22 January 2017
John Clarke, Green candidate for Frome West, writes:
Our NHS is facing a funding crisis - the Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which is responsible for acute and community health care in the county, have a £175m shortfall, with funding set to fall further over the next few years. We all rely on the NHS, yet the government are unwilling to provide it with
the vital funding it needs.
In response, the Somerset CCG has issued a Sustainability and Transformation plan (STP) setting out its plan to cut costs. While firm details are lacking, there are clear themes, including a reduction of hospital beds (both in acute wards and community hospitals), and more care at home. These raise worrying questions - will a reduction in hospital beds mean the closure of community hospitals, like Frome's? Who will provide care at home? Local authority adult care is being cut as Somerset County Council try to make savings to address their £17m deficit. Will the financial and emotional cost have to be carried by individuals and families? What of those who cannot afford the cost of care who rely in part on public funding?
The STP cannot address the core problem of underfunding of our most vital public service. Are we in fact seeing a deliberate strategy of underfunding the NHS to a point where it is not sustainable as a national health service free at the point of delivery? Why should the NHS be cut to the bone when the government is wasting billions on unnecessary Trident missile replacement (£31bn), vanity projects like the HS2 rail upgrade (£80bn), the Hinkley nuclear white elephant (£37bn) and failing to crack down on corporate tax avoidance (£7bn)? How do we respond? Organise and campaign against the threats to our NHS, challenge local cuts, resist continuing privatisation, hold health organisations to account. With increasing demands on NHS services, a small increase in taxation from those most able to afford it
could make universal healthcare secure in future decades. Nye Bevan, founder of the NHS, said "The NHS will last as long as there are folk left with faith to fight for it.." Are you willing to fight for our NHS?
'The Future of our NHS', a free public meeting, will be held on Tue 28th Feb 8pm at Christ Church School, Feltham Lane, Frome
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