There was a GPTU stall throughout conference which distributed GPTU leaflets and other literature. Thanks to Sue Tibbles and Joseph Healy for staffing the stall and to those colleagues on neighbouring stalls who provided cover when no one from GPTU was able to be present.

GPTU held a well attended meeting on 15/9/2007 which was addressed by (Huddersfield Health Unison Branch Secretary and Huddersfield PPC) on. "Gov´t attacks on the NHS." and Joseph Healy on "Patient Involvement in the NHS, New Legislation and the Darzi Report. " Both speakers are invited to send in fuller notes of their speeches for publication on GPTU website and/or blog, brief notes follow;

1. Paul Cooney described, how the NHS originally founded on the basis of offering free health care to a all at point of use how the NHS had been broken up into competing units, which some instances (e.g. patient choice of hospital ) were legally obliged to include totally private institutions as competitors. Paul argued that this led to widespread waste and inequity, for instance facilities had to be kept ready in case a patient chose them rather than being able to plan more rationally for anticipated demand. The contracting out of services could mean inequalities between groups of workers performing the same tasks in different institutions or areas. Also the terms of some contracts were drafted in such a way that extra use of facilities could result in hospitals being forced to pay punitive rates for extra work. One end result had been that taxpayers´ money was flowing to shareholders in privatising companies Paul advocated a Union campaign for return to democratic public control of the NHS

    

2. Joseph Healy described how up until four years ago Community Health Trusts existed based in accessible High St premises which allowed NHS patients´ reps visiting rights to clinics and Hospitals and rights of appeal against their decisions. The gov´t had replaced the CHT´s with Patients´ Forums which no longer had rights of appeal and were overseen by an expensive quango (CHIPY) which had not been able to ensure effective coverage of all areas by Patients´ Forums. Now the Local Gov´t & Public Involvement Bill was going through Parliament and would abolish Patients´ Forums from April 2008. There was now concern that the replacement of Patients´ Forums would provide even less scrutiny than they had done. In London a further factor to consider was the Darzi Report which might envisage a reduction of from 23 to 8 hospitals and the replacement of many hospital facilities by poly clinics. Joseph drew members´ attention to the following meeting

    

   A Public Meeting of the Patients´ Forum

   Tuesday, September 18th 6.00pm-8.00pm

   Robens Suite, Guy's Tower, Guy´ s Hospital, St Thomas Street, London SE1 9RT

   The Forum will be discussing the Darzi Report on the Reconfiguration of London's Hospitals, which is out for consultation at present. The Meeting will be addressed by Sir Cyril Chantler, who was a member of the committee which drew up the report. This is a must for anyone interested in the future of the NHS in London.

3. An interesting and informative discussion followed but was sadly cut short due to pressures of the Conference timetable It was agreed to encourage as many GP members with banners to attend the national demo ´Defend and Celebrate the NHS´ on 3/11/2007 (assemble 11am Victoria Embankment London). See http://www.keepournhspublic.com (link at bottom of GPTU website pages).

1. POA emergency

   The following motion passed nem con and is now on GP website (link from homepage)

   "The GP deplores the short-sighted nature of G.Brown´s economic policies as exemplified by his provocation of the recent Prison Officers´ Association strike. Offering public sector workers, (who all in different ways perform socially important work), below inflation pay settlements whilst allowing their workloads to inexorably increase is insulting, when private sector bosses can award themselves pay rises of 37% or more. The consequences of this gross inequality are crime, social problems and physical and mental ill health. We call on the gov´t to institute a pay policy based on need not greed and to set about practically addressing the problems we face due to climate change, instead of making matters worse for us all by its tight-fistedness."

    

2. MINIMUM WAGE The following motion was referred back to policy committee. There were speeches against on the grounds that it did not mention citizen´s income but it was explained that it did not contradict GP policy as that was to advocate a minimum wage pending the establishment of a citizens´ income. There were also objections that the figure of £7.20 would impose excessive costs on small businessmen and that this figure, which Ken Livingstone and London GP GLA reps advocated for London, would not be appropriate elsewhere in England and Wales. Finally a member of Sheffield GP stated that Sheffield GP had wished to amend the motion to include reference to high wage rates and moved a referral back. As this was passed there was scant opportunity to put counter arguments against the objections raised above.

   "The Green party calls for a national minimum wage of at least £7.20 per hr."

    

3. HOUSING the following motion was not taken due to time spent on other business.

   "The Green Party condemns Margaret Hodge´s statements on prioritization of housing for "established British families" as it encourages racism and divisiveness. We endorse Sian Berry´s statement advocating a sensible housing policy as a real solution to the problems of homelessness and extortionate home prices and that there shall be an immediate response from the Green Party to such statements"