NHS & 38 Degrees
Have received the following email from 38 Degrees:
Dear Geoff,
This is big. NHS bosses have been forced to launch a proper consultation on their plans to change the NHS, after 40,000 people, including you, demanded the public get a say. [1]
They wanted to sneak through plans that will change the way the NHS is run, based on an American model called ‘Accountable Care Organisations’ (ACOs). [2] But the changes could mean private companies are handed contracts of up to ten years to provide care. [3] It’s controversial, so they wanted to push it through behind closed doors.
But 38 Degrees-ers like you leapt into action. Together, we emailed the Department of Health in our thousands, to tell them that major changes to the way our NHS is run should be looked at properly by the public and politicians. Our pressure, along with other NHS campaigners who are challenging the plans in court, forced NHS bosses to listen. [4]
They've promised to launch a big consultation on the plans, and specifically mentioned 38 Degrees-ers like you. [5] They dedicate an entire chapter of their response to the consultation to our campaign - and said our concern around lack of proper scrutiny has been ‘noted’. It’s proof that when we work together in our thousands, we’re impossible to ignore.
The fight to stop private companies being handed huge NHS contracts isn’t over yet. But making sure these plans are properly scrutinised is a crucial first step. We’ll keep a close eye out for the consultation - but for now let’s celebrate what we’ve done so far.
Thanks for being involved,