Stop the NHS Bill - Sign the Petition - Link here

Please find my Press Release below to the Grantham Journal and Stamford Mercury regarding Labour Councillor support of the campaign to stop the NHS Bill

PRESS RELEASE

Labour Councillors are urging local residents to join the national campaign to stop the Governments plans to radically transform our NHS.

The NHS Bill which will cost an estimated £2bn* to implement, includes proposals to:-

• handover 60% of our NHS Budget of £106bn to GPs
• will encourage GPs, using financial incentives, to "ration" patient care; remove national standards creating a postcode lottery;
• water down measurement of NHS patient waiting times whilst removing the cap on private patient care, resulting in increased waiting times for NHS patients
• will penalise hospitals which collaborate on patient care rather than compete with each other.

An online petition is underway to encourage the Government to re-think before it is too late: http://www.campaignengineroom.org.uk/drop-the-bill?action=2

Councillor Charmaine Morgan Chair Labour Group and Chair SOS Grantham Hospital says:

'We are already seeing long queues in Lincoln A&E and significant pressure on ambulance staff who have increased ferrying of patients between local hospitals as a result of changes to our A&E services. Every mile travelled in an emergency puts a patients life further at risk.

As Grantham grows it is all the more important we have a fully operational A&E unit and we must not lose sight of the need to improve our Maternity and Paediatric (Children's) Services. The proposals in the NHS Bill combined with financial cuts will put more strain on our services but make it harder for us to monitor.'

Labour Group Leader Councillor Ian Selby says "We also urge people to write to Nick Boles MP and tell him what you think".

The South Kesteven District Council Labour Group of Councillors includes:-

Ian Selby - Group Leader

Charmaine Morgan - Group Chair

Rob Shorrock,

Bruce Wells,

Alan Davidson

Mark Ashberry

Phil Dilkes

Councillor Charmaine Morgan can be contacted on 01476 574748 for anyone wanting more details about the campaign.

Cllr Charmaine Morgan (Labour)
St Anne's Ward
South Kesteven District Council