OXFORDSHIRE Regional Health Authority is not bothering to wait for the Tory 'think tank proposals to get the official nod. After discussions Geoffrey minister for health they have announced radical reduction of services."
The proposais aim t ave E12 million each yea call for ending altogether some services and having cheaper provision for others. One of the more horrendous suggestions is that people settling Buckinghamshire Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Northamtonshire the four counties covered by the authority - will be barred from getting treatment on the NHS, in emergencies. until they have fullfilled special qualifying residential period Reductions will be made in the comprehensive accident and emergency service, and at best nine accident and emergency will have to cover all the four counties.
The private sector will be rubbing its hands with glee at the authorities proposal to hand over to them a number of services like varicose viens and hernia operations. All the mentalil be closed and some closed and some wards for the mentally ill will also close without the junior 'a waiting for local authority •provisions.
Maternity care will be reduced 24-hour delivery Transport, laundry. food and personal service wil be transferred volunteers or a charge will be introduced for staying in hospital. For people who get involved in road accidents and hospital care a charge will be introduced and it is also proposed that 1.U3 should be health employed on a workers part-time basis These proposals undermine ine chare principle that health care should be who need which is a principle that sane civilised Bot try insist But Britain is no sane and i civilised. It is a society human needs run a very poor second to protit.
Once again we see the around the and why importance the fight the labour movement has to rally to the cause of the health workers. What is at -up pic PRITCHARD SERVICES GI CHRID CAN SHE BEE stake is not just a 12 percent claim although that is a vital issue, but the very existence of the NHS The Tories want to sel health care to the highest bidder and turn pain, sickness and inite / into other item up for sale. OXIf the health workers are crush• ed, then that will be the think tank everywhere light for operation It is he hit by hel people who will be hit proposals. It is their health and their lives which are at Catal the labour movement has to SUrE the health workers win.
----- pull-quotes -----
HEALTH STRIKE Finsberg,