SAFE IN THEIR HANDS? SCOTTISH LABOUR PRIVATISE THE NHS
Remember poor old Malcolm Chisolm? Not the sharpest tool in the box admittedly, but he had at least a shred of dignity about him, and was blessed with an ounce of common sense, more than enough to shine like a Beacon of Light in the dark stupidity of Scottish Politics. For his old fashioned defence of public services (in this case that the NHS should be kept away from the money-grabbing hands of medical mercaneries) he was quickly ditched by McConnell & Co. Instead New Labour Stooge Andy Kerr was put in place with a clear remit: ‘he would push through a radical reform agenda’. As we all know this is modern management speak for “get the knives out”. Now Scotland is being led by the nose of English health policy - as sold by Jogn reid and Alan Milburn - which is to privatise across the board. Under the guise of ‘cutting waiting lists’ this policy will inevitably lead to foundation hospitals and all the other measures Labour opposed for years against the Tories and were elected to prevent happening. The crass piece of deceit of this is mind-boggling. The basic fact is that private health-care, like private education perpetuates inequalities and undermines the public service. SNP Health spokeswoman Shona Robison said: "Where is the money coming from to fund this extra service from the private sector and where are the staff coming from to staff it? I think the doctors and nurses required by the private sector to massively expand in Scotland will inevitably come from within the NHS which will just lead to more retention and recruitment problems within the health service and will make matters worse and affect service delivery even more." The Scotsman quotes a Labour Party source saying: "If this is true, then there will be a robust debate about it, to say the very least." Whoo hoo, can’t wait… Read the Scottish Executives excuses here. or watch the Scottish Labour Party squirm in embarrassment here, Scottish Labour.
