Brent Feelsthe Brunt

Scan page 8

Problems -ana POlIC SOCIALIST ORGANISER has argued for a fight by the few workers are aware of their implications. labour movement and Labour Councils against cuts and rate so much by "opening" the books but by taking steps to mak CAN THE government: and it's easy to pick on items, like arms spend- The immediate demand is for more money from central setting out to draw the facts to the attention of the trade the figures accessible and intelligible to workers, and by ing, that it could come from. But there's more wrong with the system of local government services and finance than jus the bargaining balance between councils and central govern- ings on council estates could be approached, the situation explained, and support built up for demands of nationalisWhen councils get the money, somewhere around a third atian alongside a strengthened opposition to cuts or rate/ of it (varying from council to council) goes on interest rent increases. Particular suppliers or contractors could be charges. This drain could be stopped by nationalising the 'targeted' for closer scrutiny, involving the trade unions banks and financial institutions, putting the entire credit covering that industry - and the profits, deals, and financial system under public control, and providng interest-tree links of such firms highlighted by campaigns.

Another drain - more difficult to put figures to - is the public services and "overpaid" council employees could be turned around, to expose the profiteers feeding off the work The demand for nationalisation without compensation of the drug companies which leech the National Health Service has gained more and more support in recent years. Why not council services - housing, education, libraries, roads, social the same for educational suppliers, and for the building services, etc. - have to come from somewhere. The present system of local government finance ensures that a big chunk Of course if such demands are simply confined to election of them comes from the meagre amount that working class speeches and left abstract they will not grab the imagination people have in their pockets after producing profits for the or mobilise the support of the working class.

But there is no need to leave them vague. Councils are obliged by law to publish their accounts - and circulate them cannot raise the rates on big business property without also in some form of 'balance sheet" to ratepayers each year along hitting domestic ratepayers land small businesses!. with increased rate/rent demands. The figures, however, are.

Health care decimated in Brent and Coventry;

housing, the hardest-hit but maybe the least noticed of cuts.

This week's centre page surveys som examples of the devastation caused by the cuts -and the fight back.

BRENT, in common with most other Health Authorities, is suffering the latest round of Tory cuts. This time they're asking for about £1 million off the local health budget.

For Brent this means one hospital closure. Leaming- ( ton Park, which has 95 t geriatric beds, one casualty i lepartment in another ocal hospital and a series if cuts that will further educe the quality of care or the mentally ill.

Brent Community Health Jouncil acted quickly when hese cuts were announced n November. At an emertive of turning to local' constituency Labour Parties for support.

At Coventry South West there was a ready response.

We are now discussing plans for a public meeting to start a campaign of mass publicity. gency meeting we passed a resolution opposing all the cuts. This was backed up by a resolution put through Brent Council supporting our position and offering practical help with money for leaflets and posters to start a campaign to fight back locally.

Through well organised street leafleting and raising the issue in the local Labour Party wards and at the General Committee, we got a packed public meeting at the Town Hall of local people and health workers.

Many of the health workers. had been toid nothing about the cuts by management and none of the local people had been consulted.

A steering group representing the unions, community groups and the CHC was then set up to organise a lobby and demonstration the District Health Authority meeting the following month when the vote was to be taken about the cuts.

The lobby and demonstration was well supported and over 100 angry people caused a lot of disruption and told the Health Authority what they thought of the cuts and the Tory government but the vote was lost.

Strong The Brent campaign is still strong. We will fight the closure of Leamington Park Hospital. We continue to have open meetings at the CHC and are producing a regular bulletin to make sure the issues are not. forgotten about. The Steering Committee is strong and determined, with good links with the unions, the community and sympathetic members of the Health Authority.

However, we heard last week that we are not just fighting local cuts. The four Regional Health Authoritrises. But what's the alternative?

ment.

loans for public projects.

profits of suppliers and contractors.

industry? les that cover London have plans to decimate the NHS in the Inner London areas. Places like Brent and Hackney will lose hospitals and hundreds of beds.

In these areas primary health care is very poor, with elderly GPs who won't retire and hardly even do home visits especially in the night, shortages of Health Visitors and district nurses. Women are increasingly being used as substitute nurses caring for sick children and the elderly relatives at home because there are less and less services.

The North West Regional Health Authority is already questioning the future of Brent's District General Hospital (Central Middlesex). If this hospital closes or even only changes use there will be no beds for sick children in Brent.

It is no good pretending that Brent CHC can fight this lot on our own. We are PI witnessing the beginning of the end for the NHS. The Tories plans for selling off catering, laundry and cleaning services in many hospitals are well advanced. A Government circular will be sent out soon advising Health Authorities on privatisation of these services.

The labour movement's record on the Politics of Health is not very good. Separate campaigns come and go, fighting local cuts and hospital closures, but there has been very attempt to challenge and change the power structure of DHAs and Regional Health Authorities.

They are accountable to no one, many members are appointed by Health Ministers and anyway the full time officials run the show picking up salaries three times bigger than an ordinary health worker.

There is little discussion in the labour movement ies union and labour movement.

L-bell-.

ing class in the area.

bosses. about the kind of Health Service we need and want.

We know what really makes us ill - poverty, stress, unemployment, junk food, poor housing, pollution, dangerous working conditions. Millions of pounds spent on high technology medicine have only a marginal effect on the health of ordinary working people.

We have all the statistics we need to prove it. The Black Report (Inequalities in Health) two years ago, stated once and for all that working class people suffer more ill health and disease and die earlier than other social classes.

We need to fight together to defend, democratise and extend the NHS as a Health Service planned to meet the needs of ordinary people, so that we all have an equal chance for health.

Jean Spray Chairperson, Brent CHC In a personal capacity

----- pull-quotes -----

- aM presented in confusing and complex fashion- meaning that defend existing local government autonomy against moves by Cuts

ind mean loss of jobs, particularly in our hospital