By Isle of Wight Observer
On Saturday, January 12, a committed group of island residents joined together to highlight and plan actions to help prevent NHS services from being moved away from the Island. The IOW Save Our NHS Group will fight and work with other groups to prevent services on the Island, that are life-saving, from being closed or starved of funding and staff.
The IoW NHS group has issued the following statement:
“It’s never been more important to get involved and fight for what we believe in, and there is nothing more important than our health. The NHS was born out of a long-held ideal that good healthcare should be available to all, regardless of wealth.
“Over the last 70 years, the NHS has transformed the health and well-being of the nation and become the envy of the world. We must stop the privatisation and sell-off of our NHS.
“Our Island’s Cross-Solent Transportation Scheme enables lifesaving treatment to be accessed by Island people, but this administration considers it to be something that is not worthy of funding!
“Government policy is literally killing the NHS and our own island administrations is implementing its own health cuts. Cllr Mosdell is the cabinet member for Health and Adult Social Care and is directly accountable to our Island people for this proposed cut.
“This suggestion puts people’s lives at risk and strikes fear in the hearts of many, who are already physically and emotionally compromised by their diagnosis of Cancer or kidney disease. The burden and stress of serious illness is bad enough without further financial anxiety.
“On January 16, the Cross Solent Patient Transport Scheme is being debated by the IWC. Please canvas your local councillor and ask them to say NO cuts for this service. You can also sign the petition at https://www.change.org/p/steve-gibbs-stop-the-lsle-of-wight-council-scrapping-free-cross-solent-travel-for-nhs-patients
