" tool to easily write or email a Peer. they are not as used to individual lobbying as MP's, so receiving personal contacts from members of the public will really get their attention.

http://action.goingtowork.org.uk/privatepatientcap

From Bob Mitchell