Peebles residents back call to stop sale of the NHS

They showed their support for a petition that is calling for Tweeddale MP David Mundell to stand up for the National Health Service.

They made a collective stand against the threat of what they claim would be an irreversible sell-off of their health services to America.

Households raised Cameron & Mundell Estate Agency boards with the message to 'Stop the Sale’ and demand that Prime Minister David Cameron vetoes the NHS from the EU-US trade deal called TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership).

Mr Mundell responded by insisting that TTIP offers no threat and that there are more pressing issues surrounding the NHS.

Rows of houses in streets across Peebles and Biggar had estate agency style signs outside on Wednesday calling for Cameron & Mundell Estate Agents to Stop the Sale and use the veto to protect the NHS.

The action took place across 50 streets in Mr Mundell’s constituency including Clark Place, Graham Street, Kittlegairy Road, Cademuir Drive, North Street, Dalatho Street, North Place and Rosetta Place in Peebles.

Robin Wilson, 37, and her 41-year-old husband Lee, of Kittlegairy Road, were two Peebles residents involved in the action.

Mr Wilson said: “I totally disagree with what they are doing with the NHS and that’s one of the reasons why I voted yes in the referendum. I am against the big corporations invading the NHS.” The protests were made as part of a UK-wide movement by the People’s NHS across hundreds of neighbourhoods in England, Scotland and Wales.

Activists also held a rally in Peebles and hung a banner from Priorsford Bridge to drive the campaign message home to their MP. Organiser Jody Jamieson said: “Hundreds of households across Peebles and Biggar delivered a clear message by raising 'Stop the Sale’ signs in protest over David Cameron’s refusal to veto the NHS from the dangerous trade deal called TTIP.

“I was really pleased at the response we got from the people in Peebles.

“Not only is Westminster selling off the NHS in England - they are putting the NHS in Scotland at risk of irreversible privatisation because of TTIP.

“We demand our local MP calls on Cameron to ensure he uses his veto to protect the NHS. The SNP, Scottish Greens and Scottish Labour all back The People’s NHS campaign - why isn’t Westminster listening to the people of Scotland?” Another Peebles-based campaigner, Cat Hamilton, is determined that the fight will go on to save the NHS in its present form both in Scotland the rest of the UK.

Her son Aaron has received organ transplants at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and still has treatment south of the border.

She said: “We have something to be proud of and it must be preserved. There’s no place for transplants in Scotland and it’s important that the NHS is run in the same way in England as well.” In Scotland, although devolution has provided a buffer to this privatisation, the veto power that Mr Cameron has is not extended to Holyrood, and it appears that inclusion of the NHS in TTIP will affect NHS Scotland.

But Mr Mundell insisted: “Having looked into this matter closely, there is just no evidence that the TTIP will have any impact on the Health Service locally or nationally.

“The agreement which is still under negotiation is about improving trade between Europe and America. It has the potential to create thousands of jobs in Scotland and bring much needed investment which I think is a good thing. It is nothing to do with privatising the NHS and to suggest otherwise is simply wrong.

“The EU Commissioner for Trade has confirmed in writing that “on the NHS, TTIP does not affect the UK or devolved government’s sovereignty over how the NHS services are provided, whether in Scotland or the rest of the UK” and that “the EU’s approach is that nothing in TTIP will lead to privatisation of the NHS.

“As was demonstrated conclusively during the referendum, the NHS is fully devolved to the Scottish Government and they take all the decisions on how it is run. Rather than being distracted by TTIP, we need to tackle the issues with recruitment, funding for rural areas and the obsession with centralising services.” He added that the challenges at a local level including keeping Hay Lodge Hospital open, the difficulties filling consultant vacancies, the lack of carers for an aging population and waiting times to see GPs.

However, local MSP Aileen Campbell said: “It is extremely concerning and worrying that UK Minister, Earl Howe, said that it would be 'unwise’ to exclude the healthcare sector from the TTIP talks.

“We need clarity from the UK Government if we are to be given any comfort they will act in the best interests of our precious NHS.” A Government spokesperson added: “The TTIP cannot force European countries to privatise public services.

“It is - and will remain - up to the Scottish government to decide how Scottish public services, including the NHS, are run.”