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Liverpool Labour
Group to hold demonstration against the Health and Social Care Bill
THE Liverpool Labour Group
have organised a demonstration against the Coalition Government’s
Health & Social Care Bill. Local Councillors & Members of Parliament
will be joined by Shadow Secretary of State for Health, Andy Burnham
MP, at a demonstration against the Health & Social Care Bill. The
Royal Liverpool Hospital will provide the backdrop for the
demonstration, as NHS staff team up with trade union members and
Labour Party campaigners to voice their opposition at the
Government’s plans. The demonstration is to be held on Friday, 27
January 2012, from 11am to 2pm. At the demonstration we will be
speaking to the public about the effects the Health Bill will have
on their service. The Bill is now in the Report stage in the House
of Lords, and the debate will begin again in February 2012. Under
the proposals, private patients could be allowed to take up almost
half of the 2,400 beds currently reserved for NHS patients across
Liverpool. This means over 1,200 NHS beds could go to private
patients. A senior Liverpool doctor has also slammed the
Government’s proposals. Dr Richard Wenstone, a doctor at the Royal,
has said that the threat posed to NHS services across the country by
the Government’s proposals is severe. Dr Richard Wenstone
said:- "I know that everyone here in the Royal Hospital, from
managers to staff, and doctors and nurses, will work as hard we can
to keep as many of its beds as possible available to NHS patients.
But not every hospital is like the Royal. In other hospitals across
the rest of the country, NHS patients will find themselves sent to
the back of the queue, at hospitals which are allowed to open up
almost half of their beds to private health care providers. I know
that doctors all over the country are worried that the NHS isn’t
safe in the Government’s hands. I am deeply concerned at the
proposals which the Government are putting forwards, and I will join
this demonstration to demand that Cameron and Clegg stop messing
with our NHS."
Cllr Joe Anderson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said:-
"We used to warn about privatisation by the back door. But this is
privatisation by the front door. Very simply, the Tories and Lib
Dems. want to turn our hospitals into businesses, where profit will
take priority. Those patients who can afford private health care
will be given priority for almost half of the space in our
hospitals, leaving the other half to everyone else. This will make
waiting lists longer for NHS patients. It will threaten the elderly,
the sick and those who need health care. It will undermine the basic
principles of an NHS which is free at the point of use for everyone,
regardless of their ability to pay."
Labour councillor Jake Morrison, who works as a health care
assistant in a Liverpool hospital also added:- "I called for
this demonstration to be held because these reckless plans will
effect people in this City. The NHS will be 64 years old this year,
we must ensure that the Tories don’t make it the last. We must stand
up against these reforms before it’s too late. It’s clear that the
NHS is not safe in the hands of Tory-Lib Dem ministers. I’ve got
first hand experience of the world class care the NHS offers to
people across Liverpool. I’ve seen waiting lists reduced under the
previous Labour Government, and there are more doctors and nurses
helping people now than there ever have been. I know how much people
in Liverpool cherish their NHS. It belongs to the people of this
city, and all of us rely on it at some point in our lives. But the
Government is paying no attention to these people. Vulnerable people
in this city will suffer because of this Government’s reckless
plans. Their plans will push NHS patients to the back of the queue,
and will let private patients in first to try and maximise their
income to make up for Government cuts to their budgets. I am calling
on people across Liverpool to make their voices heard, and help to
defend our NHS. Labour has launched a petition, at:-
dropthebill.com, where Liverpool’s
people can sign up to help us defend our NHS from the Tory-Lib Dem
privatisation plan."
Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, Andy Burnham MP, commented:-
"This surprise move, sneaked out just before Christmas, is the
clearest sign yet of David Cameron's determination to turn our
precious NHS into a US-style commercial system, where hospitals are
more interested in profits than people. With NHS hospitals able to
devote half of their beds to private patients, people will begin to
see how our hospitals will never be the same again if Cameron's
Health Bill gets through Parliament. This free-market NHS
re-organisation opens the door to an explosion of private work in
the NHS, meaning longer waits for NHS patients. It takes us straight
back to the bad old days of the Tory NHS, when the only choice
patients had was to wait longer or pay to go private. Andrew Lansley
was forced to reveal this 50% figure in an attempt to calm nerves in
the Lords about his Health Bill. But, in doing so, he has only
succeeded in bringing home to the public the full implications of
his dangerous and flawed plans. What other free-market plans has he
got in mind hat he's not telling us about? Time is running out for
the NHS but it's not late. If public and professions stand together,
we can stop this Americanisation of the NHS. If people want to do
one thing to help the NHS this Christmas, they should take just a
moment to sign the 'Drop the Bill' e-petition. Our arrogant Prime
Minister needs to be reminded that nobody voted for this
re-organisation and that he doesn't have a mandate to privatise
England's precious NHS."
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Banging the drum
for Chinese New Year
LIVERPOOL’S Chinese New
Year celebrations are just around the corner and organisers want
residents to unleash the dragon within and get involved. For the 1st
time a Water Dragon will hit the city streets, taking over Bold
Street and the Ropewalks area as part of the festivities on Sunday,
22 January 2012.
Musical community organisation Urban Strawberry Lunch (USL), have
created the special water dragon, which is around three metres long
and made of old lanterns, fake fur, huge pipe cleaners and glitter
balls! They are asking people of all ages to get involved in what
will be called the Urban Ritual part of the parade, by bringing
something they can play; from old pots and pans to hand held
portable drums; giving a musical accompaniment to the performance!
There are short rehearsals taking place at 2pm on Friday, 20 January
2012 and Saturday, 21 January 2012, at St Luke’s Church, or people
are welcome to turn up at the church with their music making
utensils at 1.30pm on the Sunday.
Ambrose Reynolds, Artistic Director for USL, said:- "We love
Chinese New Year. It’s one of those rare times when the whole city
can gather together to celebrate. We’re really looking forward to
people getting involved with the Urban Water Dragon parade too –
it’s our chance to bring a bit of Dragon magic to Bold Street and
have a bit of fun at the same time!"
Celebrations will take place between 11am and 4pm in the China town
area including Nelson Street, Berry Street, Great George Street and
Great George Square where at 1pm there will be a firecracker
display. For the first time many performers will then move to Bold
Street to perform outside the Chinese-related businesses.
The Water Dragon will entertain the crowds before and after the
spectacular lion, dragon and unicorn parade, which takes place along
Nelson Street and Bury Street just after 1pm.
The hugely successful Taste of China street market will also return
be on a much larger scale than 2011 – with over 45 food &
craft stalls taking over Great George Street.
Liverpool city council’s cabinet member for culture and tourism,
Councillor Wendy Simon, said:- "Chinese New Year is one of the
highlights of our events calendar and it’s wonderful to see part of
the city centre taken over by the sights and smells of China! Bold
Street is taking part in the celebrations for the first time, which
I’m sure will mean thousands more people will join together to wish
the Chinese community a healthy and happy new year."
Around 15,000 people are expected to take part in the festivities
against the magnificent backdrop of Europe’s biggest Chinese arch on
Nelson Street.
For more information about taking part in the Water Dragon parade,
call:- 0771 432 8415.
As a consequence of the event, and in the interests of public
safety, there will be a significant number of roads closed in the
area. General pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.
Road closures are as follows:-
Tai Chi Demonstrations take place from 8am on the 20 January 2012 to
8pm on the 23 January 2012, so road closure will take place on Hardy
Street from its junction with Great George Street to its junction
with Grenville Street South. Also from 8am on the 21 January 2012 to
8pm on the 22 January 2012, Nelson Street (entire length) will be
closed.
Chinese New Year Celebrations take place from 6am up to and
including 8pm on the 22 January 2012, on Great George Street, from
its junction with St. James Street to its junction with Duke Street
and Duke Street from its junction with Great George Street to its
junction with Kent Street. Plus Upper Duke Street, from its junction
with Great George Street to its junction with Rodney Street and
Berry Street, from its junction with Bold Street to its junction
with Duke Street. Road closures are also taking place on Nelson
Street, from its junction with Great George Street to its junction
with Upper Pitt Street. Grenville Street South (from its junction
with Bailey Street to its junction with Cornwalis Street), Sankey
Street (entire length), Griffiths Street (entire length), Seel
Street, from its junction with Colquitt Street to its junction with
Berry Street. Back Berry Street (entire length), Knight Street, from
its junction with Berry Street to its junction with Rodney Street),
Roscoe Street, from its junction with Leece Street to its junction
with Upper Duke Street, Bold Place (entire length), Roscoe Lane
(entire length), Back Knight Street (entire length), Cookson Street
(entire length), Pitt Street (entire length), York Street (entire
length), Raffles Street (entire length), Bold Street (from its
junction with Berry Street to its junction with Newington).
The road closure are also taking place from 8am up to & including
8pm on the 22 January 2012 on Duke Street, from Great George Street
at its junction with Hanover Street.
Alternative Route will be via either Leece Street, Hardman Street,
Myrtle Street, Catherine Street, Upper Parliament Street and Great
George Street; or Upper Parliament Street, Grove Street, Oxford
Street, Mount Pleasant, Rodney Street or Clarence Street to follow
other locally signed diversion routes.
All closures will be signed and staffed. They will remain in force
for the duration stipulated in the 'Special Event Temporary
Traffic Regulation Order' or such lesser time as indicated
by the completion of the event. |
