SAVE OUR HEALTH! 4 DECEMBER 1975 No. 128 The National Health Service is bleeding to death. Three quarters of Britain's hospitals were built before 1918. Two thirds of the mental hospitals were built before 1891. A chronic shortage of funds-in 1975 £75 million was lopped off the NHS budget-means that its equipment is becoming ever more outdated. Over half a million people are on its waiting lists.
Next year the NHS will get a 10 per cent increase in its budget-but inflation is running at 25 per cent. cuts of the Labour Government mean pain and suffering for millions. For thousands of others they will mean premature death. And now the £6 pay norm-introduced to slash living standards-has goaded the Junior Hospital Doctors (JHDs) into open conflict. The JHDs had no choice but to operate an emergencies-only service to win their demand for proper overtime rates.
Meanwhile the pampered consultants have stuck their knife in to defend their own selfish interests. Last Monday the casualty departments in 22 London hospitals were forced to close as the consultants' work-to-rule began.
Labour's wages policy has worsened the living standards of the majority of health workers and driven many of them into the private sector. the JHDs and other health workers, the Government has rejected all those people who could defy and break the consultants' strike.
In such a situation the workers' movement cannot afford to stand idly by. Its health and its life is threatened. No hope can be placed in the Government. Its record of cuts and its willingness to allow the creation of a two-tier health system show only too clearly where it stands. WEEKLY PRICE 10p The savage By failing to grant the legitimate demands of WORKERS HEALTH DOCTOF WEALT HEALH * BAN ALL PRIVATE PRACTICE * GRANT JUNIOR DOCTORS' CLAIM * BUILD ACTION COMMITTEES TO DEFEND N.H.S. A first-hand report on the Lisbon events SATURDAY 6 DECEMBER, 7.00 p.m. Conway Hall, Red Lion Square NO TO MILITARY DICTATORSHIP! DEFEND THE STRUGGLES OF THE PORTUGUESE WORKERS! BUILD THE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN!
our
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NOT VOTE BMA
Portuguese Working Class
defend FALT
health ice.