May 2011 – Notts Save Our Services

Nottingham’s contribution to the 2011 ‘Spanish Revolution’ – next meet up 31st May

Beginning on May 15th, a wave of protests with a strong anti-austerity message swept across Spain, with demonstrations in around 60 cities with occupations of many town squares, as in North Africa and the Middle East. Rallies have continued despite being officially banned under Spain’s electoral law, and police repression. There have also been solidarity protests across the world, with several in the UK, including in Nottingham where a protest was held in the Market Square on Saturday 21st, plus a presence at this year’s Green Festival and a meeting forthcoming on 31st May, meeting at the Victoria Centre at 7.30pm ( Clock Tower entrance) and then to meeting venue.

Facebook event for May 31st: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=168930236499667

Pics of earlier local protests: http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/articles/1804

Background: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Spanish_protests

Brutal response by Police in Barcelona, 27/5/2011 : http://www.20minutos.tv/video/bmuvFKLO-brutalidad-en-la-plaza-de-cataluna/0/

Reports on Notts Uncut ‘Emergency Operation’ day of action for the NHS (28th May)

On Saturday 28th May, Notts Uncut organised an “emergency operation” in Nottingham city centre. They visited banks and tax dodging corporations to campaign in defence of the NHS. The protest was part of a national day of action called by UK Uncut. Read more: http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/articles/1814

See also: Eat the Rich! http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/articles/1811

Notts Uncut website: http://www.nottsuncut.co.uk/

Save Our NHS Day of Action in Nottingham & Notts: Saturday July 9th 2011

NEW: Facebook event page for the July 9th action: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=226031364093564

The campaign against the government’s plans for the NHS is at a
crossroads. Overwhelming opposition, from ordinary people, the BMA,
the NHS Federation, the RCN, the unions and even the Liberal Democrat
spring conference has forced them onto the back foot.

The “pause” to allow the government to “listen” has turned into a six
month delay for the Bill to be sent back to the committee stage in
Parliament. This is by no means the death of the Bill and everything
it entails, but it does give us more time to build the campaign
against it.

This is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss. We need to press home
our advantage and ensure the Bill is killed off and the government
told in no uncertain terms that we will not let them – or anybody else
– dismantle the NHS.

We are calling for coordinated action in defence of the NHS on July
9th, the Saturday after the anniversary of the NHS’ founding on July
5th 1948. Be creative: visit your local MP, protest against
profiteering healthcare companies, have a picnic outside a pro-Bill
GP’s surgery, march from or to a local hospital, shutdown a tax
dodging company for the day.

If you want to add your group as a supporter of this day of action,
please email nottssos+doa@gmail.com

Supported by:
Notts Save Our Services

and (so far)
Anarchist Federation (Nottingham group)
Disabled People Against Cuts
Nottingham Socialist Party
Notts Uncut
Save Hayward House Daycare
Sneinton Against the Cuts
Youth Fight for Jobs

ESOL students prepare to hand in petition – Friday 27th May

Nottingham ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) students are handing over their massive petition against hikes in their course fees to Lilian Greenwood MP this Friday 27th May at 3pm. Please go down and show your support. The fee increases mean that 84% of those currently learning English (including many refugees and asylum seekers) will not be able to carry on with classes from September. TIME AND PLACE – 3pm at Lilian Greenwood’s Office, 12 Regent Street, Nottingham, NG1 5BQ.

Gedling School closure protest continues – Open invitation to a rally on Tuesday 7th June

AN OPEN INVITATION from Save Gedling School

Hi All, We are holding a rally on the Tuesday 7th June at 5.30-6.30pm at the Gedling School. The intention is to hold a series of speeches
by staff, pupils past and present, parents, governors, councillors, and hopefully Vernon Coaker to express our desire to remain open and
serve the Gedling community. It is imperative that the LA are made aware of the feelings of the community. Hopefully we can seek media attention for this event.

The group would welcome any support and involvement, firstly, to promote the event and secondly, on the night itself.

Background: http://savegedlingschool.wordpress.com/ (also do a search on Notts SOS site for previous articles).

Reports on Pickets of NHS ‘Listening Exercise’ evenings, Tues 17th & Wed 18th May, Nottingham & Edwinstowe

notts sos stall nhs listening event 18 May 2011 — Nottingham NHS 'Listening Event' 18th May 2011

Reports on Pickets of NHS Listening Exercises

Nottingham, Wed 18th May 5.30-8.15pm

About 20 of Notts SOS turned out on 18th May to picket the NHS ‘Listening Exercise’ held at the Belgrave Rooms in the city. Placards and notices saying Kill the Bill, Bin the Bill, Hands Off Our NHS, Sickness is Not a Profit Making Industry, made our point clear. Many people arriving for the event stopped to look at our stall, pick up information and our newsletter and talk, and passing vehicles hooted their support. Our new printed waterproof banner with our name and logo on was ready for the event, and tied to the front of the stall. Some of us then went inside to join the exercise when it began at 6pm, but a presence was kept outside throughout and interested members of the public continued to stop and ask what it was all about.

The listening exercise was run jointly by Nottingham City and Nottingham County PCTs (Primary Care Trusts). Present were PCT staff, and Vicky Bailey who is a member of the government’s NHS Future Forum and chief officer of an existing GP consortium (Principia). The chair of the Future Forum, Prof. Steve Field, said earlier this week that the proposed NHS reforms were unworkable. The Nottingham meeting was overwhelmingly opposed to competition in the NHS and the use of private contractors. But the impression gained by the audience of about a hundred, was that the exercise was only concerned with making cosmetic changes to the underlying plan, and leaving the marketisation of the NHS untouched. Those present who left their names and addresses were promised that they would be sent a copy of the summary of opinion that will be forwarded to the Future Forum. No-one who attended could be left in any doubt that the public are overwhelmingly opposed to this government plan.

Edwinstowe, Tues 17th May

Bassettlaw and Notts SOS supporters also attended the listening event in Edwinstowe on the previous day and here is a report. There was a protest outside organised by the Bassetlaw group and gave out leaflet: SAVE OUR NHS FROM LANSLEY wearing their Robin Hood hats with ‘Robin Hood says Keep our NHS public’ and ‘Robin Hood says the NHS belongs to the people not big business’. About 100 people attended the listening event, mainly older people. There was considerable opposition to the Bill proposals particularly to the privatisation of the NHS. It was quite heated and people were keen to ask questions from the floor. The meeting was fronted by Zoe, the PCT Public Involvement Manager who was asked difficult questions and took the flack – apparently no one from the Future Forum had been able to attend. There was a presentation on what’s happening (with much interupting by questions) and then group work (based on the 4 topics in the Listening exercise) and feedback to the whole group. Responses will be collated and fed into the DH. There were no GPs or MPs present, as far as this reporter was aware. It was round table stuff – but every table reporting back made it quite clear privatisation was not an option and the reorganisation should be shelved. Note: Bassetlaw is not part of NHS County – it is joining up with Doncaster and Rotherham.

Forthcoming event: Saturday 21th May. Visit (and/or help with) Notts SOS health campaigning stall from 12-2pm in Market Square, Nottingham. There also will be an opportunity to sign a ‘Keep the NHS public’ petition.

If you would like to get more involved with Notts SOS and Save the NHS activities, do get in touch via our usual address (see https://nottssos.org.uk/contact/ ). You can be added to our announcements list. Alternatively consult the diary dates on this website and or subscribe to receive messages when they are posted to the website (fill in form on the right of the home page).

notts sos NHS listening event picket 18 May 2011 — Some of the Notts SOS placards at the Nottingham NHS Listening Event picket 18 May 2011

Nottingham anti-cuts diary dates in May and June 2011 – more being added so keep looking for updates!

Here are anti-cuts events coming up. Also take a look on the right for more details of Forthcoming Events, Comments and Twitter feed columns for more info, reports and comments. Join Notts SOS Facebook group at http://tinyurl.com/NottsSOS-FB or follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/NottsSOS

Anti-cuts diary dates in May and June 2011

Monday 16th. Save Hayward House Daycare Campaign Meeting. Carlton Fire Station, 7pm. Details: http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/events/1146

Opposing the NHS Reform Bill in Edwinstowe 17/05/2011

Tuesday, 17th May. NHS Healthcare Reform ‘listening’ event at Edwinstowe – 6pm to 8pm at South Forest Conference Centre, Edwinstowe, Mansfield, NG21 9JF. Details: http://www.mansfield.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4114.

Wednesday 18th May. Notts SOS stall and leafleting picket outside the local NHS “Listening” event to raise concerns about the Health and Social Care Bill. Belgrave Rooms, Goldsmith Street, Nottingham Wednesday 18th May, 5.30pm. To go inside you’ll need to book a place in advance through Katie Ford, Personal Secretary Communications & Engagement (NHS Notts Primary Care Trust) Tel: 01623 673333. Internal: 43333. E-mail: Katie.Ford@nottspct.nhs.uk.

Saturday 21th May. Visit (and/or help with) Notts SOS health campaigning stall from 12-2pm in Market Square, Nottingham. There also will be an opportunity to sign a ‘Keep the NHS public’ petition.

Sunday 22nd May, Green Festival, Arboretum, Nottingham, 12 noon to 6 pm. Visit Notts SOS stall.

Monday 23rd May. Notts SOS Planning meeting. Regular fortnightly meeting at the International Community Centre, Mansfield Road, Nottingham. 7.30pm until 9pm.

Friday 27th May. ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) students are handing over their massive petition against hikes in their course fees to Lilian Greenwood MP this Friday at 3pm. Please go down and show your support. The fee increases mean that 84% of those currently learning English (including many refugees and asylum seekers) will not be able to carry on with classes from September. TIME AND PLACE – 3pm at Lilian Greenwood’s Office, 12 Regent Street, Nottingham, NG1 5BQ.

Saturday 28th May. This is a callout from UK Uncut for a national day of action, this time focussing on NHs reforms. Nottingham Uncut are Meeting outside Parliament Street Boots at 12 noon. Details: http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/events/1771. See also Facebook event page: Notts Uncut Emergency Operation.

Tuesday 31st May. Spanish ‘Real Democracy’ meeting. Meet Victoria Centre Clock Tower to go to the meeting venue.

Saturday 4th June. Visit (and/or help with) Notts SOS health campaigning stall from 12-2pm in Market Square, Nottingham.

Monday 6th June. Notts SOS Planning meeting. Regular fortnightly meeting at the International Community Centre, Mansfield Road, Nottingham. 7.30pm until 9pm.

Tuesday 7th June. Rally at Gedling School to oppose the closure. Open invitation. 5.30-6.30pm. Details: https://nottssos.org.uk/2011/05/19/gedling-school-closure-protest-continues-open-invitation-to-a-rally-on-tuesday-7th-june/

Tuesday 14th June. The proposed closure of Hayward House daycare has now to be examined by the Joint Health Scrutiny Committee of Nottingham and Notts. The meeting at which HH will be on the agenda starts 10.15am in room LB41, Loxley House (Nottingham City Council, near side entrance of Nottingham station, Station Street). Written submissions (please make one) are needed by 23rd May. Details: http://www.savehaywarddaycare.org.uk/

Monday 20th June. Notts SOS Planning meeting. Regular fortnightly meeting at the International Community Centre, Mansfield Road, Nottingham. 7.30pm until 9pm.

Thursday 30th June – Coordinated strike action by NUT/UCU/ATL/PCS unions and support activities. March, Market Square demonstration and conference (Albert Hall), all in Nottingham. Coaches from Notts. Details forthcoming.

Notts Uncut ‘field trip’ report and forthcoming action on 28th May 2011

Nott Uncut Field trip report – Lincoln

See also Notts Uncut Newsletter no. 2, May/June 2011: http://nottingham.indymedia.org/zines/1766

On Saturday 7th May Notts Uncut jumped on the train to Lincoln to support a brand new Uncut group. We met to Lincoln contingent and a large welcoming committee formed by the Lincolnshire constabulary and their camera crew. Undeterred we made our way from the station to the first tax avoider on our list – BHS. We held a short information session there and talked to the staff and shoppers in BHS about Phillip Green’s generosity to his wife (who conveniently lives in the tax haven Monaco).

We then made our way through the streets of Lincoln carrying our youngest uncutter aloft with his own version of the Magna Carta – Tax Magna Carta & Bankers Bill – to emulate the historical event of the Magna Carta being carried through Lincoln many years ago. We visited many of our familiar favourites in Lincoln including Dorothy Perkins, NatWest, Lloyds TSB, Boots, Barclays and Vodafone, stopping on the way to say a huge hurrah and thank you to the wonderful Lush and their owner Mark Constantine for the support he has offered to the UK Uncut protesters arrested in Fortnum and Mason on March 26th.

Lincoln has the beginnings of a fantastic uncut movement with loads of imagination, ideas and creativity. Thanks for having us guys!!

Report previously posted on Nottingham Indymedia: http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/other_medias/1764

The next action on 28th May is in planning stages. This is a callout from UK Uncut for a national day of action.

Meeting outside Parliament St Boots at 12 noon, 28th May 2011

Notts Uncut are answering UK Uncut’s call for a national day of action with a fantastic day of fun, frolics and street theatre!!

Boo the greedy bankers as they pocket more and more of the money which should be paying for our public services. Hiss Andrew Lansley as he takes apart the NHS piece by piece.

“The NHS will last as long as there are folk left to fight for it.” – Nye Bevan, founder of the NHS

“Andrew Lansley. Greedy Andrew Lansley. Tosser.” – MC NxtGen, Watch the Andrew Lansley Rap on YouTube.

This is an emergency. The welfare state is in peril. Under the guise of ‘efficiency’ and ‘reform’, this government is plotting to cut the NHS and sell off what’s left. Andrew Lansley has claimed the government is in a ‘listening exercise’ about the proposed NHS ‘reforms’. But despite widespread outcry from doctors, nurses and the public the government isn’t listening to anyone apart from private healthcare lobbyists.

Let’s make Lansley listen. We want to keep our healthy NHS and fix our broken banking system. Whilst the NHS is being dismantled, the banks that caused this crisis in the first place have been left untouched. Reckless gambling, obscene bonuses and a global financial crisis are symptoms of a disease that requires a drastic intervention.

The banks are due a check-up. On Saturday May 28th, join UK Uncut’s Emergency Operation and transform one of Nottingham’s high street banks into a hospital. Tell the government to leave our NHS alone; it’s the banks that are sick.

We may turn HSBC into a hospital or fill Natwest with nurses. We might have to get bandaged in Barclays or operate in RBS. Join Notts Uncut on the 28th and let’s do our best for OUR NHS.

Nottingham Indymedia event listing for May 28th action http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/events/1771.

Campaign saves Hayward House Daycare in Nottingham!

Hayward House Daycare is on the site of Nottingham City Hospital and provides essential drop-in care for cancer sufferers but was going to be closed via the Primary Care Trust at extremely short notice. The campaign Save Hayward House Daycare just been told (at the end of last week) that DAYCARE IS NOW NOT CLOSING and that patients have been given letters of apology from the NHS.

The details are still unclear, and we don’t know if/when referrals will recommence or whether there will be any substantial changes. It is possible that patients with other life-limiting illnesses will in future be referred to Hayward House too, to be treated by experts in palliative care for cancer patients, thus reducing the number of cancer patients receiving the treatment. If so, we don’t know whether there will be any increase in staffing.

Campaigners are mighty relieved, but still wary. And angry. We want to find out who was responsible for the very serious distress that was caused to current patients. The campaign is therefore continuing and will still meet on Monday (May 16th) evening at Carlton Fire Station (7pm start), and we hope to be able to issue a proper press release after that.

We’d all like to say an enormous thanks to everyone who has supported this campaign, and urge you not to go to sleep yet, as we are still unsure of future plans. But thanks to all. If you have any filled petition sheets, we’d like to have them back as they will strengthen our voice when talking to the NHS – please send them to the address on the bottom of the sheet.

This campaign has been self-organised by patients, carers and volunteers. Save Hayward House Daycare

VERY IMPORTANT: JOINT HEALTH SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

The proposed closure of Hayward House daycare has to be examined by the Joint Health Scrutiny Committee, which combines both City and County Councillors. The meeting at which HH will be on the agenda is on June 14th (starting at 10.15am in room LB41, Loxley House). The role of the Committee is to consider:

Whether, as a statutory body, the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee has been properly consulted within the consultation process.

Whether, in developing the proposals for service changes, the health body concerned has taken into account the public interest through appropriate patient and public involvement and consultation.

Whether a proposal for changes is in the interests of the local health service.

The Committee can then make recommendations on the basis of what it hears. The Committee has the power to refer the matter to the Secretary of State for Health either where it believes that consultation with patients, and the public has not been satisfactory or where they consider that a proposal of an NHS body is not in the interests of the health service in the area. Where a referral has been made, the Secretary of State may send the referral back to the NHS (in effect, the SHA) for local resolution or may ask the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) to advise him on the matter. The IRP has been set up to provide expert advice on proposed NHS reconfigurations or significant service change. The IRP believes that local determination is the best solution and, before accepting a referral, will wish to be satisfied that all options for local resolution have been fully explored.

The Committee’s response will depend on the evidence that it hears at the meeting on June 14th.

Written submissions are essential. All submissions will need to be received by May 23rd, so that the committee section have time to turn these into a report for the Chairs Briefing on May 25th.

All Submissions need to go to Kim Pocock ( Scrutiny Co-ordinator ), Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham, NG2 3NG.

So if you feel that the PCT’s decision to close HH daycare does not pass any of the above tests, 1, 2 and 3, then please send in a submission.