This branch is appalled that privatisation is already hitting our GP surgeries without any consultation. We note Prof. Allyson Pollock’s recent warning that 49 GP surgeries would suddenly be under the control of  “Integrated Care Systems” (ICSs) run by an American health insurance corporation called Centene (In Islington, Hanley Rd. And Mitchison Rd. GPs)
The aim of these ICSs is both to centralise and to save spending (especially on “frail, vulnerable” and elderly patients), de-skill professional health jobs,cut staff training, conditions and contracts
ICSs mean a major re-organisation of the NHS into 42 regions, under cover of the Covid pandemic. It will rid our government of  the local CCGs (Clinical Commissioning Groups) – made up largely of  medically-qualified locals. ICSs also mean an end to our local councillors’ ability to refer back  decisions to the Tory Gvt which our cllrs  believe will damage local patients.  Government clearly wants an end to what remains of local accountability and democracy in our NHS.… Read on ...