Outcry over casualisation of nursing work

The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee today warned of the dangers of increasing use of agency nurses within the NHS. In a trend being replicated throughout the UK economy, decent, secure jobs are being replaced with temporary or agency work, and nurses and patients are paying the price. Many NHS managers find it more convenient to book temporary nursing staff to deal with short term peaks in demand and holidays, and then get rid of these workers when demand is not so great. Agency workers can also be denied basic benefits such as holiday pay, and agency bosses attempt to save even more money by not providing their staff with necessary training – according to the committee 39% have not received basic life support training and 41% have not been trained in infection control.

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A workers’ guide to Foundation Trusts

An article I wrote for the most recent issue of ‘Direct Action’ magazine (www.direct-action.org.uk) to shed some light on the plans for all hospitals and even PCTs to undergo transition to ‘Foundation Trust’ status, one of the government’s current weapons of choice in the privatisation by stealth of the NHS and the cuts to jobs and services which go with it. The information fed to health workers by hospital managers keen to achieve foundation status is extremely misleading – find out the things they don’t want you to know here.

The great Northampton General Hospital ‘lie in’

Historical article adapted from the ‘Northampton Healthworker’ newsletter. I think it highlights well how the introduction of market forces into the NHS is in reality a disguised form of rationing, which can and does have devastating consequences for those who can’t afford to go private. It also shows, however, that it is nothing new, and can be resisted very effectively if healthcare workers and users get together and stick up for ourselves.

Why healthcare workers rather than professionals?

I started this site to try and develop an association/network that would have :

* A radical analysis of how healthcare is provided in the UK
* A class analysis, whilst also having a critique of the other ways we are divided, oppressed including according to sex/gender and sexuality, age, race, physical ability, legal status.
* A position on the ongoing privatisation of the NHS as well as a vision for how things could be.
* Solidarity and support for healthcare workers within UK and internationally.