What you can do:

Model letter to your MP
Your name
Your address

Date
Dear ……………………. MP

Labour came to power in 1997 pledged to abolish the NHS internal market and deliver world class public services through sustained investment and reform.

However, since 2002 reforms have centred on increasing the role of the private sector and the creation of markets, rather than empowering NHS staff to work together to bring about desired improvements.

PFI and contracting out have continued and markets have been introduced in the NHS, through pricing mechanisms, competition and the development of foundation hospitals.

On July 28, the NHS Chief Executive issued instructions to Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and Strategic Health Authorities demanding major changes in the way primary care will be delivered in the future.

Sir Nigel Crisp's letter specified that PCTs will become "commissioning-led organisations with their role in provision reduced to a minimum" and directs that a range of providers be introduced to ensure competition. This marks a very significant change in the way community health services are to be delivered, threatening job losses and a major expansion of the private sector into our NHS.

The 28 July announcement included the notification of the roll out of foundation trust status to all hospitals and to the ambulance service.

This follows the decision by the Secretary of State to give £3 billion to the expansion of independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs).

Hospitals are being made independent of Government, and left to stand or fall on their ability to break even, with those that are not able to being allowed to close.

In place of public accountability, decisions about the nature and pattern of service provision will increasingly be driven by profitability and the logic of the market.

All these changes are presented as an extension of patient choice: but I am a patient and so are my friends, neighbours and work colleagues, and none of us have never been asked our views or given an opportunity to express our opposition to the fragmentation and privatization of the NHS.

I am writing to urge you to bring every available pressure to bear on Patricia Hewitt and other government ministers to halt these half-baked reforms before more damage is done to the fabric of the NHS.

Yours sincerely,