Local MP is coing to talk about nhs changes, what should I be asking or telling him?

[VivaLeBeaver]

he's not coming to see me personally but is coming to a village meeting to answer questions. He's a Tory.

I am worried about the nhs changes. I'm worried about it being privatisation by stealth and that there will be cuts to services, etc.

But I don't feel I know enough to appear knowledgeable on the subject. I feel like it's a good opportunity and don't want to waste it.

Can anyone give me any tips?

How can it be justified when all the professionals, including the GPs who have most to gain are against it?
How can the efficiency savings be made when there is this total restructuring?
How can they prevent cherry picking of the easy and profitable cases by private companies while leaving the chronically I'll to the NHS?
Why was this not in the manifesto? Indeed it was promised there would be no top down restructuring of the NHS?
THe role of commissioning undertaken by the PCTs will end up being farmed put to private companies, how will that save money?
The role of public health doctors who were based in PCTs is under threat. Who will look out for public health?
What will happen when patients lose trust in their GP because they believe they have money as the major incentive rather than their health in their best interest?
Oh and what the bloody he'll are you idiots doing?

That's brilliant. Thank you so much. He's coming on march 2nd so I have time to plan my attack!

Tell him to piss off.

Ask him about McKinsey, the private firm that has almost single handedly drafted the bill. Ask him about why this firm has already been paid billions in tax payers money to draft a bill that will give billions more to the private American health care companies it represents.

The tories are obsessed with the idea that competition drives efficency and drives down costs. McKinsey not only represents Health providers but also the top Pharma companies interests too. So if you allow the wholesale privatisation of health provision (free at the point of use or otherwise!) it will eventually cripple us financially. Who will pick up the bill for rising drugs costs.

McKinsey have been working for years with the tories long before they got into power, meeting back in the 90's with american health insurers.

Ask the MP about why Monitor is headed up by people put forward by McKinsey. What do they gain? and why are we allowing american companies to vet people in senior positions within the NHS.

Why has the idea been put to this government that private providers will happily take over the NHS if money is handed to them up front but they will not take on the NHS pensions and they are looking to make efficency savings by sacking front line staff.

Gp/patient relationships will never be the same again, GP will be less likely to refer a patient who may need costly treatment. Cancer survival rates are poor in the country because GPs are already slow to refer. Known fact, so if you allow GPs to both fund and to collect bonuses for savings there is an obvious conflict of interests.

Lastly, have fun watching him squirm

Thanks, that's really good. I have got so much stuff to write down.

"Why was this not in the manifesto? Indeed it was promised there would be no top down restructuring of the NHS?"

Ask him if the restructuring was planned all along by the Tories, prior to the election, in the light of what Nadine Dorries said at the weekend: "The NHS reforms were being worked out long before we were in a coalition..."

Sorry, Daily Mail link: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2099914/NHS-reforms-David-Cameron-lashes-Cabinet-stabbers-support-Andrew-Lansley.html#ixzz1mM0kOVpC

'Sorry, Daily Mail link'

Not at all. No need to apologise for such an interesting article.

Thats really interesting, thanks for the link.

Do you think its fair in the course of this meeting to ask the Tory MP if he has private health care? I suppose he could say its not relevent, but if he's going to be there arguing about how great the NHS is then I think I want to know if he puts his money where his mouth is.