PETER Hanson is right to be concerned about the back-door privatisation of the NHS, (Questions on NHS changes, Comment, January 16). There will not be a 'Tell Sid' mass share issue since no one would buy shares in a RD&E hospital plc or similar.
What is happening is that a lot of small contracts are going out to tender. Sometimes these are won by other organisations within the NHS, sometime the winners are community interest companies or co-operatives.
More sinister are various multi-national capitalist companies who are there to make a profit. The cost of tendering is such that it favours these companies. There is no hard evidence that these arrangements are more efficient than direct labour. It suits the neo-liberal economic dogma of the three big political parties in the Westminster village.
An effective way of fighting this trend is emerging. Some years ago Dr Richard Taylor of Kidderminster was elected as an independent MP over a hospital closure in that town. He has now formed the National Health Action Party to fight the 2015 General Election by putting up about 50 candidates in marginal constituencies.
This will influence policymakers in the big three parties. Here in Devon the most obvious marginal constituency is Newton Abbot but there are also two in Plymouth. Thus a party needs to be organised locally to fight this seat. The minimum cost is about £2,000. The deposit is £500 and the £1,500 will cover the cost of printing leaflets for the free delivery that is paid out of the public funds at General Elections. The best source for this money is the stream of funds that flow into the various medical charities, including the charitable funds of NHS political purposes. Thus it is crucial that these donations are not made in the first place. There is a need for upstanding citizens to come together to get organised. If those interested could write to me at 33 Sheppard Road, Exeter EX4 5DD I will see what can be done in Newton Abbot, not necessarily by electors in that constituency.Paul Gibbons
Exeter
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