#wes streeting

[useless-englandfacts]

for those thinking it was all too good to be true: labour deciding to permanently keep the tories' ban on puberty blockers for under 18s

[fascistsarefreefood]

So when I wanted birth control pills I went to my local pharmacy and asked for them, I'm very lucky I have this option to autonomy over my body however it's important to note that birth control pills can have a lot of side effects that aren't properly investigated because of how underfunded reproductive health research is. Side effects of the contraceptive pill include (according to the patient information leaflet):

Serious: blood clots (in leg or foot ie DVT, in a lung ie PE, heart attack, stroke, mini stroke, clots in eye liver stomach or intestine, allergic reaction, breast cancer, cervical cancer, severe liver problems

Less serious: feeling sick, stomach ache, putting on weight, headaches, depressive mood or mood swings, sore breasts, being sick, fluid retention, migraine, loss of interest in sex, breast enlargement, skin rash, poor tolerance of contact lenses, weight loss, increase interest in sex, vaginal or breast discharge, bleeding and spotting between periods, chloasma, occurrence or deterioration of movement disorder chorea, crones disease or ulcerative colitis

In the UK if you want birth control you can go directly to some pharmacies and get it or you go to one GP appointment and get it even if you are under 16

Alternatively you might want an iud. iud insertions are painful women are told to just take an ibuprofen (which some research shows is less effective in women but again that hasn't been fully investigated) during insertion women have reported crying and passing out due to pain levels but it is still not advised that GPS use local anaesthetic during insertion. And again since there is no age restriction for contraception in the UK people under 16 also have to go through this. But that's considered totally acceptable.

What isn't acceptable according to the labour party, are puberty blockers which were obtained by first having a referral to a GP followed by appointments with a multidisciplinary team including a clinical psychologist, child psychotherapist, child and adolescent psychiatrist, family therapist and social worker over three to six months where their then mainly offered psychological treatment finally if your very lucky and also haven't already finished puberty by the time you get to this stage (because NHS waitlist are crazy) you might be sent to a hormone specialist where you might have been given puberty blockers which yes are indeed reversible (the onse that cause irreversible change are oestrogen and testosterone) you can read more about this topic here but this is no longer a possibility because puberty blockers are now considered too dangerous and why is this? What side effects could be worse than the ones caused by contraception that is also available to understand sixteens well apparently puberty blockers are oh so dangerous because they affect bone density. So AFAB people both adults and minors have to suffer from lots of side effects from birth control and no one ever once thought to try create a better version of the pill or they suffer large amounts of pain during iud insertion where again hardly anyone will get anaesthetic however puberty blockers are these terrible things because they may cause bone density issues if that were the case for contraceptives we'd be told to take some calcium and stop whining. Both contraceptives and puberty blockers perform essential functions that save lives and both deserve to be made as safe as possible but this is not about safety this is about hoping trans people will just disappear.

[daisy-mooon]

In case you're wondering how the UK is going, the government wants to give unemployed people Ozempic because it thinks that being unemployed is caused by being overweight? ����???

[getpoliticaluk]

10 days later

Fuck the Labour Party, fuck Wes streeting, fuck keir stalmer, it’s an election year remember this do not give them your vote, your support because they don’t support you

[mxactivist]

An open letter for people in the UK, regarding the current ban on puberty blockers

Open letter to the new Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who plans to maintain the Tory ban on puberty blockers for trans kids and teens.

We, the undersigned, are calling on you to immediately withdraw your support for the ban on puberty blockers for trans young people. International evidence shows that puberty suppressing hormones are a safe and effective way to temporarily pause a young person’s puberty, giving them time to consider their options for transition. Much of the concern around their use stems from the idea that those who take puberty blockers go on to use cross sex hormones as part of their transition. We do not think that trans young people growing up to be happy and healthy trans adults is a bad outcome while rates of de/retransition are exceptionally low. Rather than honouring Labour’s manifesto commitment to “remove indignities for trans people who deserve recognition & acceptance,” you have decided to strip trans young people of their bodily autonomy, undermining important medical principles, such as Gillick Competence, in favour of upholding the Conservative approach of politicising the lives of trans people. Even the widely discredited Cass Review does not go so far as to recommend the criminalisation of puberty blockers for trans young people. Court documents show the former Health Secretary’s decision was motivated by her personal view, rather than on the basis of best available evidence.

[convertgrapeling]

Wes Streeting is an evil pick-me freak and should not be allowed a moment's quiet until trans kids have access to the treatment they need.

[feckcops]

Starmer’s so-called “landslide victory” is built on sand

A deeply unpopular leader, Starmer has not secured the resounding endorsement his 412 seat tally would suggest, while record numbers of Green and independent MPs could pose a robust leftist challenge to Starmer’s Government ­– if they get organised

Keir Starmer, an ersatz Blair without a hint of his charisma or vision, is now Prime Minister, despite securing a vote share six percentage points lower than Jeremy Corbyn in 2017. These results expose the widespread disillusionment, if not outright resentment, towards both Labour and the Tories. Smaller parties and independents had a great showing, with shock wins for Greens and pro-Palestine independents, but also Farage's Reform Party (if indeed you can call a limited company with a CEO and no membership a party). However, a large minority of eligible voters chose not to vote at all, with turnout dropping to 60 percent. This matches the record low set in 2001, when everyone knew Blair was set to be re-elected on a landslide. In elections expected to produce a new government, turnout usually rises – but not so this time. Shockingly, Labour’s mantra of “false hope is worse than no hope” failed to inspire any hope for real change.

It is a damning indictment of our voting system that a party can win over two thirds of seats and celebrate a “landslide victory” after winning over just one in five eligible voters. (Out of the 60 percent who voted, Labour only won a third of the vote.) Thanks to our twee unwritten constitution, this technical win grants Keir Starmer the right to form an electoral dictatorship for the next five years. However, the results do offer some silver linings...

Corbyn won his seat as an independent with a 7,250 vote lead over Labour, after he was blocked from running as Labour’s candidate in Islington North, a seat he'd held for 40 years. Labour also lost Chingford and Woodford Green to Ian Duncan Smith, after Faiza Shaheen was similarly blocked by Labour on dubious grounds and continued her campaign as an independent – ultimately this helped IDS win with around 17,200 votes, compared to Faiza Shaheen and the Labour candidate who each got around 12,500 votes. Shadow cabinet minister Jonathon Ashworth lost his seat to a pro-Palestine independent, along with three other Labour MPs, while another pro-Palestine independent left prominent Terf and shadow health minister Wes Streeting clinging on by a thread. Israel's brutal escalation of its 75 year-long genocide in Palestine has not only dismayed Muslims and anti-Semites, as the media love to imply, but a diverse coalition of people united by their outrage at leading politicians excusing, if not actively cheerleading, such barbarity. These results prove there is an electoral cost for enabling rogue states to commit crimes against humanity.

Beyond the three largest parties, the balance of power in Parliament now lies with a socialist, environmentalist, pro-Palestine left. The Greens won all four of their target seats – not only in the young, urban constituencies of Brighton Pavilion and Bristol Central, but also in the rural, once solidly Tory constituencies of Waveney Valley and North Herefordshire – an achievement few really thought possible. (Greens and pro-Palestine independents also came second in a record number of constituencies, laying the ground for more gains next time.) Those four Green MPs, along with Corbyn and the other four pro-Palestine independents, make up nearly double Reform’s five MPs. As such, we will have a principled leftist grouping in Parliament, not beholden to the Labour whip, to hold Starmer to account.

There is hope the new pro-Palestine independents can put aside subtle philosophical differences and work together to offer a robust left opposition to Starmer. We could see Corbyn and other independents join the Green Party. This would be a strategic move; they could still reasonably claim to be independent voices for their constituents as Green MPs, as the Green Party does not whip its MPs like other parties. Meanwhile, they would benefit from this established party’s resources, networks and mass membership. The highly democratic structure of the party means, if they brought a lot of their voters with them, new Green MPs could even secure a change to any Green policies they disagreed with. As for socialist Labour MPs, we could even see some defect to the Greens now they've secured their seats, especially if Labour remains a deeply hostile environment for them. Defections from Labour seem unlikely at this stage, but they cannot be ruled out.

More than anything, we should take heed that our best chance of enacting real change lies in our communities, through grassroots organising and direct, solidaristic action. Green and pro-Palestine independents only won by rooting themselves in their communities, engaging with the voters they hoped to represent, and inspiring masses of people to join their campaigns. We cannot rely on career politicians, whose class interests are diametrically opposed to ours, to protect us and our interests.

There's more to politics than elections, which only come around every few years and, all too often, seem to yield no real change. Real progress does not come from above. It is not gifted to us by the powers on high. It is fought for, from the ground up. In the words of Frederick Douglass, power concedes nothing without a demand. We must keep faith, keep fighting and keep organising. This election shows us that hard work can bear fruit. We know a better world is possible, but we won't achieve it by just voting. It’s on us to bring it about.

[thetardisisnotourdivision]

Thank you so much to everyone who voted

I have grown up knowing nothing but Tory rule. I had no idea how a government was actually supposed to function, and I'm only realising now how apathetic my whole generation is because of that.

The junior doctors are going on strike. And as a result the government is... Responding? There's a result? The government is meeting with the doctors to negotiate. And that... Ok. That's happening.

And the education secretary... Went to a state school, like me? And is talking about why she wanted specifically to be education minister, rather than just taking the role as a stepping stone to a higher job. And they're... Actually doing stuff to help people???

Thank you so much if you voted. I know it was a risk, and many of you voted for a party you had no faith in, but the outcome really is amazing for people like me - people who can't remember another government ever being in power.

[terrible-cunt]

The UK puberty blocker emergency ban has been labelled lawful. So what now?

TransActual have put out a statement that discusses the ruling. They've made it clear that the fight has not been lost yet, as we cannot go straight from the emergency ban into a permanent ban. The emergency ban will expire in September, and will require a consultation before it can be renewed as permanent. They've linked a post about meeting your MP about this. I've been given the recommendation by someone else that getting cis women to meet their MPs will be especially effective.

Also, when the consultation does come out, if Wes Streeting sticks to his current stance that he will continue the blocker ban, make sure to take part in the consultation. I will likely be boosting it on here.

[useless-englandfacts]

i don’t know what they thought would happen if they gave the british public a say over the nhs but there are some incredible responses coming in

[allthegeopolitics]

A growing number of Labour MPs have spoken out against health secretary Wes Streeting’s “very concerning” decision to make the ban on privately prescribed puberty blockers permanent.  In the wake of criticism from LGBTQ+ organisations and activists, Streeting defended his decision, writing a long thread on X/Twitter on Sunday (14 July). The ban on private prescriptions for puberty blockers was implemented by the since ousted Conservative government in May, a move that followed the publication of the Cass Report in April, which advised scrutiny of the medication. Now, an internal row has erupted, with Labour MPs also voicing their concerns. Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson took to X to label the ban “very concerning”, saying it goes against Labour’s manifesto, which, she pointed out, “promised to remove indignities for trans people who deserve recognition and acceptance. This entails ending the ban on puberty blockers”. Johnson added: “I will always stand with trans youth.” 

Continue Reading.

[rollerska8er]

britain is a now a country where politicians split hairs over whether their policies are causing suicides rather than not implementing policies that might cause suicides

[waiterwaiterpercolator]

Kids are going to kill themselves at unheard-of rates cause of this shit. Was never about protecting the children

[itsallpoliticsstupid]

Everyday I'm starting to wonder if we were better off with the Conservative party.

Recently, the articles with policy ideas to get people back into work have been a little questionable. And borderline cruel.

The first policy idea is to send mental health coaches into hospitals to give people career, CV and interview advice. Just so people don't think I'm lying, here is the article below.

Now, due to my illness, my mental health is degrading as well as my physical health. But I am still, so far, able to work. Whilst I do find it a struggle, my job is my passion and that's what keeps me going in every day. That being said, I can envisage a situation where I find it too much of a struggle and walk away.

People who are in hospital for mental health, are there because they are gravely ill. This isn't a holiday for them. They are there because they are likely to be a danger to themselves. And this Government want to send in jobs coaches for them? Don't they think this would likely cause them more distress?

Well apparently not because they think this is a fantastic idea.

The second wonderful policy idea is giving jabs to obese people to get them back into work.

This angers me so much. Mainly because it implies that all obese people are lazy wasters who spend their time at home.

As an obese person, who is this way due to my medical conditions, I find that so insulting. I eat extremely healthily. All my meals are home made and I exercise 4 times a week. However, I can't lose weight because this NHS have refused me the medication I need to get my insulin levels back to normal.

Yes, that's right. This NHS have contributed to my obesity. Due to my insulin resistance, it is extremely tough for me to lose weight and I need some medication to help with that. But my doctor was more concerned with whether I can still have children than my overall physical health.

So maybe Wes, you could get the NHS to give people like me the medication we actually need, rather than just ply us with a weight loss drug at your convenience.

[stillnaomi]

the BMA is recommending that the NHS halts implementing changes to trans healthcare that are put forward by the Cass Review. the BMA will be analysing the Cass Review and paying special attention to the methodology behind the review (the methodology that excluded most research on trans healthcare by applying unrealistic standards to it)

clearly the BMA has concerns about the ban on puberty blockers and other recommendations imposed by the Cass review. Labour has the power to stop the NHS rolling out those changes and to restore some semblance of decent care to trans youth, but they stand behind the Cass Review and its recommendations. funny that a party which represents the status quo (neoliberal capitalism) would like to reinforce social hierarchies, isn't it?

[eaglesnick]

The NHS will last as long as there are folk left to fight for it” – Aneurin Bevan

I’m no fan of Keir Starmer or Rishi Sunak. Sunak is completely out of touch with ordinary people and Starmer will promise just about anything to get himself into power and then break those promise when it suits him.  However when it comes to the future of the NHS I feel it will be safer under a Labour government than one run by free market, neo-liberal Tories.

From a purely selfish perspective  - something the Conservative Party excels at - the NHS saves all of us a small fortune. When your child needs medical care it is free at the point of use; when your parents need medical care it is free at the point of use; and when YOU need medical care it is free at the point of use.

Of course we pay for this through taxes and national insurance contributions but the clue is in the phrase “national insurance”. Medical treatment in Britain, is, at the moment, paid for through collective funding. It is a system based on community, social responsibility, and the old fashioned concept of caring for your neighbour. . Aneurin  Bevan, the "Father of the NHS” said:

“No society can legitimately call itself civilized if a sick person is denied medical aid because of lack of means."

It is a sad fact that Conservative Party members, many of them rich individuals who can afford private medical treatment, have been undermining the NHS because of their unwavering adherence to the ideological belief that all things run by private enterprise are good while all public sector institutions are bad. . The Tory’s will, of course deny this, claiming the NHS is save in their hands and that they have no plans to privatise it.

 Lets look at the facts.

Despite Prime Minister David Cameron promising there would be no cuts to the NHS this was the headline in the Daily Mirror when the Conservatives took over from Labour in 2012.

“David Cameron cuts NHS spending by £500million.” (06/11/12)

Two years later and we have this headline from the Guardian:

“David Cameron accused of hypocrisy over £1.4bn ‘raid’ on NHS funding." (06/07/2012)

By 2014 NHS staff were on strike because of the Tory government refused to give them a 1% pay rise. Rows over poor pay and under-funding continue to this day.

While Jeremy Hunt was Health Secretary patient experience and staff moral took a dramatic turn for the worse. Despite presenting himself as a “champion of patient safety”, targets were missed, waiting times increased, and the very fabric of some hospitals began to crumble, leading to Hunt being labelled “the man who ruined the NHS”. (Open Democracy: 08/07/22)

In 2016 The Independent ran this headline:

“Jeremy Hunt co-authored book calling for NHS to be replaced with private insurance.” (10/02/2016)

Is it any wonder the NHS has been seriously under-funded and run down when the man in charge was an advocate of private medical health insurance? Millionaires like Cameron (£40m) Hunt (£15m) and Sunak (£651m) can afford to pay for expensive medical care but the rest of us are not so fortunate.

This brings me back to the purely selfish reason we should vote for the party most likely to protect the NHS. Below are some AVERAGE costs for private medical procedures and treatments in the USA provided by Statistica 2021

Heart valve replacement…….$170,000     £133,390

Heart bypass………………….......$123,000     £96,518

Cornea (per eye) ……………......$17,000       £13,339

IVF treatments ………………......$15,400      £12,084

Hysterectomy ………………….....$5200          £4,080

In addition, Americans have to pay for their stay in hospital. This fee is on top of medical treatment costs. According to Debt.org (30/11/23) the price for the average stay in hospital of 4.6 days is $13,262. (£10,406)

Whatever your political leanings, the protection and restoration of the NHS should take precedent over all other electoral considerations because we will ALL need medical treatment at some stage in our lives be that as a child or as an adult.

We know the Tory mantra "private sector good public sector bad” just doesn’t live up to reality: we only have to look at our polluted waterways to realise this. Whether Keir Starmer would be any better at protecting the NHS from profit motivated private companies is a moot point.

With headlines like:

“Can Wes Streeting’s private sector plans save the NHS?” (Guardian: 14/04/24)

and

“Labour’s Wes Streeting just used the SUN to talk up NHS privatisation” (Canary: 08/04/24)

we cannot rely on the Labour Party leadership to protect the NHS from the profiteering private sector, not least because Wes Streeting has been paid £175,000 from donors linked to private health firms. (National: 14/04/24) There is no such thing as a free lunch so one doesn’t have to wonder to hard what these “donors” might want in return for their money!

Even so, I feel there are those within the Labour Party who would work very hard to stop the leadership of the party from running down the NHS to the point of collapse, as is the Tory plan, so with great reservation I will be voting Labour in the coming elections.

Save Our NHS