Sussex Defend the NHS – statement of support for 3rd February 2018 - From Caroline Lucas, MP
I’m sorry not to be able to make the day of action today, or be able to be with you in person at the send-off before you make your way to London.
I know just how passionately Sussex Defend the NHS is fighting to prevent the decimation of our health services, and I’m so incredibly proud of the spirit, courage, and commitment of those involved with the campaign in Brighton and Hove.
Please be assured that whilst I’m unable to join you today, I too am fighting.
I simply don’t believe there isn’t money in the pot to properly fund our health service. And I also don’t believe the Government is doing anything other than simply following its ideological agenda to privatise our NHS. The Government is making a political choice - marches like the one taking place today are a powerful way to demonstrate that we know what they are up to and that we refuse to accept it.
In recent weeks, I have been trying to get an answer to two very simple questions: How much were local NHS Trusts paying to hire private ambulances during the Coperforma debacle? And was the money paid to Coperforma before they folded?
I’ve tabled parliamentary questions, I’ve had telephone calls with the CCG, I’ve sent numerous emails, I’ve been promised call backs – it should not be such a struggle to get a definitive answer. I want to know – you deserve to know – if your money has been paid to a private company on the brink of collapse and just how much of it they pocketed.
I maintain that when profit is involved, services suffer. Lessons need to be learnt from the Coperforma scandal, yet decision-makers continue to pass the buck and ignore the critical point – our NHS is in crisis, and we need to fix it now.
Thank you to each and every one of you taking that message directly to the Government today. I know there’s a strong Green party contingent and I know that across the political parties there is an overwhelming majority who love and value our NHS. Together our voices are loud and they are strong. Together we can prevent this continued assault on our treasured public services.
Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion
I’m sorry not to be able to make the day of action today, or be able to be with you in person at the send-off before you make your way to London.
I know just how passionately Sussex Defend the NHS is fighting to prevent the decimation of our health services, and I’m so incredibly proud of the spirit, courage, and commitment of those involved with the campaign in Brighton and Hove.
Please be assured that whilst I’m unable to join you today, I too am fighting.
I simply don’t believe there isn’t money in the pot to properly fund our health service. And I also don’t believe the Government is doing anything other than simply following its ideological agenda to privatise our NHS. The Government is making a political choice - marches like the one taking place today are a powerful way to demonstrate that we know what they are up to and that we refuse to accept it.
In recent weeks, I have been trying to get an answer to two very simple questions: How much were local NHS Trusts paying to hire private ambulances during the Coperforma debacle? And was the money paid to Coperforma before they folded?
I’ve tabled parliamentary questions, I’ve had telephone calls with the CCG, I’ve sent numerous emails, I’ve been promised call backs – it should not be such a struggle to get a definitive answer. I want to know – you deserve to know – if your money has been paid to a private company on the brink of collapse and just how much of it they pocketed.
I maintain that when profit is involved, services suffer. Lessons need to be learnt from the Coperforma scandal, yet decision-makers continue to pass the buck and ignore the critical point – our NHS is in crisis, and we need to fix it now.
Thank you to each and every one of you taking that message directly to the Government today. I know there’s a strong Green party contingent and I know that across the political parties there is an overwhelming majority who love and value our NHS. Together our voices are loud and they are strong. Together we can prevent this continued assault on our treasured public services.
Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion
