S London PROTESTS continue to mount concerning the effects of the health cuts in South London now that the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Area Health Authority has been stripped of its powers by the Tory government for refusing to cut its budget by £5:5m.
have now been detailed by the King's Healtb District Management Team, which covers part of the area for which the banned AHA was responsible. The team is particularly concerned about one expected cur -kidney dialysis patient levels to those of 1977/8.
dialysis two-thirds of the way through the financial year. This means that patients from the South West Thames Regional where there is only one dialysis unit, are likely to die.' the liver unit at King's College Hospital, says: *Shutting the department people happen to them is quite simple. The cuts will kill patients.' threatened Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham district is the Sydenham Children's hospital. The AHA rejected a move to close this hospital, but the five commissioners sent in to replace the AHA are not expected to feel so strongly about children's health.
way to save Sydenham. Doctors, nurses, union officials and pledged support for the hospital. Local Labour councillor Jad Adams explains that 'we want to develop so much popular feeling against this closure that it will become virtually impossible for the commissioners to carry it out' staff in ~ DI summed up by Macarthur, senior cardiothoracic surgery cuts would reduce open-heart operations and heart valve insertions.
until there are no more heart valves left. Ther the commissioners will have to explain to the Eramples of the effects of the proposed cuts the reduction of Say the team: It could mean that funds for patients will run out approximately Authority, Dr Roger Williams, consultant physician to could What would hospital the Already a well-supported campaign is under 40 local organisations have Feelings among trade unionists and medical Were perhaps best comment from Angus surgeon King's department.
Says Macarthur: "I will go on operating next patient why he (sic) might die because he can't have one too.? Portsmouth TORY housing policies in Portsmouth are to come under the spotlight of a workers' and tenants' inquiry. Sponsored Trades Council with tenants' and community groups from the city's major council estates and Havant Trades Council, the inquiry should provide a focus for growing opposition against the city council's increasingly vicious attacks on its tenants.
The Portsmouth Tory council has a long history of disregard for the need viennes This coming announcement of the second rent rise within a year — at least £1.40 a week on top of a 17½ per cent increase already imposed. At the same time all council house building has been axed and housing maintenance slashed. Council officers admit that f1 ½m worth of 'essential' repairs will not be carried out.
On top of spending cuts called for by the Tory government, the council is demanding that tenants pay for a massive backlog of debts built up by their Many 400 flats Portsdown Park estate are because of damp caused by structural and building faults: the fruits of giving the project architects, sub-contractors: On two city centre flat blocks sections of side walls have literally dropped off for the same reasons: shoddy work by private enterprise.
Militant demonstrations have been against the council's Occupations greeted bulldozers attempting to demolish houses in the Cumberland Road area to make way for a road. Although nearly 4,000 are on the waiting list, a road to property speculators houses according to the Tories.
Protests have been organised by tenants of pre-fab homes at the Paulsgrove estate, where it has been estimated that it would take only six minutes for fire to engulf a house completely. The council refuses to take action. It is the same story over the lack of safety on Portsdown Park balconies, where a child death, and the problem of damp at the massive Leigh Park oyerspill estate at Havant.
Hull by Portsmouth TRADE head own Conservative policies.
at the 'prestige uninhabitable and 224721.
held housing policies.
benefit has priority over Maternity recently fell to his the inquiry, in which a panel of judges vill be brought to the city to hear the evidenc of tenants and trade unionists, can help in the building of a united campaign against the Tory cuts and anti-working class policies.
unionists in obtained a confidential document revealing the extent of the education cuts in the area. The document is an estimate from the Humberside County Council Education Committee and list: among the planned cuts a loss of 185 teaching posts, a complete halt to the nursery programme, ending education classes.
But the cuts will not go unanswered. Last week & public meeting called by Hull Trades Council agreed to elect a provisional committee of trade unionists to co-ordinale the fightback. The plan is to work towards an clected delegate committee.
The public meeting was suggestion of Socialist Challenge who are continuing to build the committer and fig ting to representative and committed to action against the cuts. The next meetiug of the committer takes place 29 August at Bevin House George Street. For further detalls phone S. Cunningham (trades council secretary) at Hull ENTRIES D Friday 52741967/Brixion THE RELEASE experienced Hamberside have 2.30-2.45pm budding RED NOTES. all adult 1909-19 kidnap account), £1. called the : supporters anti-cuts make it more would be All paysacat SOCIALIST feminist area.
collective is looking with an interest in one or more areas of our men • drugs, the law, immigration, abortion esc 23,700, generous holidays. Apply in writing tox Release, 1 Eigin Avenue, London W9. NAMIBIA DAY. Sclected viewing of films a Namibia to commemorate 13 years or arrace ARz , ICA Theatre, 12 Carlton House • London SW1 • Tickets £1. Proceeds te Retonomy and the Crisis: bian Marxist Ter published; 'Workers of the Theory and Practice of a Class Mover joint publication wit Notes, SORT LATE RAINING Ur London nood design work. rintshop experict would be useful asset. Applicants must have ha
----- pull-quotes -----
Challenge (rive), PO Box 30, London NI 2XP Communist Tendene dayschool eat 1a