A Copy of the Report is now available from the Branch Office
Setting Our Own Agenda for a National Health Service was the title of the conference organised on Saturday, February 2, in South Shields, Tyne and Wear. Gateshead and South Tyneside UNISON Health Branches, had invited health staff and anyone concerned about the health service to take part in the conference and discuss how the people can safeguard the future of the NHS. Twenty-one participants representing a broad section of health workers, including people from the community, registered in the morning. The conference aims were to involve health workers and people in the community in speaking about their experience and giving their views, all as part of setting their own agenda and building the opposition.
Two extended presentations were made to the conference. In the morning Robin Moss spoke as a senior UNISON officer who had been involved with others for six years in dealing with the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) under both Conservative and Labour governments. In the afternoon Roger Nettleship, who had stood in the General Election as an independent candidate for South Shields representing the interests of the health workers, gave a presentation on building the opposition. Dr Richard Taylor MP, a member of the Save Kidderminster Hospital campaign who was elected to Parliament for Ross on Wye as an independent MP by defeating the incumbent Labour MP at the last election, sent a message and his best wishes to the participants