University of Nottingham students have voted in favour of our SU submitting the policy ‘Campaign for NHS Reinstatement Bill’ to the NUS NEC (National Executive Council) and/or NUS Annual Conference.
There were 5502 votes cast, setting a quorum threshold of 2751 votes. There were 3536 yes votes, 1646 abstentions and 320 votes against.
This policy was originally submitted at November’s SU Council, but a 12-9 vote in favour meant that the motion would go to referendum.
The yes vote means that UoNSU will submit a policy to campaign for the NHS reinstatement bill to the NUS. If the NUS motion is successfully passed, the NUS would join as an official supporter of the Campaign for NHS Reinstatement Bill 2015, a campaign for the repeal of the Health and Social Care Act 2012. The NUS would also provide support for student unions campaigning against further NHS privatisation, closures and outsourcing.
Scott Jennings, who originally submitted the motion to SU Council said: “I am so so happy students have voted to support this bill. Privatisation and market structures are making the NHS inefficient, inconsistent and decreasing quality of care. If we want to have an NHS in the future we as students must back this bill to reinstate a Fully Public and more democratic NHS”.
He also cited a private firm withdrawing from its NHS contract early in Hinchinbrooke and doctors withdrawing from the QMC rather than work for a private firm as reasons why the bill and student support is necessary.
One student who voted against the motion commented: “I am disappointed at the result. The NHS needs to outsource to keep up with massive demand and a backlog. Also, the SU should be focusing on university-specific issues more”.
Caroline Chan
Image: diamond geezer via Flickr
I’m glad we have the Uni of Nottingham students against this privitisation fiasco. Staffordshire has already succumbed for profit, with many others going through the change. If there was a way to get the support, old and young, from schools to town centres, and get the eyes wide open on the truth of what the current (and many past) government is doing, then we might have a chance.
Unfortunately I don’t see enough people treating this as a serious problem – they will once we’ve all lost the NHS, when it’s too late.