Privatisation always has been wasteful

The coalition has been trying hard for 12 months or more to undo the hard-won gains for the NHS which that great Welshman Nye Bevan achieved on behalf of the people.

When the Tories/Lib Dems first announced their NHS reforms there were few voices raised in objection.

Now we have heard doctors, nurses, patients, groups, the Royal College of Nursing, and the National Medical Council loud and clear, calling a stop to further privatisation.

Attempts to partially privatise the Post Office, selling off the profitable parts, brought the Post Office to its knees.

Privatising our railways has given us the most expensive rail system in the world. Few trains run on time and we have the worst railway stock in Europe.

When the water industry was privatised it was taken over by French entrepreneurs and costs spiralled out of control.

Privatising electricity and gas has resulted in prices rising every year, sometimes by three times the rate of inflation. Today Scottish Power, having burdened customers with a massive increase. is again putting bills up 17 per cent above the rate of inflation. Others are ready to follow suit.

Privatisation? No Thanks!

The Tories and Lib Dems have been forced to backtrack on parts of the Health Bill but it won't be enough to safeguard our beloved NHS.

The government still wants to waste £2m promised for patient care on the Tory NHS reorganisation and force many hospitals to make deep cost cutbacks. The party still wants to break up the NHS and open all parts of the health service to private companies.

If we don't make a stand to make our health service then it will go down the same road as the gas, electricity, water, railways and post offices. Privatisation simply doesn't work for the people of this country.

We the people have won the concessions and it we who must stop the Tories' privatisation madness.

Ray Davies
Bedwas