By Kevin Adjei-Darko
July 6 2020, 00.30
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A campaign group is calling for an end to the privatisation of the National Health Service.
As the institution turned 72 on July 5, several people across the country baked cakes to celebrate and appeal to end private entities receiving NHS contracts.
The mass baking organised by campaign group We Own It features messages of support and thanks for the NHS but also bears notes slamming privatisation.
The group’s director, Cat Hobbs, said: “It’s high time we gave the NHS a birthday present it really deserves – an end to privatisation.”
Ms Hobbs said for far too long, private companies have been taking slices out of the NHS.
This comes after Health Minister, Edward Agar confirmed £6.2 billion worth of contracts had been given to private companies to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic in the UK.
“As of the beginning of June, 636 contracts have been awarded by the Department to private sector companies worth approximately £6.2 billion by the Department”, said Mr Argar in response to a parliamentary question.
The NHS began on July 5, 1948 and is facing perhaps its toughest challenge yet with the outbreak of coronavirus, which has so far killed 44,000 in the UK and nearly 530,000 around the world.
On one of the cakes the message: “NHS not on the table”.
A petition calling for an end to NHS outsourcing has been started and has gained 16,000 signatures so far.
