1. Join Keep Our NHS Public. There may be a local group near you, but if not, why not find out if there are other members locally and talk with them about starting a local group? Contact the campaign at www.keepournhspublic.com
2. Build the health unions. If you are a healthworker, you need to be in a union. But more than that, you need to be active. We can’t fight the health cuts unless we are organised in our workplaces — organised to find out and spread information, and organised enough to resist cuts and closures when they are announced.
3. Organise a local protest. If there are cuts in the NHS planned near you (and there probably are, it’s a national crisis) then voice your objection to it. If you can organise a march or rally, then go for it. But even a small group of people can lobby an NHS Trust Board meeting (which are public meetings, and must be advertised) to protest against a decision they’re making.
4. Use the local media. Write a letter to your local newspaper, call in your local radio station’s phone-in shows. Whether you are a healthworker, a patient, or simply a concerned member of the public, your views are important. Using the local media to show to others that there is opposition to the NHS cuts crisis locally is crucial.
5. Prepare for a national demonstration. UNISON has policy to organise a national demonstration against NHS cuts and privatisation, and earlier this year a conference called by Keep Our NHS Public called on the TUC to do the same. Although they’re reluctant to do so, pressure on the union leaders to name the day for a national NHS demonstration is mounting. You should be preparing now for organising a contingent from your area.
6. Write about what you do. Send reports (including photos) of all your local activity to Solidarity: solidarity@actionforsolidarity.org.uk. We’ll help to spread the word.
