March 2021
Posted in 2021 notices, Front page
We regret to announce that Patsy Pillay, our joint president died in February aged 96. Here she is on the left enjoying a party with Pamela Jefferys about 4 years ago. Find her obituary on page 2 of the March Bulletin. Our Joint President, John Boshier, gives his condolences.
The film originally shown at our HPAG meeting in September 2019 is her story that can be viewed at https://youtu.be/W_r8geQJ2-4. The last 19 minutes of her activity here in Muswell Hill was shown at the HPAG meeting.
The March Bulletin is here.
Protect the NHS:
‘Under Cover of Covid’ important changes are barely announced, such as the invitation to comment upon the white paper to be debated in parliament in April. Our group rejected the proposals that would transform the NHS, allowing Integrated Care Systems to take a major role, with increased privatisation. Together with Haringey Keep Our NHS Public we advise councillors and MPs to argue against the proposals. Here is sample letter that you could use to write to both your MP and to councillors.
Do you want St Ann’s Road Surgery run by a US company?
Privatisation of GP Surgeries in North Central London
As reported in Islington and Camden newspapers and in the BMJ, of the takeover of 50 GP practices by a US healthcare firm in North Central London. Operose Health is a subsidiary of the US Company Centene. Thus the American health insurance company, CENTRENE, has now taken over 49 local surgeries in 19 London boroughs, affecting over 370,000 patients. At least 6 of these surgeries are in the North Central London area. They include: In Haringey St Ann’s Surgery; in Islington Hanley Primary Care Centre N4; Mitchison Road Surgery N1; in Camden Kings Cross Surgery, St Pancras Hospital, Somers Town Medical Centre, Brunswick Medical Centre.
The decision to hand over the running of the practices was taken in what is considered a covert manner by the North Central Commissioning Group(CCG) without local councils being informed. This is a disgraceful, underhand way to manage our NHS. We want private health care OUT of our NHS.
What can be done
- Information and Petition https://weownit.org.uk/act-now/stop-sell-49-gp-practices
- A public meeting is being held on 16th March at 4.00 – 5.30p.m. https://www.facebook.com/events/426257558650374/ Jeremy Corbyn MP, Dr Louise Irvine, Councillor Nurullah Turan (Islington), Councillor Roger Robinson (Camden), a Unison rep and Shirley Franklin will address the meeting. There will be plenty of time for participants to ask questions and make suggestions.
ZOOM MEETING: Details https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87254179080
Meeting ID: 872 5417 9080
Passcode: 446892
