Anne

THE BIG CONVERSATION ON OUR NHS

Last month, Just Treatment launched our “Big conversations” campaign where we began speaking to someone in every constituency in the UK about their experience of Coronavirus and the NHS. These conversations will directly feed into the creation of a New Deal for the NHS. This is a people powered campaign and collectively, we can ensure we learn the lessons from Coronavirus, and work together to build a better, stronger future for the NHS and for patients. 

What has your experience of coronavirus been?

I’m living with incurable breast cancer, so when it became clear COVID19 was spreading I was keen to safeguard myself. 

My husband is a doctor and we were worried by the lack of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and testing of patients that was available at the start of the crisis. 

I was issued a shielding letter, so my husband negotiated special leave from work until he could work from home. Thankfully my treatment continued every three weeks at my Cancer Centre. Unfortunately elsewhere many patients with cancer had their treatments postponed which has had terrible consequences for some.

What long term changes for the NHS do you believe are required?

I believe the NHS needs to be able to have adequate levels of staffing to manage any future outbreaks like this. I also believe each NHS Trust needs to be able to act quickly at a local level to respond to requests for things like PPE rather than having to wait for the Department of Health to decide. Investment in staff training and development as well as regular pay reviews and fair increases in salary are necessary to retain staff.

I’m appalled by the decision not to award care workers and nursing staff a pay rise along with the other professions. They have been at the core of the NHS throughout the coronavirus crisis. Imagine if the private sector were to have more of a presence in the NHS. This could be one of many damaging consequences of a trade deal with the US. We are already struggling with recruitment and retention - imagine if even more private firms were able to compete for the same staff. The impact on NHS budgets could be huge - combine this with new immigration rules and the NHS will just fall on its feet.

Why do you think building a New Deal for the NHS is so important?

Building a New Deal for the NHS is vital for its survival. The NHS is the envy of many countries around the world because it is largely free and accessible to all in our society. The current UK-US trade deal puts this under threat. You only have to see what Trump has done to the Obamacare Act to know that he is more keen to make money out of healthcare than he is to ensure public health. It’s a huge market for him to become involved in - but at what cost to the NHS?

Many politicians already have ties with big pharma, especially in the US. Will Boris Johnson ever be brave enough to support initiatives such as a Crown Use Licence, which would break pharma companies’ monopolies and challenge exorbitant prices for vital new drugs?

Boris Johnson was afforded the best treatment from the NHS whilst he had COVID19 and had a very fortunate outcome. I would like a guarantee that anyone, no matter who they are, will be able to access the best available care without crippling costs being incurred either by themselves or the NHS.  

This is why we need a New Deal for the NHS.