Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign

Links to external news articles and other information sources.

Local Press

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- 158
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 7th October 2022
  Health campaigners call for full maternity services to be restored to South Tyneside District Hospital after death of baby girl
- 157
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 3rd October 2022
  Coroner questions safety of midwife-led birthing centres after death of baby girl following failings at South Tyneside District Hospital
- 156
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 3rd October 2022
  Healthcare safety investigators make recommendations after death of baby girl
- 155
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 3rd October 2022
  Family tell of heartbreak after baby girl dies following failings at South Tyneside's birthing centre
- 154
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 14th June 2022
  Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign group to hold protest against continued closure of Midwife Led Birthing Centre
- 153
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 14th June 2022
  Save South Tyneside Hospital group stage protest over continued closure of birthing unit as South Shields MP raises issue in Parliament
- 152
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 10th May 2022
  South Shields MP to raise future of birthing unit at South Tyneside District Hospital at Prime Minister's Questions
- 151
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 7th November 2021
  Campaigners raise concerns over private funding of new Integrated Diagnostic Centre at South Tyneside District Hospital
- 150
  Chronicle Live (Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror Group) | 14th September 2021
  'Staff pressures' blamed as South Tyneside Hospital temporarily sends expectant mums to Sunderland
- 149
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 30th July 2021
  Save South Tyneside Hospital campaigners turn out in rain to protest against ‘downgrading’ of children’s A&E
- 148
  Chronicle Live (Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror Group) | 9th June 2021
  Boris Johnson was asked to block controversial changes to South Tyneside hospital
- 147
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 6th July 2020
  St Clare's campaigners say chances of bringing palliative care back to Jarrow have 'vastly improved' after 'positive' talks
- 146
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 6th May 2020
  EMMA LEWELL-BUCK: Testing and contact tracing are nowhere near the levels needed
- 145
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 28th February 2020
  Petition to bring palliative care back to St Clare's building to go to Downing Street with over 13,000 signatures
- 144
  The Guardian | 19th January 2020
  Bed shortages leave Sunderland patients to sleep overnight in A&E
- 143
  Sunderland Echo (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 2nd December 2019
  Health chiefs to improve how they 'sell' midwife-led birthing unit at South Tyneside Hospital as numbers 'lower than planned'
- 142
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 15th November 2019
  South Tyneside Hospital campaigners bid to overturn health service changes at Court of Appeal
- 141
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 30th September 2019
  South Shields MP's delight as hospital campaigners have Court of Appeal date confirmed
- 140
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 27th September 2019
  Like-for-like replacement of St Clare's Hospice in South Tyneside is 'not a credible option' say NHS chiefs
- 139
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 25th September 2019
  Future of hospice care to replace St Clare's up for discussion by South Tyneside health chiefs
- 138
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 16th September 2019
  Save South Tyneside Hospital group handed legal lifeline
- 137
  Chronicle Live (Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror Group) | 15th September 2019
  Court of Appeal grants fresh challenge over closure of services at South Tyneside Hospital
- 136
  BBC Tyne and Wear | 13th September 2019
  South Tyneside Hospital shake-up protesters win right to appeal
- 135
  Chronicle Live (Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror Group) | 28th August 2019
  Victory in sight for Rothbury Hospital campaigners in three-year fight to save hospital beds
- 134
  Open Democracy | 4th August 2019
  A war of attrition against hospital services in South Tyneside and across the country
- 133
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 31st July 2019
  Changes to children and maternity services at South Tyneside District Hospital - What you need to know
- 132
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 30th July 2019
  New legal challenge vow over South Shields and Sunderland hospital changes
- 131
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 29th July 2019
  High Court documents reveal why judge backed changes to South Tyneside and Sunderland hospital services
- 130
  Chronicle Live (Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror Group) | 23rd July 2019
  Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign submit two petitions against potential money-borrowing deal
- 129
  Sunderland Echo (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 20th July 2019
  'Do the right thing' - Protesters and South Shields MP call on councillors to refuse loan for South Tyneside Hospital 'downgrade'
- 128
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 18th July 2019
  RECAP: 'Climate emergency' declared in South Tyneside, hospital petition lodged and protest staged at South Shields town hall full council meeting
- 127
  Chronicle Live (Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror Group) | 7th July 2019
  Plans for South Tyneside and Sunderland councils to borrow £50m to fund controversial hospital changes slammed by MP
- 126
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 24th June 2019
  'I wish we'd fought harder' - Families share devastation over changes to children's emergency care at South Tyneside District Hospital
- 125
  Chronicle Live (Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror Group) | 27th May 2019
  South Tyneside's poorest communities missing out on extra 15 years of healthy life
- 124
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 24th May 2019
  'Why play Russian roulette with lives?' - How mums reacted to changes to South Tyneside's maternity services
- 123
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 24th April 2019
  Campaigners aim to create new hospice for South Tyneside after giving up hope on saving St Clare's
- 122
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 18th April 2019
  Thousands sign petition asking for St Clare’s Hospice in Jarrow to be reopened
- 121
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 9th April 2019
  'Support our local hospital' - Gazette readers back South Tyneside health services
- 120
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 9th April 2019
  Health chief reveals 'last-ditch bid' to save South Tyneside’s St Clare’s Hospice
- 119
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 12th March 2019
  'I will continue to fight' - South Shields MP calls for more clarity over future of South Tyneside Hospital
- 118
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 8th March 2019
  Campaigners want questions answered after NHS chiefs reveal future vision for South Tyneside District Hospital
- 117
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 31st January 2019
  Future of St Clare's Hospice raised in Parliament as town's MP fights for care to continue
- 116
  Sunderland Echo (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 29th January 2019
  Three walk-in services will close as overhaul of urgent care in Sunderland is approved
- 115
  Sunderland Echo (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 29th January 2019
  'We listened to the public' say Sunderland health chiefs as they agree to close three walk-in services
- 114
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 22nd January 2019
  St Clare's Hospice: 45 staff made redundant following closure
- 113
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 4th January 2019
  St Clare's Hospice back in business for patients after closure
- 112
  Chronicle Live (Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror Group) | 19th December 2018
  Revealed: The 'galling' amount private consultants were paid to reorganise NHS services in North East
- 111
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 12th December 2018
  Save South Tyneside Hospital campaigners urge supporters to join them at a vigil outside of hospital
- 110
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 6th December 2018
  St Clare's Hospice confirms chief executive is 'no longer with' the charity
- 109
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 5th December 2018
  Hospital trust boards approve merger between Sunderland and South Tyneside
- 108
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 3rd December 2018
  Date set for legal challenge to South Tyneside and Sunderland ‘Path to Excellence’ hospital plans
- 107
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 30th October 2018
  Health chiefs sitting on £13million repairs backlog at South Tyneside Hospital
- 106
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 30th October 2018
  Health bosses say ‘nothing is off the table’ for future of emergency care in South Tyneside and Sunderland
- 105
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 26th October 2018
  Councillors want to know what benefits there are in hospital service shake-up
- 104
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 26th October 2018
  Health boss reassures patients as hospital trusts merger win NHS backing
- 103
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 4th October 2018
  Emma Lewell-Buck MP: Merger of NHS trusts a 'backdoor to privatisation'
- 102
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 27th September 2018
  No ‘secret plan’ to close South Tyneside hospital say health chiefs
- 101
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 26th September 2018
  ‘Takeover’ claim as campaigners fear for services at South Tyneside Hospital
- 100
  The Health Service Journal | 17th September 2018
  GP to head new cross-CCG leadership team
- 99
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 6th September 2018
  Emma Lewell-Buck MP: Judicial Review on health structure strengthens our resolve to retain services
- 98
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 21st August 2018
  High court grants hospital campaign group green light to launch legal challenge against transfer of services from South Tyneside to Sunderland hospital
- 97
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 21st August 2018
  South Tyneside/Sunderland hospital merger could be completed by April
- 96
  Chronicle Live (Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror Group) | 5th August 2018
  Campaign to Save South Tyneside Hospital hits legal battle milestone
- 95
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 31st July 2018
  11 things you said about merger plan for South Tyneside and Sunderland hospital trusts
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website. The same article can be accessed here
- 94
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 30th July 2018
  Consultation starts on plan to merge Sunderland and South Tyneside hospital trusts
- 93
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 20th July 2018
  'Better hospitals' won't improve health in South Tyneside - health boss
- 92
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 17th July 2018
  St Clare's Hospice to close service for three weeks due to doctor shortage
- 91
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 12th July 2018
  Emma Lewell-Buck MP: Health groups’ plans for South Tyneside should be put on hold
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website.
- 90
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 5th July 2018
  ‘I owe the NHS big time’ - parents celebrate NHS on 70th birthday
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website. The same article can be accessed here
- 89
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 20th June 2018
  Health chiefs to make case for further changes to hospital services in South Tyneside and Sunderland
- 88
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 13th June 2018
  Comedy night on course to sell out for hospital campaign
- 87
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 31st May 2018
  Emma Lewell-Buck: Why I was proud to host hospital campaigners
- 86
  Chronicle Live (Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror Group) | 28th May 2018
  Campaigners bring battle to save services at South Tyneside District Hospital to Parliament
- 85
  Chronicle Live (Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror Group) | 28th May 2018
  Political pundit Kevin Maguire joins fight to protect services at South Tyneside District Hospital
- 84
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 25th May 2018
  Campaign group calls for judicial review into planned hospitals shake-up
- 83
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 23rd May 2018
  Council leader says ‘We will have to accept why it has to happen’ during meeting on health trusts merger plan
- 82
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 22nd May 2018
  South Tyneside and Sunderland health trusts to merge
- 81
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 22nd May 2018
  Save South Tyneside Hospital campaigners take fight to Westminster
- 80
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 17th May 2018
  Public urged to have their say ahead of second phase of changes to NHS services in Sunderland and South Tyneside
- 79
  Chronicle Live (Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror Group) | 14th May 2018
  Stephen Tompkinson to star in South Shields comedy fund-raiser - how to get tickets to join the fun
- 78
  Sunderland Echo (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 11th April 2018
  Councillors 'insulted' over response to concerns about moving hospital services from South Tyneside to Sunderland
- 77
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 20th March 2018
  Letter over hospital’s future could be sent within the month
- 76
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 11th March 2018
  MP welcomes block on South Tyneside hospital services changes
- 75
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 10th March 2018
  Watchdog unhappy with adequacy of consultation over future of South Tyneside and Sunderland hospitals
- 74
  Chronicle Live (Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror Group) | 10th March 2018
  Famous faces and protesters with banners march through Newcastle for NHS rally
- 73
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 10th March 2018
  Health campaigners celebrate decision of tough-talking councillors over Sunderland and South Tyneside hospitals
- 72
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 10th March 2018
  Councillors ‘will not be bullied’ by health bosses over future of South Tyneside and Sunderland hospitals
- 71
  Chronicle Live (Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror Group) | 9th March 2018
  Plans to change South Tyneside and Sunderland hospital services set to be referred to Jeremy Hunt
- 70
  ITV Tyne-Tees | 9th March 2018
  South Tyneside hospital decision referred to Westminster
- 69
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 9th March 2018
  Future of hospital services in South Tyneside and Sunderland to be referred to Health Secretary
- 68
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 8th March 2018
  Health bosses warn lives could be put at risk if changes to hospital services in South Tyneside are delayed
- 67
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 23rd February 2018
  South Tyneside Hospital decision could be referred to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt
- 66
  YouTube | 21st February 2018
  'Path to Excellence' Live Stream
- 65
  Sunderland Echo (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 21st February 2018
  Campaigners' anger as health chiefs vote to move hospital services from South Tyneside to Sunderland
- 64
  BBC Tyne and Wear | 21st February 2018
  Health chiefs approve South Tyneside Hospital changes
- 63
  Chronicle Live (Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror Group) | 15th February 2018
  'Please save South Tyneside Hospital' urges top comedian Chris Ramsey
- 62
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 14th February 2018
  Know a health hero? Then make sure they get the praise they deserve
- 61
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 31st January 2018
  Hospital campaigners in South Tyneside set to hold lunchtime protest
- 60
  Sunderland Echo (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 19th January 2018
  Retired GP forms campaign group for people in Sunderland concerned about future of NHS
- 59
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 18th January 2018
  South Tyneside and Sunderland hospital chiefs open up potential for organisations to merge
- 58
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 16th January 2018
  Maternity services are set to be re-opened at South Tyneside District Hospital
- 57
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 13th January 2018
  Scathing attack on hospital plans as decision day looms
- 56
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 16th December 2017
  MP joins Save South Tyneside Hospital campaigners in town centre fundraising drive
- 55
  Chronicle Live (Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror Group) | 15th December 2017
  MP fighting South Tyneside hospital cuts says she won't be bullied
- 54
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 14th December 2017
  Birth plans for pregnant women in place say South Tyneside health bosses
- 53
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 14th December 2017
  Emma Lewell-Buck: Act now for the sake of our hospital's future
- 52
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 14th December 2017
  South Shields MP calls for inquiry into hospital shake up plan
- 51
  Chronicle Live (Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror Group) | 12th December 2017
  Campaigners prepare to take legal action in fight for South Tyneside Hospital
- 50
  Chronicle Live (Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror Group) | 11th December 2017
  South Tyneside special care baby unit closure 'could have been avoided', insist staff
- 49
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 11th December 2017
  Council set for showdown with health bosses over temporary closure of baby units
- 48
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 9th December 2017
  Dad of last baby born in South Tyneside backs hospital campaigners
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website. The same article can be accessed here
- 47
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 8th December 2017
  Campaigners unite in fight to have maternity services re-stored in South Tyneside
- 46
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 6th December 2017
  Councillors demand answers after births temporarily suspended at South Tyneside District Hospital
- 45
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 5th December 2017
  Protest planned at South Tyneside Hospital gates over temporary closure of baby units
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website. The same article can be accessed here
- 44
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 19th October 2017
  Emma Lewell-Buck MP: Fight to Save OUR Hospital Services
- 43
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 18th October 2017
  Top marks for South Tyneside diabetes medical team
- 42
  BBC Tyne and Wear | 17th October 2017
  Plans to shut beds at Rothbury hospital put on hold
- 41
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 17th October 2017
  Transport concerns to be looked at as part of hospital shake-up
- 40
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 29th September 2017
  Hospital Campaigners Are Set to Stage a Protest March in South Shields
- 39
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 23rd September 2017
  Letter of the week: Council needs to do more to fight threat to South Tyneside Hospital
- 38
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 5th September 2017
  MPs spell out fears over South Tyneside Hospital future
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website.
- 37
  BBC Tyne and Wear | 14th August 2017
  South Tyneside hospital changes prompt protest rally
- 36
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 21st July 2017
  Hundreds gather to devise battle plan to save South Tyneside Hospital
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website. The same article can be accessed here
- 35
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 6th July 2017
  Stephen Hepburn: Enough is enough: Let's save the NHS
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website.
- 34
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 5th July 2017
  Campaigners voice fears over 'downgrading' of South Tyneside's hospital
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website.
- 33
  ITV Tyne-Tees | 5th July 2017
  Anger over plans to move NHS services from South Tyneside to Sunderland
- 32
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 9th January 2017
  Speak up to save hospital services, campaigners urge the public
- 31
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 22nd October 2016
  Hundreds take part in first Save South Tyneside Hospital march
- 30
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 20th October 2016
  EMMA LEWELL-BUCK: Join me in the fight to save our hospital
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website. The same article can be accessed here
- 29
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 17th October 2016
  Councillor Iain Malcolm: My side of the story on South Tyneside District Hospital controversy
- 28
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 12th October 2016
  New committee formed to probe alliance between South Tyneside and Sunderland hospitals
- 27
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 12th October 2016
  Fears as hospital boss announces departure after championing partnership between South Tyneside and Sunderland
- 26
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 10th October 2016
  Hospital campaigners urge council leader to back cause
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website. The same article can be accessed here
- 25
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 3rd October 2016
  Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn backs Save South Tyneside Hospital campaign
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website. The same article can be accessed here
- 24
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 22nd September 2016
  Union bosses hit out as hospital moves 'vulnerable' stoke unit from South Tyneside to Sunderland
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website. The same article can be accessed here
- 23
  Sunderland Echo (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 15th August 2016
  Campaigners call for health services to stay at South Tyneside hospital and not move to Sunderland Royal
- 22
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 10th August 2016
  Rallying call in campaign over the future of South Tyneside Hospital
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website. The same article can be accessed here
- 21
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 26th July 2016
  Campaigners fear new management structure moves hospitals' merger a step closer
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website.
- 20
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 22nd July 2016
  Fight to save acute services at South Tyneside hospital continues
- 19
  Chronicle Live (Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror Group) | 19th July 2016
  Hundreds sign petition over South Tyneside Hospital merger plans
- 18
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 6th July 2016
  Vigil held over NHS hospital trust's new alliance
- 17
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 30th June 2016
  Vigil to take place over hospital fears
- 16
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 4th June 2016
  Save South Tyneside Hospital campaign set up to fight for services
- 15
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 18th May 2016
  South Shields medics are leading the way in research
- 14
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 22nd April 2016
  Protest march planned over South Shields and Sunderland hospitals' alliance
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website. The same article can be accessed here
- 13
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 5th March 2016
  'We need reassurances over South Tyneside A&E' fears over future of essential hospital department
- 12
  The Nursing Times | 2nd December 2015
  Tyneside nursing shortages impacting on hospital care
- 11
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 1st October 2015
  Jarrow walk-in health centre closes doors for final time in face of fight to save service
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website. The same article can be accessed here
- 10
  Chronicle Live (Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror Group) | 19th August 2015
  Jarrow Walk-In Centre patients take hospital bed to the streets in protest at closure
- 9
  BBC Tyne and Wear | 12th August 2015
  Sunderland Hospitals Trust warned over £17m deficit
- 8
  Sunderland Echo (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 11th August 2015
  Sunderland's NHS hospitals look set to be £17.5million in the red within the year
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Sunderland Echo (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website. The same article can be accessed here
- 7
  Chronicle Live (Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror Group) | 27th March 2015
  Jarrow protesters to take part in demonstration as they battle to save walk-in centre
- 6
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 26th February 2015
  Campaigners ‘gutted’ after Jarrow Walk-In Centre closure review is refused
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website. The same article can be accessed here
- 5
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 22nd November 2014
  Furious patients slam decision to close Jarrow Walk-in Centre
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website. The same article can be accessed here
- 4
  Sunderland Echo (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 22nd October 2014
  Private ambulance bill soars to £2.8m
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Sunderland Echo (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website.
- 3
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 4th April 2014
  New special-care baby unit is now open
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website.
- 2
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 3rd August 2012
  Great divide over South Tyneside life expectancy
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website. The same article can be accessed here
- 1
  Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) | 2nd April 2012
  Mum's praise for maternity ward staff
  Please note that this link was reported as broken on 9th August 2019. It was last confirmed working May 2019. Shields Gazette (JPI Media Ltd, purchased by National World plc in 2021) have possibly moved or deleted this article from their website. The same article can be accessed here

National Press & Other Articles

In both the corporate and independent media, there is now an abundance of articles exposing what is happing to the NHS and why. This section of our website is not intended to be an exhaustive list of media sources, but rather a helpful starting point for your own reading.

Independent / Non-Corporate Media
Guardian Articles
Selected Articles

Independent / Non-Corporate Media

The Lowdown is a publication with a focus on health care. It aims to provide “evidence-based journalism and research on the NHS.”
Open Democracy : Our NHS is a sub-domain of Open Democracy and is dedicated to providing a platform for directly reporting NHS news ignored by corporate media. Many outspoken NHS professionals have made use of this platform.
Public Matters is a blog from Deborah Harrington and Jessica Ormerod, former members of the National Health Action Party. They write various essays that draw links between different public services. The link will take you to their essays relating to the NHS.

Guardian Articles

	Articles by Dr Jacky Davis Co-author of NHS for Sale - Myths, Lies and Deception
	Articles by Professor Allyson Pollock She has been campaigning against and researching into NHS privatisation for over 20 years, and has written extensively about PFI. She is author of NHS Plc - The Privatisation of Our Health Care
	Articles by Dr Youssef-El-Gingihy Author of How to Dismantle the NHS in 10 Easy Steps
	Articles by Dr Kailash Chand GP and deputy chair of the British Medical Association (BMA).

Selected Articles

Tribune | 10th March 2023
Privatisation is Killing the NHS
By Tony O'Sullivan

“More than a decade of privatisation and underfunding has left the NHS on its knees. If we want to preserve a public health service that is free at the point of use and available to all, now is the time to fight for it.”
Monbiot.com | 8th March 2023
Lying Through Their Teeth
By George Monbiot

“...in one of the richest nations on Earth, ...people are extracting their own teeth, making their own fillings, improvising dentures and sticking them to their gums with superglue, and overdosing on painkillers. ...The policies that brought us to this point are so perverse that they can only be deliberate.”
Tribune | 1st July 2022
The Latest Tory Privatisation of Our NHS
By Johnbosco Nwogbo

“From today, the Tories' new Health and Care Act will open the door to even more private companies meddling in our healthcare system - it's just the latest step in a slow-motion privatisation.”
Open Democracy | 7th December 2021
Why can't the UK government explain what its Health Bill will actually achieve?
By Caroline Molloy

“The real principle of this bill is to make it far easier for the NHS to scale back what it delivers.”
Tribune | 28th November 2021
The NHS Is Failing Because it’s Not Public Enough
By Christopher Thomas

“Right-wingers use today's NHS shortcomings to argue that a public health system doesn't work – but its failings stem from decades of pro-market reforms.”
Open Democracy | 23rd November 2021
Go private for the treatment you need, NHS tells patients
By Caroline Molloy

“Patients are being refused treatment, discharged too early and pushed towards private referrals, openDemocracy’s largest-ever reader survey has found.”
The Guardian | 14th September 2021
Multinational care companies are the real winners from Johnson’s new tax
By Allyson Pollock

“An extra £12bn a year will do nothing to fix the mess of England's privatised care system - but it will benefit big providers”
Byline Times | 19th May 2021
The Government Wants to Sell Your GP Medical Records - Here’s How to Opt-Out
By Phil Booth

“It is likely that the majority of the population will not be aware of any of this. It will not know that the Government has commanded NHS Digital to instruct their GP to hand over a copy of their lifelong medical history to be sold - because the Government has taken the decision not to tell anyone.”
Tribune | 5th December 2020
How Thatcher Unleashed the NHS Outsourcing Wave
By John Lister

“In 1979, Margaret Thatcher rose to power aiming to build a free-market Britain. One of her first ambitions was NHS reform – and she set in motion many of the process that still undermine the health service today.”
This article is a copy of Part-1 of a series of articles originally featured in The Lowdown, which provide a narrative history of NHS privatisation. All articles in the series are as follows:
We Own It | 4th June 2020
The NHS is being systematically dismantled by privatisation
By Judith Niechcial

“The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted in a sudden and dramatic manner how dependent we are as a society on the NHS as a public service. ...However there is no guarantee that the privatisation agenda will not continue after the virus crisis is over. ...This article aims to chart the decades’ long process of the undermining of the NHS which began as far back as 1977.”
Tribune | 24th March 2020
How Market Reforms Made the NHS Vulnerable to Pandemics
By Colin Leys

“The Lansley Act's conversion of [the] NHS into a system of competing businesses ('trusts') made the UK extra-vulnerable to pandemics...”
The Guardian | 19th January 2020
Bed shortages leave Sunderland patients to sleep overnight in A&E
By Denis Campbell

“Patients have had to sleep overnight in the A&E unit of one of the NHS's biggest hospitals because it is overwhelmed by the number of people needing care, a leaked memo reveals.”
iNews | 9th August 2019
NHS staff in Bradford go on 'indefinite' strike over 'backdoor privatisation' fears
By Paul Gallagher

“Hundreds of low-paid hospital staff have voted to strike indefinitely over plans to effectively strip them of their NHS status in what could prove to be a test case over “backdoor privatisation” and the creation of a two-tier workforce.”
Open Democracy | 4th August 2019
A war of attrition against hospital services in South Tyneside and across the country
By Professor Allyson Pollock

“When NHS England (NHSE) and Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and trust managers decide they want to close a hospital and associated services they do it by attrition, bit by bit, to slow down and overcome public opposition. The closure of a baby unit, the removal of A&E children’s services, the downgrading of a maternity services or the removal of acute orthopaedics spells the end of the A&E department and leads to the closure of many departments and with them the end of the district general hospital (DGH).”
Red Pepper | 27th May 2019
Free trade can seriously damage your health
By T.J. Coles

“With US insurers, tech giants, and big pharma already eyeing up Britain's precious National Health Service, it is imperative that if Britain leaves the EU, we do so in a way that safeguards against signing a deal that allows for these kind of practises. It is also imperative that working people see through the jingoism pedalled by the likes of Farage and realise that he and his colleagues are merely an extreme version of an already-entrenched elite, and not the working-class heroes they claim to be.”
Monbiot.com | 12th April 2019
Quantomania
By George Monbiot

“Many of the staff had objected to a decision by the National Health Service to privatise the hospital's cancer scanning. They complained that the scanners the private company was offering are less sensitive than the hospital's own machines. Privatisation, they said, would put patients at risk. In response, as the Guardian revealed last week, NHS England threatened to sue the hospital for libel if its staff continued to criticise the decision.”
The Independent | 11th July 2018
Don't be fooled, Matt Hancock will be no better for the NHS than Jeremy Hunt was
By Dr Youssef El-Gingihy

“The Lansley Act devolved the control of the NHS to bodies, such as NHS England. If any single person is responsible for the NHS, then it is Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England.”
The Mirror | 10th May 2018
MPs set to debate charging patients to use the NHS
By Martin Bagot

“Right winger Mr Chope's bill would open the floodgates to charging for a host of other services which could include GP appointments and some hospital procedures”
Counterfire | 22nd March 2018
NHS: stop the backdoor privatisation
By John Westmoreland

“Some 35 NHS trusts are creating "wholly owned companies" to which their non-clinical staff - porters, cleaners and estates staff - will have their employment transferred. "Wholly owned" is the chosen description because ownership by the trusts disguises the vulnerability of these companies to market forces and takeover.”
The Independent | 18th January 2018
PFI deals are bleeding the NHS dry - some hospitals can't even afford to buy sutures to stitch up wounds
By James Moore

“The use of Private Finance Initiatives was driven by a mixture of questionable ideology (private always does things better), dodgy accounting (it takes debt off the state's book although the state still has to repay it) and dubious accountants.”
The Independent | 28th November 2017
NHS makes undisclosed settlement to Richard Branson's Virgin Care after legal dispute
By Alex Matthews-King

“Virgin Care sued the NHS last year after it lost out on an £82m contract to provide children’s health services across Surrey...”
Another Angry Voice | 23rd April 2017
Why you need to speak to someone who works in the NHS
By Thomas G. Clark

“I'm asking you to speak to someone you know who works in the NHS and ask them about a number of specific issues.”
The Independent | 7th January 2017
Government 'systematic underfunding' to blame for NHS humanitarian crisis, Labour says
By Jon Stone

“The Government has been accused of being misleading over how much it spends on the NHS”
The Guardian | 25th November 2016
Thatcher pushed for breakup of welfare state despite NHS pledge
By Alan Travis

“PM declared the health service was 'safe with us' but secretly pressed on with radical proposals, archives reveal”
iNews | 12th September 2016
Jeremy Hunt has blood on his hands' - Raymond Tallis's expert assault on the Health Secretary
By Professor Raymond Tallis

“Hunt's contempt for the NHS had been spelled out in 'Direct Democracy', a volume that he co-authored, in which he had asserted that the organisation was 'irrelevant to the 21st century'. In 2005, and again in 2008, he called for the de-nationalisation of the NHS and for a US-style insurance scheme.”
The Independent | 13th July 2016
If you think there is no money for NHS funding you'd be right - PFI has sucked it dry
By Dr Youssef El-Gingihy

“The total UK Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) debt is over £300bn. To put it more simply: this debt would cover the entire NHS budget for approximately two and a half years.”
The Independent | 24th April 2016
The health crisis is about more than junior doctors on strike. We need a public movement to save our NHS
By Dr Youssef El-Gingihy

“...the junior doctor contract can only be understood in the context of privatisation. The contract is really about the restructuring of the workforce to bring down the wage bill. It is designed to increase profit margins paving the way for privatisation.”
The Belfast Telegraph | 11th March 2016
NHS has been abolished, according to the World Health Organisation definition
By Dr Youssef El-Gingihy

“The introduction of market forces increases cost, reduces efficiency and increases iniquitous provision of healthcare. We know this from extensive data across many countries. This is because privatisation seeks to make profits, pays out dividends to shareholders and creates layers of bureaucracy administered by tiers of staff and managers through market mechanisms such as billing, tendering and contracting.”
The Belfast Telegraph | 11th March 2016
NHS Reinstatement Bill: Tory MPs filibuster debate by talking about deporting foreigners for hours
“...the Bill did not receive a full debate because backbench Conservative MPs discussing a short bill to deport foreign criminals - which had already been debated before - used up available parliamentary time by talking for four and a half hours.”
The Independent | 10th February 2016
Jeremy Hunt co-authored book calling for NHS to be replaced with private insurance
By Jon Stone

“'Direct Democracy: An Agenda For A New Model Party' called for the 'denationalisation' of the NHS”
The Guardian | 4th August 2015
How to sell off the NHS - in nine easy steps
“It won’t be easy, but with this handy step-by-step guide you too can privatise a health service.”
The Independent | 17th July 2015
The principle of a free, taxpayer-funded NHS 'must be questioned', says Tory health minister
By Jon Stone

“Lord Prior, the Government's minister for NHS Productivity, is moving to set up an independent inquiry into whether the current free-at-the-point-of-use service is sustainable.”
The Guardian | 2nd May 2015
Fears grow over 'land grab' of NHS by private suppliers
By Jamie Doward

“This announcement marks the final step in giving the private sector the power, influence and a big slice of the NHS budget. There is now a massive conflict of interest with private companies like UnitedHealth, KPMG and McKinsey in charge of the GPs' budget and increasingly buying care from the self-same private sector. The Tories have put Dracula in charge of the blood bank.”
Open Democracy | 12th February 2015
Don't believe the false reassurance about NHS privatisation
By Dr Jacky Davis

“The evidence is that a publicly funded, publicly provided and publicly accountable NHS provides the best care for patients and the best value for money, so the question remains - why are politicians pushing it down the road to privatisation? The public didn't vote for it and polls repeatedly show that we don't want it. Privatisation is an ideological luxury which wastes money and destabilises the NHS and has no purpose other than diverting money to shareholders and enriching some MPs, peers and political donors.”
The Guardian | 19th November 2014
Private firms on course to net £9bn of NHS contracts
By Denis Campbell

“Dr Mark Porter, chair of council at the British Medical Association, said the deepening privatisation exposed by the figures proved that ministers had not told the truth when they denied that Lansley's shakeup would produce more of it in the NHS.”
The Telegraph | 26th October 2014
The list of 66 A&E and maternity units being hit by cuts
By Laura Donnelly

“...dozens of NHS maternity and Accident & Emergency units have been closed or downgraded since the last election, with even more under threat”
Counterfire | 5th December 2013
The great NHS swindle
By Ellen Graubart

“The direction of travel certainly began in the 80s under Thatcher, and every reform since then has been a strengthening of the market structure, transforming the NHS from a publicly funded body into a huge mix of private providers. But it was Thatcher's imposition of the "Purchaser/provider split" in 1990 which decisively opened the way for the marketisation of the NHS.”
The Guardian | 5th March 2013
The government is trying to privatise the NHS through back door regulations
By Sue Richards

“...virtually all commissioning by commissioning groups to be done through competitive markets, forcing through privatisation. They contain sweeping, statutory powers for the regulator, Monitor, to enforce competition, on their own account or at the request of private companies.”
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism | 11th September 2012
Analysis: The new health secretary and the £650m private healthcare takeover
By Tom Costello

“Lansley's Health and Social Care Act, which passed into law despite concern from both the public and the medical profession, was most controversial for opening the supply of healthcare provision to 'any qualified provider' (ie. allowing private companies to bid to takeover any NHS service).”
The Independent | 9th September 2012
Jeremy Hunt and privatisation are no recipe for saving the NHS - but try telling the Blairites that
By Owen Jones

“The appointment of the new Secretary of State for Health [Jeremy Hunt] should be a warning for all; we must learn from our former mistakes before privatising our national institution.”
Verso Books | 8th August 2012
"All that was once directly lived..." redwashing, the Olympic opening ceremony and hot patriotic tears
By Tamar Shlaim

“...this spectacle of dissent is acceptable only because it is no challenge to the established order. And, further, that this recuperation, this inclusion of a stylised and neutralised radicalism does not just subsume the radical but strengthens the order itself by making it appear to tolerate dissent?”
Media Lens | 25th April 2012
‘People Will Die’ - The End Of The NHS. Part 2: Buried By The BBC
“Along with the NHS, the BBC is supposed to epitomise the best of British institutions. The BBC has a duty, enshrined in its Charter, to report objectively on stories of national and international interest. The NHS affects every man, woman and child in the country. And yet we suspect very few members of the public realise what has just happened to their health care system.”
Media Lens | 23rd April 2012
‘People Will Die’ - The End Of The NHS. Part 1: The Corporate Assault
“Few political acts have exposed the sham of British ‘democracy’ like the decision to dismantle the National Health Service. In essence, the issues are simple: 1. The longstanding obligation of the UK government to provide universal health care has now been ditched. 2. The NHS is being carved open for exploitation by private interests.”
The London Progressive Journal | 22nd February 2012
The NHS will last as long as there are folk left with the faith to fight for it
By Tomasz Pierscionek

“...a local NHS Trust, previously responsible for providing healthcare to prisoners in several prisons across the North East of England, was passed over for the contract it previously had, in favour of Care UK, a private healthcare group, run by John Nash who donated a six figure sum to the Tory party pre-election.”
Doctors for the NHS | 14th November 2011
The Fight to Save Britain's NHS
By Doctors for the NHS (Dr Jacqueline Davis)

“the politicians for ideological reasons, and the private sector for financial reasons, have had the NHS - traditionally publicly funded, publicly delivered and publicly accountable - in their sights for some time. They have acted together, beneath the radar, to turn the NHS from a cost-effective integrated public service into a kite mark attached to a ragbag of competing private providers.”
Spin Watch | 9th May 2011
"The NHS will be shown no mercy" says Cameron health adviser
By Tamasin Cave

“The NHS will be shown no mercy and the best time to take advantage of that will be in the next few years" - Mark Britnell”
International Socialist Journal | 4th April 2011
The return of fear
By Iain Furguson

“...the assault involves the wholesale restructuring of welfare services based on a massive extension of privatisation. Involving the private sector in the provision of public services is, of course, hardly new. The Public/Private Partnerships promoted by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were a barely-disguised version of the Private Finance Initiative first introduced by the Conservative governments of the 1990s. Academic critics such as Allyson Pollock have also highlighted the extent to which private sector consultancies and multinational healthcare firms continued to flourish and to milk the NHS following New Labour’s election in 1997.8 What is different this time round, however, is the sheer scale of the proposed privatisations.”
Red Pepper | 1st October 2010
Dismantling the NHS
By Stewart Player and Colin Leys

“In reality, the plan to turn the National Health Service into a healthcare market does not rest on rational arguments but material interests. Any realistic strategy to resist the Tory plans must start out from that fact: the plans are not really new, but are the culmination of a decade-long campaign by the private health industry to get its hands on the NHS budget.”
The Guardian | 16th August 2009
Key Tory MPs backed call to dismantle NHS
By Toby Helm and Rajeev Syal

“Both books call for the NHS to be replaced by a new system of health provision in which people would pay money into personal health accounts, which they could then use to shop around for care from public and private providers. Those who could not afford to save enough would be funded by the state.”
The Guardian | 30th June 2006
Blair's bad medicine
By Dr Jacky Davis

“The government's reforms of the NHS are causing huge concern among doctors, other healthcare workers and patients' groups. The moves have no evidence base and no popular support, and have come in under the radar without public debate or parliamentary discussion. Hospitals are seeing patients diverted to the private sector even when there is capacity in the NHS, and primary care is under threat from the multinationals.”
Monbiot.com | 21st December 2000
The NHS is Being Privatised
By George Monbiot

“There’s not much to be said for the privatisation of the railways, but at least it was honest. The Conservatives told us what they were doing, so we fought them, and when we lost, we kicked them out of office. Governments and their lobbyists will never make that mistake again. Privatisations, from now on, will be so subtle, so complex, that even the ministers implementing them may not be fully aware of what they’re doing. This is the means by which the greatest prize of all is now being delivered to the private sector.”

Documentary Films & Other Videos

The Great NHS Heist
(~1 hour 35 min)

The Great NHS Heist is a 2019 documentary film (by Dr Bob Gill and Drew McFadyen) that tells the history of NHS privatisation and explains its implications. It illuminates decades of government corruption. The Great NHS Heist is an update to an earlier documentary film made in 2014 (by Dr Bob Gill and Peter Bach) called Sell-Off (~57 min). Dr Bob Gill is a GP and an outspoken advocate for the NHS. (See his YouTube Channel).
NHS in Stitches: the live show
(~37 min)

Sketches and interviews mixing comedy and facts from an awareness-raising stand-up comedy show that ran in 2015.

The Dirty War on the NHS
(~1 hour 30 min)

This is another full length documentary. Made by award-winning journalist and film maker John Pilger. Released in December 2019, it is about the hidden NHS privatisation agenda and more broadly about the state of our democracy in making back-door privatisation of the NHS possible.

Support the film by visiting the crowd funding page.

Watch the film here.

The End of the NHS
How the government is privatising healthcare in England
(~1 hour 34 min)

A presentation given by Professor Allyson Pollock in 2021 at Bath University. Contains lots of detailed information.

Privatisation of the NHS: Allyson Pollock at TEDxExeter
(~18 min)

This TED Talk given by Professor Allyson Pollock in April 2014, brings attention to the Act of Parliament that abolished the NHS in 2012. This video was a wake-up call to many people who are now campaigning to save the NHS.

The Health Bill 2021
Gateway to Full NHS Privatisation!
(~39 min)

NHS Privatisation
with Dr Bob Gill
(~1 hour 2 min)

Jeremy Corbyn in conversation with Dr Bob Gill about NHS privatisation and COVID-19 pandemic
(~59 min)

“Dr Bob Gill speaks to Jeremy Corbyn as he prepares to step down as Leader of the Labour Party. Their conversation reveals how the NHS has been undermined over decades by consecutive governments to achieve the ultimate goal of privatisation.

Mr Corbyn explains the threats the NHS has faced and his efforts to defend the principle of universal public healthcare as a union organiser, MP for Islington North and as Labour leader. The conversation is interspersed with relevant clips from The Great NHS Heist film.”

Ending NHS Privatisation:
For a National Care Service
(~1 hour 30 min)

A discussion hosted by the Labour MP Richard Burgon. It took place in February 2022 as part of efforts to raise awareness about the The Health and Care Bill 2021. The participants include Professor Peter Roderick & Professor Allyson Pollock, who are among the authors of the NHS Reinstatement Bill.

Under The Knife
(~1 hour 30 min)

This is a full length documentary about the covert dismantling of the NHS.
This film was screened at the Customs House in South Shields.
For-Profit Health Care Parasites Want To Privatize the U.K. Health System
(~10 min)

Dr Bob Gill (co-creator of the documentary films, The Great NHS Heist and Sell-Off) suggests that the NHS is being transformed into a U.S.-style health system. He points out that the process of privatising the NHS began in the 1980s. He makes reference to a paper written in 1988 by Oliver Letwin called Britain's Biggest Enterprise and another by the Adam Smith Institute called The Health Of Nations.
Michael Sheen Tears into NHS Cuts
(~5 min)

“...there are plenty out there who believe in grabbing as much as they can for themselves, constantly sniffing around for markets to exploit, for weakness to expose. They won't say it of course, they're too smart for that. No one says 'they want to get rid of the NHS', everyone praises it across all parties, it is about as powerful a symbol of goodness as we have. It would be too dangerous not to. But for decades now there has, never the less, been a systematic undermining of its core values. This is beyond party politics. The Labour Government arguably did as much damage to the NHS as any Tory or Coalition-led one.”
Michael Sheen 2015
Theresa May fully supports the Naylor Report!
(~12 min)

Vlogger Chris Holden succinctly explains the Naylor Report. He has produced and even shorter summary here.
The Biggest NHS Data Grab in History
(~7 min)

Filmed on the 8th of June 2021, this video brings attention to the government plan to collect all patient GP (and non-GP) medical data into a central database, from which it will be made available to corporations to use and profit from. It was possible to protect our medical data and opt-out, although the government made no attempt to tell the general public about this. The scheme was originally scheduled to commence on 1st of July 2021. Thanks to the efforts of some campaign groups and other organisations (including medConfidential, Byline Times, openDemocracy and legal action from Foxglove Legal), the government had to jump through some hoops, and the deadline for opting out was postponed. For more information see the links below:
How to Opt Out - medConfidential

The government wants to sell your GP medical records - Byline Times

The Tories have worked out how to pull off an NHS data grab: do it during a pandemic - The Guardian

Why our supposedly patriotic politicians are anything but
(~5 min)

Author and activist George Monbiot discusses politicians who sell their services to powerful interests rather than acting in the public interest. He makes the point that most public assets have now been 'flogged-off', and that one of the last services (and part of British identity) still to fight for is the NHS. The NHS has been at the forefront of the a struggle over who should own and control essential services and infrastructure, including the NHS, railways, post, energy, telecom, and water.

Full interview with Dr Bob Gill:
Harsh truths about the NHS
(~12 min)

Dr Bob Gill began speaking out when his local hospital was downgraded and he observed the resulting detrimental effects on his patients. In this interview for Real Media he explains what is happening to the NHS and why, touching upon:

The role of the media and the government narrative
The Private Finance Initiative - Loans and Debt
Sustainability and Transformation Plans, Simon Stevens, and the Five Year Forward View
Why isn't there more fuss?
TTIP, CETA and the role of trade deals
Three elements to the NHS heist - the budget, the land, and patient data

This interview is part of a set of short videos on the Real Media YouTube channel, including:

Who is Simon Stevens?
NHS - The truth about STPs
Doctors on what is happening to the NHS
Spot the difference - US / UK health care

We Asked NHS Doctors About the Trade Documents Corbyn Revealed
(~9 min)

Two doctors discuss the secret trade talks that have been taking place between the UK and US governments (in anticipation of Brexit), and the implications that a future trade deal with the US would have for the NHS. 451 pages of documents outlining the content of the trade talks were released following a Freedom of Information Request (that was initially denied), and were brought to the public's attention by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. The key points identified in this video inlclude:

1) The US wants "full market access" to UK public services, meaning that the NHS is on the negotiating table.

2) Patent Law is also part of the deal. Patents allow pharmaceutical companies to make a profit on the drugs they produce. Patents have a limited life span, after which a given drug may become less expensive. We are advised that a UK-US trade deal would undermine the bulk-purchasing power of the NHS, something which currently enables the NHS to negotiate down the cost of drugs. The same drug can be many times more expensive in the US because of their fragmented market system.

3) The documents reveal other health concerns that are not directly related to the NHS, for example food quality standards and labelling. The UK has been told to accept US food quality standards and labelling practices. The doctors highlight the importance of requiring food products to be labelled comprehensively so that we can avoid unhealthy food.

The Government's Handling of the NHS in 3 minutes
(~3 min)

A montage of news and sound bites that showcase the government's destructive NHS record.

Jeremy Hunt is Clueless About NHS Funding
(~4 min)

Jeremy Hunt is the longest serving health secretary to date and he has instigated the largest cuts to NHS funding in history. Although he is to some extent crossing bridges built by previous governments (beginning with the Thatcher government in the 1980s), he is wilfully advancing the privatisation agenda at a shocking pace.

Dr David Wrigley on BBC News debating NHS privatisation
(~6 min)

This is a short debate between a representative of 'Reform' and Dr David Wrigley. 'Reform' is a right-wing 'think-tank'. Most 'think-tanks' do not reveal who funds them, but 'Reform' helpfully list partners and donors on their website. A quick glance reveals that 'Reform' is funded by some corporations that will obviously benefit from NHS privatisation including:

BUPA, G4S, Deloitte, KPMG

Many so called 'think-tanks' are actually lobby groups providing a propaganda service for their corporate funders. This is a very powerful way of influencing society. Propaganda works by omission and seeding doubt. In other words, 'Reform' does not have to establish categorically that privatisation is helpful, it is enough to seed the false idea that the NHS is unavoidably struggling and that private providers might be a reasonable solution to this otherwise unavoidable situation.

The truth is that the NHS is being deliberately under-resourced and underfunded in order to facilitate privatisation. Any argument that is built upon the premise that the NHS is struggling because of an ageing population, irresponsible patients, health tourism etc., should ring alarm bells. We need everyone to realise that specific, deliberate and avoidable political choices are being made to put an end to our equitable and socialised health care system.