NHS privatisation + IT (was [Sheflug] Computing)

[Timothy Baldwin <nospam [at] comp.leeds.ac.uk>]

On Fri, 24 Nov 2000, Richard wrote:

[about Computing magizine]

> at page 14 there's an article about EDS.  Says....  "EDS wants to take
> care of the NHS - Services giant says it will 'squeeze out'
> inefficiencies".  Further down it says...  "EDS sees the health
> service as its next key market - Much NHS technology is outdated and
> poorly co-ordinated".

I would say the motive for the under-funding of the NHS is to provide an
argument for privatisation.

> erm...  perhaps I might be allowed to say something here ?  Why is it
> that a company that is known at an international level as "cowboys
> incorporated" is taking an interest in making sure that the tax payer
> shells out to extend their company profits ?

Cowboys will be cowboys.

> Surely someone can see
> that we don't need them at all ?

Many trade unions (including Unison from grass roots to national leadership),
too many political parties to count (including the SWP and the Socialist
Alliances) and Leeds save our hospitals campaign [1], are against privatisation
of the NHS, including PFI and any outsourcing (implicitly including IT). Also
strike action is being taken in Dudley, West Midlands against privatisation of
the NHS. Not to mention the campaigns againist the privatisation of other
things.

See this week's Socialist Worker (page 2) at
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/1724/IX.HTM

> Recently I went to the Get it Right trade show.  While I was there I
> met someone from the Royal Hallamshire Hospital who said to me that
> they all knew that win95/98 was completely reliable and low cost. 
> Furthermore the in built security was the kind of thing that would
> retain all patients records.

Were they responsible for IT decisions? If so something needs to be done.

> My own view on this is that I know that
> most of the medical records have been stolen.  Other thing is, it's
> happened because of the use of NT4.
> 
> It might be that I am speaking out of turn here.  Perhaps EDS and the
> NHS really do deserve each other ?  So, in future hospital treatment
> can only be found in private practice ?

So join in the fight, your local Socialist Alliance [2] (Note UK relavance), a
trade union (if not already), the protests in Nice [3] on the 6th of
December (not forgeting about software patents whilst you're there).

[1] Who meet every Monday 7pm, Victora Hotel, Great George St. Leeds. (Next to
the pub WYLUG goes to.)

[2] I am not including Leeds Left Alliance here.

[3] Backed by British TUC, European TUC and, in France by ATTAC, CFDT, CGT.
    For Transport details phone 07790 037 593.

-- 
Timothy Baldwin
Vote Socialist Allaince!
Member of WYLUG, SWP, LUU SciFi Society

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