Weekly Worker 126 Thursday January 18 1996
Health experts dismiss government lies
The last week in Scotland has seen a widespread bed crisis with hundreds of operations cancelled.
The government has tried to blame the crisis on freak conditions of staff sickness and cold weather. However, health experts have dismissed the ‘hand of fate’ scenario and targeted blame where it truly lies. They have attacked government policies that have led to a huge reduction in hospital capacity at a time of rising demand, the lack of central planning, which is a product of the NHS internal market, and widespread poverty and inadequte housing which has left the old and poor vulnerable to the cold and damp.
The government’s own statistics make appalling reading. Since 1989 NHS beds throughout Scotland have fallen by 11,727 to 44,240, staff has decreased by 12,398, while an extra 77,574 patients a year are now treated.
Dundee Campaign against Hospital Cuts and Closures
Meeting Wednesday January 24, 7.30pm
Dundee Trades Council Club, 1a Rattray Street (off Ward Road), Dundee. For information write to the above address or phone 01382 203805
