[St. Mary's workers on the giant November 17…]

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St. Mary's workers on the giant November 17, 1976 cuts demonstration How to figh The Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster Area Health Authority. has recently issued statement that St. Mary's Hospital. in Harrow Road has now been reprieved as a result of the pressure from the trade unions and the public. Is this true?

The AHA statement is deliberately designed to mislead the public and the workers at the hospital.

The real effect of the AHA decision on 11 April is that full authority has now been given for the present 400-bed general hospital to be run down to 100 non-acute beds, and from the present 16 acres to a probable two acre 'community' hospital.

And, of course, while the destruction of the present facilities is definite there is no guarantee that the 'community' hospital will ever become a reality.

What role has the local Community Health Council played in this shabby confidence trick?

The trade unions in the haspital initiated the campaign to oppose the original plan, which was to run-down and close St. Mary's in Harrow Road, supposedly to provide the funds to run a new prestigious rebuilt hospital on the site of the other St. Mary's, a mile away in Praed Street.

We held a public meeting at Oakington school on 12 September 1978 attended by about 300 people.

There was massive opposition to the scheme, which would further deprive the local working class community of essential services.

From that meeting we set up the Save St. Mary's Hospital Campaign.

It was the success of this campaign that forced the CHC to oppose the AHA scheme, and this held back the local District Management Team from going ahead with their full-scale rundown.

The AHA was compelled to extend the consultation period.

From that time onwards the CHC has acted totally as willing tool of the health authorities.

They issued a questionnaire that was supposed to enable an 'alternative' plan to be devised.

The questionnaire asked sample of the local community to choose the least. of three evils.

Each of the three alternatives spelled-out was designed to keep expenditure within the government's severe restraints.

The questionnaire did not present as an alternative the upgrading of both the St. Mary's hospitals on their present sites.

In other words they put the cash question first and the needs of the local people second.

By this device the CHC and the AHA were able to say that the public had 'chusen' to close St. Mary's as it now was and replace it with a so-called 'community' hospital.

Right up to the AHA meeting at which the AHA adopted the CHC scheme, the details of the proposal . were never made available to the workers in the hospital or the general community.

We only discovered the extent of the CHCs betrayal by attending the Health Authority meeting.

As well as the CHC, some supporters of the campaign to keep your hospital open advocated the drawing up of an "alternative plan' On the other hand Socialist Press supporters have from the start advocated a labour movement investigation to establish the need for improved health facilities. What are your view on this now?

The 'alternative plan' idea was clearly a mistake, diversion that the CHC and the AHA have been avle to use.

Neither the CHC nor the Campaign has ever had access to the information necessary • to prepare a detailed plan for better health services in this Area.

The District Joint Shop Stewards Committee tried to negotiate with the administrators for the basic information necessary just to monitor the extent to which the health services were already being run down. Of course, we were never given it.

I think that our own enquiry is now essential in order to give an answer to the lies of the CHC that will have the full authority of the organised labour movement.

The CHC surveyed only about althousand people; the labour movement represents many thousands more.

"This initiative would seek to draw in representatives of ambulancemen, the Emergency Bed Service, railwaymen, postmen, tenants' organisations, local political organisations and so on.

Many of these have already expressed their support for our campaign.

Since all these organisations are firmly rooted in the working class, they would not start from the assumption that the priority is to save money.

I think we should also try to bring in representatives of the unions in the drúg, chemical, food and oil supply industries to show the huge profits made by these private companies at the expense of the NHS.

How do you think the AHA decision to accept the CHC document will effect the immediate situation in the hospital?

The process of run-down be stepped-up.

We already have closures wards, non-replacement equipment, non-replacement staft, overtime cuts.

Heads of Department have been told they must save at all costs by axing posts.

Maintenance will not be done. Health and safety codes will be ignored.

The shop stewards have submitted a list of demands by the porters, like fixing broken steps and broken windows.

But we have been told is no money:

The management has recently refused to replace a man who retired three months ago who was employed to deal with the drains and wastage. There is a stench and flies in areas where swill is left.

The CHC has now provided the excuse for the AHA to go viciously ahead.

What steps are you now taking to deal with the new situation?

Obviously this makes the role of the Hospital Defence Committee even more crucial. The most important thing in any hospital fight is to get the support of the staff..

We have now to fight a certain amount of demoralisation. The trade unions in the hospital have already begun to consolidate their forces and resolve some outstanding problems.

We will have to keep a day by day, minute by minute watch against all signs of erosion.

After the AHA meeting on 11 April we held a mass meeting supported by the TGWU, NUPE and GMWU, to report back on what had happened.

The speakers included Arthur Latham MP. The unanimous decision of the meeting, which included many nurses, was to oppose the CHC plan and continue the battle against the run-down of the hospital.

Following that, the Hospital Defence Committee will meet on Monday, 23 April and the District Joint Shop Stewards Committee on Wednesday 25 April to draw up plans.

We have issued a press statement refuting the AHA's lies and we will almost certainly hold another public meeting and produce a new mass distribution leafiet.

Our main objective must be to build up morale and persuade all the hospital staff to refuse to co-operate with the administration in running down the hospitai.

it will be necessary to prepare for the possibility of a full-scale occupation at some point -very serious plans have to be made for this.

The trade unions obviously have a leading role to play. We will have to work for support from the other hospital, including strike action, as well as trom the local railway men, post office workers, London Transport workers and so on. FECHE Tis I'nmunt gor 29 ma If we can build trade union solidarity throughout the whole area, we can give an example that will show the way forward in the fight against all cuts. A victory here would be an example and an inspiration to all workers in the same situation.

You mentioned that Arthur Latham MP attended the mass meeting. How do you think the outcome of the General Election will affect your fight?

I am in no doubt that the result will mean that we will le cuTs WSL members draw out the lessons of two important struggles against the cuts in which they have been centrally involved-the occupation of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital in London and the occupation of the South Oxford Nursery.

Price 30p plus

postage from WSL, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, London NW5 HR. support from the beginning.

At the hospital mass meeting what did he say about his plans to support the campaign when he is re elected?

At the meeting he made purely an election speech. He mentioned his support and said he was one of five Labour MPs who had voted against the He did not say how often he had voted for the government, or, for example, what he had done for the low pay battle.

He was challenged by a Socialist Press supporter to say exactly how he would fight to get rid of the Callaghan-Healey leadership. The question was never answered.

What part have the various left political groups played in the hospital campaign?

I want to say the Workers Socialist. League members and supporters have used their experience of other campaigns, like the EGA, to strengthen the fight within the hospital and build the confidence of the hospital workers.

They have at every stage fought to direct our efforts into the organised labour movement.

As for the other 'left' parties, they have given us only patronage and propaganda.

The WRP and the Militant for example, simply turn up to sell their papers.

The other groups, including the Communist Party, which dominates the local trades council, has so far given only token support.

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Wednesday 25

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HOSPITAL CUTS How to fight the cuts