Activists prepare for new NHS fight

CAMPAIGNERS who halted major NHS plans are steeling themselves for another battle to keep services in the public sector.

After 76-year-old retired railwayman Michael Lloyd stopped a £400million overhaul of the county's NHS, Stroud Against the Cuts is planning its next step.

Health bosses agreed a deal with his lawyers, forcing them to rethink the changes.

The Stroud pensioner launched a legal bid against NHS Gloucestershire's plan to transfer some services – including 10 health clinics, nine community hospitals and 3,000 staff – to a community interest company outside the NHS.

"We're winning but we have not won yet," said campaigner James Beecher.

"We will need to continue to work together as citizens and health workers, making our views known. We continue to collect signatures on our online Keep Gloucestershire's NHS Public petition."

Fellow campaigner Caroline Molloy added: "We're delighted options for community health services in Gloucestershire to remain within the NHS are now back on the table. This is what the community wanted."

A public meeting will be held on Thursday March 15, from 7pm to 10pm at Stroud Subscription Rooms, to plan a response to any new plans.

Mr Lloyd's and NHS Gloucestershire's lawyers hammered out a deal behind closed doors last Thursday, which means NHS chiefs must restart consultation on up to £400million of changes.

"As the judge said, it is a victory for the people of Gloucestershire and for the people who work for the NHS in Gloucestershire," said Mr Lloyd's solicitor Richard Stein after the High Court hearing.

"There will now be a careful attempt to see if the best way of delivering community health services can be found, which is what Mr Lloyd thinks will be in everyone's best interests."

Under the former Labour government-led policy, primary care trusts such as NHS Gloucestershire will be phased out next year, with family GPs in charge of budgets.

But NHS Gloucestershire's plan to transfer services to a CIC, or social enterprise, in the form of Gloucestershire Care Services attracted huge criticism due to fears it could lead to NHS privatisation.

NHS Gloucestershire said a social enterprise would mean profits would be reinvested and local people would have a greater say over services.

It has agreed to start a new process to "explore the best option for providing community services in Gloucestershire and will advertise for expressions of interest for the provision of NHS services in Gloucestershire".