THANET TELLS CAMERON WHAT WE THINK ABOUT THE CUTS

CAMERON TO FACE CARNIVAL AGAINST THE CUTS David Cameron will be met by a “Carnival Against the Cuts” when he comes to Canterbury on March 21st. Campaigning groups, including East Kent Keep Our NHS Public group, Canterbury And Whitstable Stop The Cuts, and Anti-Cuts Thanet, supported by the Public and Commercial Services Union, UNISON, GMB E23 and many others, are teaming up to confront the Prime Minister when he attends the investiture of the new Archbishop of Canterbury. Local NHS and anti-cuts campaigner Helen Lewarne is calling on the people of Kent to come to Canterbury to make their voices heard. She said: “Wherever Cameron goes he has been met with huge protests. Let’s make sure the people of Kent have their voices heard, adding to the chorus of protest across the nation against the unnecessary victimisation of ordinary families and the most vulnerable members of our society”. In particular the carnival campaigners plan to highlight the impact of the Health and Social Care legislation which comes into force April. Bunny la Roche of East Kent Keep Our NHS public said: “The legislation will cause the fragmentation of the NHS under multiple private providers whose primary allegiances will be to their shareholders. We will see an increase in post-code lottery provision of health care and it will not be long before it will be necessary for, those who can afford it, to take out private health care insurance. “With increasing unemployment and poverty rates soaring, many people will be unable to afford private health insurance. The health of the nation may well return to pre- war standards. “ But campaigners will also be protesting against the Government’s cuts to other public services and to welfare benefits, including the proposed “bedroom tax” which will take effect after 1st April. Said Bunny: “Here in east Kent a fifth of children and young people are living in poverty. Families are unable to even provide food for their children as is demonstrated by the appearance of food banks in our communities. There are already food banks in Medway, Thanet and Canterbury with plans to set up another one in Whitstable. The poorest people in the country are being made to suffer for the bankers’ crisis.” The carnival will take place outside Canterbury Cathedral in the Buttermarket at 11 am on 21st March. Said Bunny: “Street musicians are welcome to join us and anyone who wants to dress up for the occasion. We would encourage people to bring whistles, drums. Let’s make sure our message to David Cameron is loud and clear.” For more information, please ring 07939268962 or 07947424505, email us at eastkentkonp@gmail.com or find us on facebook at East Kent Keep Our NHS Public.

"SAVE OUR NHS" EVENT SATURDAY 11.30AM, RAMSGATE TOWN CENTRE

An event to call for the protection of the NHS in Thanet is being held in Ramsgate Town Centre at 11.30am this Saturday September 22.

The event is being called by the Broadstairs based group Save Our Health Service in association with Thanet Trades Union Council and Anti-Cuts Thanet.

Christine Tongue of Save Our Health Service said: “There are increasing worries over cuts in services in QEQM hospital and the coming changes to GP practices and other health services across Thanet.”

She added: “This is a chance for people to come together and register their concerns.  We still don’t know how much will be cut in the services we rely on, but we know that there will be cuts. The less noise we make the deeper the cuts will be.

“The danger is that unless we stand up and be counted now, it will be too late.”

Christine won’t say exactly what will be happening on the day, but says it will involve a hospital bed.

More details ring Christine on 01843 604 253 

FIRST PROTEST IN KENT HELD AGAINST HEALTH SERVICE CHANGES

MOUNTING COMPLAINTS AGAINST COMPANY WHICH TOOK OVER BROADSTAIRS HEALTH CENTRE

Angry patients are planning the first protest against changes to health services outside Broadstairs Health Centre at 2pm tomorrow, Tuesday June 19.

The protest comes after it was revealed that the health centre currently has no full time GPs to serve over 7,000 patients.

The protest has been called by Save Our Health Service, a new campaigning group, which has been formed to safeguard health services in Thanet.

Local film-maker, Christine Tongue, who is a patient with the practice, says the protest comes following the centre’s takeover by Concordia Health Ltd, a private company who own a string of practices in London and one in Dover.

“Two popular GPs left following the coming of Concordia. But Concordia assured us that they were replacing these GPS and that the level of care would not be affected and that in fact the level of service would be improved.

“Now we discover we have no full time GPs and the practice manager has resigned. And there are ongoing difficulties in making appointments.

“They claim to be in the middle of recruiting more GPs – but who’s to say they won’t leave, too?

“We’ve had masses of patients coming to us complaining about their treatment at the centre.

“We’ve even heard from the local pharmacy that there have been big problems with patients getting repeat prescriptions, some people even going without their medicines.”

“We are afraid this is the shape of things to come as the government’s new legislation kicks in  – and we want to stop it before it happens!”

More information from Christine Tongue on 01843 604 253.