Thursday 11 March 2010

ROY STANDS UP FOR RUGBY PATIENTS!


RUGBY GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE AND CAR PARKING CHARGES PROTESTERS MEET HEAD OF HOSPITAL IN BOARDROOM!

Roy Sandison (top right) in discussion with Philip Townshend (middle)

Roy Sandison newly selected Green Party Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Rugby was invited to join protesters from the NHS SOS group to hand in a 3000 signed petition to the Chairman of the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (which covers Rugby St Cross) Philip Townshend last week.

Roy and other protesters met with Philip Townshend in his own Board Room at the Coventry Hospital to ask him to take action in respect of the ‘Tax on Health’ charge for people visiting their loved ones in hospital, attending appointments and working in the NHS.

The meeting took place in the Boardroom (before the Board of the Hospital was due to meet) after Philip Townshend did not turn up to meet with us - as agreed by him to discuss our concerns and receive the petition on behalf of 3000 people.

Philip Townshend who is a Labour Councillor was asked about his views about the fact that his party introduced PFI (Private Finance Initiative) into the NHS and was responsible for the introduction of privatised car parking fees into the NHS.

Roy Says “We asked that Mr Philip Townshend and the Board of the hospital as a start to seek the removal of PFI (Private Finance Initiative) in respect of car parking – which at the moment means that our hospitals in Coventry and Rugby have to pay a private company £1.4 million a year for the next 25 years. We argued strongly that private company should have no role in imposing ‘a tax on people health’ through these car parking charges”

PROGRESS OVER TAX ON HEALTH?
Mr Townshend said he could not speak on behalf of the Labour Party but assured us that the Trust Board later in their meeting would be discussing our concerns and will meet with us to discuss the outcome of the meeting and ensure that the PFI Company currently running the car parks would be in attendance as well.

Philip Townshend said our concerns and that of local people would be taken into account when the Car parking contract comes up fro retendering in 2011.
Roy Says “We welcome this possible movement on car parking charges – but as we made clear at the meeting , PFI itself is drain on our hospitals (including Rugby St Cross) to the tune of £3.3 Billion and needs removing ASP before it results in enviable cuts in hospital services.”

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