The EGA — I've never really taken it seriously. 1 thought it was just an issue for cranks and lesbians.
These were the words of David Ennals, Services Secretary, when approached last week by a delegation of women MPs ments decision to close une largest women s nosoital in the country. Ennals' bigoted and casual attitude hospital is hardly surprising. As the person directly responsible for the Government's savage attacks or the health service, which could involve the closure of up to 120 hospitals in London alone (out of a total number of 150), he can hardly be expected to be either interested or informed about individual cases.
He remains in ignorance at his own risk, however. For the EGA struggle, involving the first ever work-in al a brusn nospital (now in is tourtn week), stands a of a amongst health workers determined to resist Ennals plans for dismantling the NHS.
The EGA workers have been fighting to save their hospital since last January, announced that it was to close on its present site. The authorities have now made it clear that they want all the patients out by the beginning of next year. They can then proceed to demolish the hospital and auction its valuable site to the highest bidder.
STRIKE ACTION widespread support from the London workers movement espenaly insce une neau service. lay over 1,000 workers in local hospitals took. strike action to show their solidarity. and on 17 November joined the 3,000-strong march from the EGA to the bezinning of the huge demonstration against the cuts Even the London organisations involved at the hospital - NUPE, ASTMS, COHSE and NALGO — nave been forcea to voice ineir support for the campaign; NUPE have even gone so 121 25 1o nack 11 natonal. meant very little in practice.
Even on a London level the official bodies of the nions have made no attempt to build solidarity with the EGA. Organising protest marches through London to assist in the gentle art of persuasion is one ching, backing up workers who are taking industrial action to resist the cuts is quite another, and certainly not within the spirit of the Social Contract.
opposed to his departgrowing national movement DaLICHEs closure.
isolated, when Barbara Castle meetings, save me nosola nas arracred Mall London. of the unions Unfortunately this has Yet a London-wide and national response from the inaustar unons. nom une buone sccror generaly and especially from within the health service is absolutely essential if the EGA and the hundreds of othei hospitals facing closure or rundown are to be saved Exemplary struggles are taking place in many hospitals up and down the country.
LOCAL SUPPORT At Lansdowne in South Wales, campagn to save a geriatric nospital nas attracted widespread local support including that of the South Wales miners: in London. at St. Monica's hospital In Willesden, ambulance drivers are refusing to move OUL. -ancreDy blocking another But if each individual struggle remains the Area Health Authorities under the direction of the Department of Health and Social Services can pick them off one by one, presenting each separate closure as a 'special case'.
Unfortunately the "special case' argument is not restricica to mnose wanung to close ine Garrett Anderson hospital. It is also copie wno warl lo keeot une consequence not enough effort has been put into sending representatives to union meetings. stewards and trades councils to build support amongst the labour movement for the struggle.
But the stewards in the hospital are beginning to tackle this problem. On 11 December they have called a conference for delegates and throughout the London workers movement to discuss support for the EGA. opportunity to begin the co-ordination of resistance to the health cuts, not only at the EGA but throughout The EGA work-in faces other at the hospital are concerce avour us ciosure. neir starement mar work-in or no, they will treat any patient who attends the EGA reflects only their dissatisfaction with the terms of the transfer as it affects their own individual position (they want at least 74 beds at the alternative Site au the Whittington). obviously desirable, it can in no way be relied upon.
Untortunately unis problem is not tuily understood by those leading the work-in. Too much attention has nearly enough to ensuring that the mass of workers in La concerted attempted used by many CUA ODen. representatives This provides an excellent DAY-TO-DAY problems not particularly Whilst their support is THE E.G.A the hospital are actively and democratically involved in the struggle. Even the date of the beginning of the work-in was kept secret by the stewards committee until the day it actually started.
Mass involvement of the EGA workers in the work-in is not just a good ining — il is essental l the tactic is to be used successfully. This means that accisions concerne recurai or danents. acuvery o1 supplies, maintenance of the hospital, payment of wages. and all the dav-to-dav problems involved in running a hospital must be made by all those involved in the struggle. This in turn is only possible if the broadest forces are encouraged to take part.
As yet at the EGA this has hot occurred. By and large the management has been allowed to maintain its STOP HE E.G.A authority inside the work-in.
of management problems are overcome Keso unons or SuDDOrE Euston Road, London NW1.
RESTORLE CUIS and SAIT JOBS BREAK*** the CONTRACT Contingent in support of the EGA work-in on the mammoth 17 November demonstration These shortcomings of the EGA struggle, its lack of mass involvement and its failure to break the authority are serious weaknesses. Because it represents the first ever attempt to institute general workers control inside a hospital, all those who are Ignung to stop tne massive curs in tne nris and tne other social services should be concerned that these The difficulties faced now by those-involved in the EGA struggle are the same problems which man other health workers will have to tackle as the fight against the health cuts gathers strength. It is therefore vital that the EGA work-in is given the widest possible support by all sections of the labour movement.
donanions ane orTers oI help should be sent to: EGA Joint Shop Stewards Committee, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital,