STOP THE DOWNGRADE - THE CAMPAIGN MOVES ON……………

 

Friends,

we are just a few weeks away from the most important elections in our lives! By the end of 2009, the new PFI hospital at Larbert will have been built and the latest European working time directive will have taken effect, reducing the number of hours that junior doctors can work. Lothian Health will then argue that they can no longer provide a "safe and sustainable" service at St John's and ALL acute services will need to move to the Royal Infirmary. The ensuing strain on the Royal will be offset by shunting patients from Linlithgow to Larbert. These discussions have already begun between Forth Valley and Lothian Health Boards! The people of West Lothian will be told that it is "in their best interests" to turn their once state of the art hospital into a convalescent home/day case surgical centre and to travel 30 miles or more for all their acute health needs! This is patent nonsense!

Ask yourself why despite a doubling of the NHS budget since 1997 the entire service is in deep crisis - cuts everywhere, services lost, staff redeployed or not replaced, basics such as food and linen in short supply?

Ask yourself why despite record funding Lothian Health has a huge deficit?

Ask yourself whether being “awarded teaching hospital status” or being “the centre for ear, nose and throat surgery” is the same as having a full range of acute medical, surgical and orthopaedic services which local people can access 24 hours a day?

Ask yourself why the only fee-paying car park in West Lothian is at the local hospital and why the charges are set to double?

Ask yourself what you can do as an ordinary citizen or health service worker to protect local hospitals across Scotland which is the bedrock of the NHS?

Here are some suggestions: YOU CAN:

1. JOIN THE CAMPAIGN NOW on www.stopthedowngrade.org - Your details are confidential and you will get regular updates on the forward march of the Campaign. Click here to join the Campaign

2. TALK about the Campaign with your families, friends, neighbours & colleagues. Ask everyone you know to JOIN at www.stopthedowngrade.org - Word of mouth is a powerful tool.

3. If you work at St John's, SHARE your experiences anonymously on our website. We will never divulge your details. Is your department under threat? Are you or your colleagues being redeployed or being made to do jobs for which you were not originally employed? Are you seeing evidence of the harm being done to patients or staff? In unity with your colleagues and with the local community there is strength! Click here to send your comments

4. USE your vote. Labour MSP's and Councillors have colluded with the Health Board to rob St John's of vital acute services and have forced the elderly and the sick to travel for many miles to access health care. Our current government is spending a vast amount of taxpayers' money which is simply flowing into the coffers of big business.

Think about it - all the information you need is on our website. A vote for an independent hospital or non-Labour candidate is the democratic way of registering a protest against what is happening to the NHS and effecting a CHANGE in current policy.

Our Campaign can make a HUGE difference to the outcome of both Parliamentary and Council elections. In West Lothian, only a few thousand votes (out of 120,000) keep the current administration in power. Across Scotland many groups such as ours are striving to effect a change in both local and Holyrood government in order to save their local hospitals. Old Labour created the NHS. But now New Labour is intent on destroying it.

Finally, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, BE THERE on March 1st at our next meeting. Help us to create a responsible and winning Campaign strategy. Be part of something which really matters! These elections are our last chance.