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For the last eighteen months Oxford's main geriatric hospital at Cowley Road, under threat of closure and dispersal of its beds and facilities, has provided an object lesson in both Area Health Authority tactics and in the treachery of a local Union leadership committed to cosy collaboration with this same Authority.

The only meeting expressing opposition was organised by the Community Health Council, attracting 400 people. Yet the workers in the hospital who could have given concrete force to this opposition were themselves given no direction by their union leaders.

As a direct result of this treachery, while the Appeal against closure was still being processed, the AHA was able, unopposed, to remove all acute patients from the hospital and close the out-patients' department, By this time, the closure plans had gone through the appeals procedure up to the Minister of Health, who appointed a one-man 'independent' inquiry by a Professor Wilcocks.

With a blatant attempt to stifle discussion on a strategy against the cuts, the London division of NUPE held a rally on 22 October at Portchester Hall.

The rally was called to prepare for the demonstrations on 7 and 28 November and included Jack Dromey, from SERTUC and Ron Keating, NUPE assistant general secretary, on the platform.

Less than 100 NUPE stewards turned up to the rally —not bad considering that notification was sent out only a week beforehand.

Jack Dromey, the star attraction, gave an exact replica of his despondent message to the

STOP

The outcome was a body blow. This 'independent' Professor could not consider the needs of geriatric patients outside the financial limits of the Tory cuts policy.

Meanwhile a GP on the hospital support committee has obtained a pledge from 25 local GPs that they will give medical cover themselves in defiance of the AHA should the staff decide to keep the hospital open.

And support from other NHS union branches has already begun to come in. Meetings of staff being held this week must build on this strength and look towards keeping their hospital open under their control. There is now no other alternative than the complete dispersal of Oxford's geriatric service.

John Seymour, from Camden, warned that the leadership were treading the same path as during the low pay dispute by refusing to give a clear lead and simply allowing branches to take action if they felt like it'.

And Ray Varnes, a lay Divisional Council member, asked why there had been no mention of the much publicised campaign against pay beds since the annual conference.

A campaign must be launched throughout London NUPE branches for a genuine delegate conference on the cuts, where the membership can put forward resolutions and plan an actual strategy to fight the Tories.

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CLOSURE OWLEY RD HOSPITAL