Jargon obscures reality of privatisation of NHS

I REFER to the very timely warning to which six Hereford doctors recently alerted us (Hereford Times, February 6). Their letter described clearly how services in our NHS are being privatised, bit by bit. Many services have already been hived off to the lowest bidder, replacing excellent in-house provision.

Ostensibly this ongoing process is presented to us as “efficient re-organisation,” “rationalisation,”

“self-sustaining” or some other jargon double- speak phrase.

I waited to read other responses in the press.

Some letters of alarm and anger did appear but I wonder whether the floods and roads emergency rather pushed the NHS issue to the back of people’s minds.

One very sensible suggestion (Henry Connor, Hereford Times, February 20) at the end of a well-argued letter was a campaign to Save Hereford’s Health Service is launched.

We know that our hospital is under huge financial pressure. Some of this is due to government cuts and constant “re- organisation”. But much harks back to the hospital being built, against many warnings, under the private/public scheme, plunging it into insuperable debt for many years to come. It was also built too small, despite all the knowledge of the age time-bomb which is now upon us.

Do we want to go back to the Hungry Thirties, where poor people couldn’t afford a doctor, a dentist, or to have their eyes tested? That’s the way we’re heading as the Welfare State unravels.

MAJA STOREY Godiva Road Leominster