To debate a Motion submitted by the Administration in accordance with Rules 11 and 13 of the Council’s Constitution. The debate will last for a maximum of 30 minutes.

 

8 – Administration Motion regarding Celebrating 70 Years Of The NHS

 

Councillor Denise Jones moved and Councillor Councillor Eve McQuillan seconded the motion as printed in the agenda.

 

Councillor Andrew Wood moved and Councillor Peter Goldsseconded the following amendment to the motion to be debated as tabled:

 

Insert new item 2

 

On 10th June 1940 a Committee was appointed by the Coalition Government to report on social insurance and allied services. The report, published in December 1942, identified the five giant evils in society as “Squalor, ignorance, want, idleness and disease.” It proposed comprehensive and far reaching solutions to these problems and became a “best seller.”

 

The King’s Speech to Parliament on 24 November 1943 said;

 

“My Ministers will present to you their views and proposals regarding an enlarged and unified system of social insurance, a comprehensive health service and a new scheme of workmen’s compensation.” (Column 9 Hansard, 24 November 1943)

 

Insert new item 3  

 

The three major political parties contesting the 1945 election all included comprehensive proposals for Health and National Insurance within their manifesto commitments. That for the Conservative Party said:

 

“The health services of the country will be made available to all citizens. Everyone will contribute to the cost, and no one will be denied the attention, the treatment or the appliances he requires because he cannot afford them.”

 

Following Labour’s victory they were able to implement their manifesto commitments.

 

Renumber items 2 as item 3 and item 3 as item 4.

 

Amendment to item 3 under this council further notes (replace with):

 

During the lifetime of the National Health Service there have been Conservative Governments for 42 years who have, after 1952, always increased expenditure on the Health Service on year on basis and were responsible for launching the post war expansion of new hospitals.

All parties in Government have sought to undertake this, during often turbulent economic circumstances. The exceptional year was during the Labour Government of 1974-79 when in 1977-78, at a time when public spending was being cut as part of the IMF austerity measures, expenditure was reduced.

 

Amend Item 5 to read (replace with)

 

The concerns of the East London Health and Care partnership need to be examined and addressed, particularly in light of the recent announcement of the 20 billion health bonus announced by the government.

 

Delete items 6 and 7.

 

After “This council believes” delete items 2 and 3.

 

Amend item 4 to read

 

This council welcomes the increased funding of 3.4% announced by the Government.

 

Last sentence

 

To celebrate the invaluable contribution the NHS and its staff have made over the last 70 years, and to work with colleagues and partners to safeguard the future of the NHS.

 

Replace with

 

To celebrate the invaluable contribution the NHS and its staff have made over the last 70 years, and to work with colleagues and partners to ensure that the NHS continues to deliver outstanding care.

 

Following debate, the above amendment was put to the vote and was defeated

 

The original motion was then put to a vote and was agreed.

 

RESOLVED:

 

This Council notes that:

 

1.         The National Health Service celebrated its 70th birthday on 5th July 2018.

 

2.         The NHS was founded by a Labour government, with three core principles:

 

a.         That it meet the needs of everyone;

b.         That it be free at the point of delivery;

c.         That it be based on clinical need, not ability to pay.

 

3.         We are all proud of our NHS, which has made a huge difference to public health and delivered incredible developments in medical science, all but eradicating debilitating diseases like polio and diphtheria and continuing to develop ground-breaking treatments.

 

This Council further notes:

 

1.         The NHS could not survive without the extraordinary care, skill, compassion and dedication provided by over 1.5 million staff members.

 

2.         The 70th birthday of the NHS is a time to celebrate the massive contribution made by the organisation and its staff, but it is also an important time to look at the future of the NHS, which is seriously threatened.

 

3.         NHS services under successive Tory governments have been pushed to the brink by the biggest financial squeeze in NHS history as well as cuts to public health and social care.

 

4.         The East London Health & Care Partnership, which covers Tower Hamlets, warns that:

 

In the east London area alone, there will be a £580m shortfall in funding within four years, by 2021.

 

Services and facilities may have to close and standards of care will suffer if not addressed urgently. Change is required, and fast, to help keep us healthy and well in the future and to receive care when we need it.

 

5.         A&Es are overstretched and overcrowded, waiting lists for operations are far too long, and key performance targets are routinely missed.

 

6.         That many staff members feel threatened by Brexit, which is also having a severe impact on the ability of the NHS to recruit much-needed staff from outside the UK.

 

7.         The ongoing campaign to save the NHS, including important contributions from doctors, nurses, patients, other NHS staff members, and campaigners including councillors, trade unions and our local MPs Jim Fitzpatrick and Rushanara Ali.

 

 

This Council believes that:

 

1.         The NHS has provided a remarkable public service over the last 70 years, and we must do everything we can to protect it and ensure it can continue to provide world-class care.

2.         Our NHS is being failed by the Government, which is not providing adequate funding to match rising demand.

3.         Our NHS urgently needs proper investment to address the vast pressure the NHS faces.

4.         The Government’s recent announcement of an annual 3.4% increase for NHS funding falls short of what is needed – this is an uncosted standstill settlement, with the IFS saying the NHS needs 3.3% just to maintain current levels.

 

This Council resolves:

 

1.         To celebrate the invaluable contribution the NHS and its staff have made over the last 70 years, and to work with colleagues and partners to safeguard the future of the NHS.