Cllr Tom Hartley challenged to justify health cuts

The Socialist Party has challenged Councillor Tom Hartley, who sits on the Belfast Health Trust's Executive Board, to publicly justify the massive cuts the Trust is implementing. After receiving a 'response' from Mr. Hartley, West Belfast Socialist Representative Pat Lawlor wrote this letter, which was carried in the Irish News and Andersonstown News.

11/03/2010

Dear editor,

In response to my challenge to justify the cuts being implemented by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Councillor Tom Hartley, who sits on the Trust’s Executive Board, has refused to make any answer. Instead, in a letter dated 8th March, he has told us to await a justification from the Trust Corporate Communications Department.

Hands off our NHS!

End privatisation - build a fully funded, publicly owned and democratically run health service

Trade unionists, health activists and local communities have been protesting in recent weeks at plans to close critical care and maternity services in general hospitals. The National Health Service (NHS) is under severe strain due to a mountain of 'debt' acquired by health trusts and hospitals due to the running of an 'internal market' by successive Tory and Labour governments.

JON DALE explains how privatisation and other big business policies are devouring the NHS, and the policies needed to stop these private 'vultures'.

Stop the health cuts

Patients with infectious diseases side-by-side with surgical patients, wards grossly understaffed, single - use equipment being used on many patients - even a lack of rubber gloves!

No, this is not a description of conditions in hospitals in a poor African country, but reports that we have heard from NHS staff right here in Northern Ireland!

Assembly parties attacked for failure to save jobs at Tyrone Crystal

The Socialist Party demands that the Assembly Executive takes action to save jobs at Tyrone Crystal by taking the workplace into public ownership.

The decision of company bosses to close Tyrone Crystal will lead to not just the thirty one jobs at the factory but many more jobs losses in the area. The last thing Dungannon and Tyrone needs is more job losses.

Water charges lies answered

To their disgrace, the parties in the Assembly Executive are attempting to bully householders into accepting water charges with the threat of even further cuts to public services. It is being peddled that the cuts to public services are because householders are not paying water charges. This is a lie and the facts speak for themselves.

Opposition to library closures mounts

The proposal to close fifteen libraries in the Belfast area has been met with strong opposition. Hazel Gilliland, who has been campaigning against the closures in Ballymacarrett told the The Socialist that, "the proposals would have a devastating effect. There are no facilities left in the community. Children will grow up without local access to books and the elderly will lose an important place to relax and enjoy a good book."

Home Help Slander

Privatisation to blame, not workers!

Following the recent revelations that the Southern Health Trust has received 15 accusations of ‘ill treatment’ by home help workers, Socialist Party representative Pat Lawlor has stated that privatisation is the problem, not workers.

Stand up to homophobia

To the editor, The Impartial Reporter,

I'm sure I wasn't the only reader of your paper to be disgusted by the homophobic content in the letter from Patrick Maguire in last week's paper.

It is estimated widely that approximately one in ten people are born homosexual and that this ratio is similar pretty much around the world. As a result of widespread hostility and prejudice, many homosexual people suffer from unremitting bullying, isolation and rejection from their families and communities. The situation in Fermanagh is known to be particularly grave in this regard.