Campaign fights to save hospital

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In the last month, important developments have been unfolding in the fight against Health Service cuts in Oxford.

The NUPE and NALGO leadership, after the final decision of the Area Health Authority to close Oxford's main geriatric hospital in Cowley Road called the first union meeting of workers in the hospital.

They intended to win support for their own position that, given the consultants' support for closure, occupation by staff would be impossible.

Besides, they argued, the Community Health Council's opposition to the closure had forced the AHA to set up a Working Party to examine the possibility of re-siting the hospital as a complete unita great victory.

In 10 days flat, this working party prepared its report-with completely conflicting recommendations.

the AHA • adopted those identical with its own proposals and referred back the others.

This left the NUPE leaders without a leg to stand on-so they changed to telling other unions that they were personally in favour of occupation-but just let anyone try persuading their 'unpolitical' members!

This treacherous leadership from the rear is in complete contrast to the fight taken up locally in COHSE against the closure of Longworth geriatric hospital.

The decision of the unionised workers to stop the proposed closure by occupation and the physical presence of workers at lobbies of AHA meetings forced the Authority to change from holding their discussion in secret to holding it in public session.

Eventually they withdrew their secret recommendation for closure, substituting an open document posing various options.

'Before making any decision, said Lady McCarthy, AHA member (and a Labour Party GC member) full consultation would take place with the public and the staff.

Unprecedented as this new found 'democracy' is, she also made it clear that the AHA were still operating within the same budget, necessitating cuts.

With this in mind the Longworth Support Committee was formed, with representatives from local residents, the staft, the League of Friends, and trade unions inside and outside the Health Service.

They decided to build an independent campaign based on the following policies:

1) Oppose any cutbacks and closures at Longworth, Burford or Cowley Road Hospitals.

2) Demand the opening of Witney Community Hospital.

3) Declare support for all actions of the Longworth workers against closure, including occupation and offer the same support for any action taken by workers in other hospitals threatened by closure.

4) Call on all trade union branches in the Health Service to take supporting strike action.

5) Demand the AHA open its books to elected committees of trade unionists and users of the Héalth Service.

6) Determine to set up a trade union inquiry into the provision of geriatric services in Oxfordshire.

The committee also started organising for public meetings in the various towns affected in defence of the health service.

Exploded angrily

This strong stand was shown to be necessary when Lady McCarthy exploded angrily at the next meeting with the trade unions about the setting up of 'action committees' "Let me make it clear that the AHA will hold public meetings which I personally will chair. These meetings will represent the views of the public -the staff will have separate channels of consultation" , she declared.

She may well be afraid of the voice of the working class members of the public and staff declaring and preparing for independent action to stop the cuts.