NHS 1948 - 2012 Killed by The Coalition (LibDem Disgrace)

Liberal Democratic Ministers in the Tory led Coalition "banged the table" during Tuesdays Ministerial meeting to show approval at the passing of the NHS & Social Care Bill.

The Bill is opposed by the majority of NHS nursing & medical professionals, health unions, patients groups and the public. Despite the massive opposition to the Bill the Tories have pushed through radical reform of the NHS which will see wholesale privatisation of sections of it, all with the support of the Liberal Democrats who once championed support for the NHS.

The truth is without Liberal Democratic support this attack on the NHS would not have succeeded, it is doubtful that a Conservative majority Government could have got this Bill through but the Liberal Democrats have acted as a useful shield to the Tories privatisation anti NHS agenda. As for Shirley Williams she has shown herself willing to sell her deepest convictions to remain loyal to a failed Government and Party, every report of Shirley Williams life will refer to her total miscalculation and blinkered response to the NHS & Social Care Act, unlike her "Gang of Four" colleague Dr David Owen, who has been impeccable in his opposition to the attacks on the NHS.

As with the the Poll Tax, opposition to the NHS & Social Care Act will if anything intensify, patients every day experience will show how dogma and not ethics have driven through this Bill. We will win if we remain committed and focused in exposing the many failings of this Act.

Keep up the pressure.

We Are Many
They Are Few

COHSE Wales

COHSE
Confederation of Health Service Employees
Cymru - Wales
Region 10

National Asylum Workers Union
National Union of County Officers

UK National Executive Committee Members elected from Wales, No 10 Region

NAWU19?? - 1928 M. JOYCE (Bridgend)
NAWU1928 - 1946 TOMMY G WESTCOTT (Bridgend)
NUCO19?? - 1946 SYDNEY MITCHELL (Rhondda)
COHSE1946 - 1949 TOMMY G WESTCOTT (Bridgend)
COHSE1949 - 1959 J.O. LEWIS (Bridgend)
COHSE1959 - 1973 DAI HOPKINS (C.R.I.)

* Increase to two NEC members 1968

COHSE1968 - 1977 JACK CHARLES (Cefn Coed)
COHSE1973 - 1981 GERALD T DAVIES (Abergavenny)
COHSE1977 - 1979 DAVE GALLIGAN (U.H.W.)
COHSE1979 - 1980 BOB JOHN (Whitchurch)
COHSE1981 - 1984 BILL ADDAMS(C.R.I)
COHSE1982 - 1990 JOHN VIDAL(Gwynedd)
COHSE1984 - 1990 BARBARA THYER(Rhondda)
COHSE 1991 - 1992 CATH JONES (Whitchurch)
COHSE 1991 - PAT DWAN (Cefn Coed)
COHSE 1992 - LLENOIS PHILLIPS (East Glamorgan)

COHSE Chair Wales Regional Council 1945 - formation of Unison

1945-1948 W.J. Hussey (St Cadocs)
1949-1959 Councillor Sidney Mitchell (Rhondda)
1960-1969 Arthur Powell (Bridgend)
1970-1971 George Pyle (Aberbeeg)
1972 -1973 Gerald t Davies (Abergavenny)
1974-1984 Iori Davies (Whitchurch)
1985- 1986 Allan Couch (Cefn Coed)
1987- Glyn Graham (Gwynedd)



COHSE WALES REGION OFFICERS 1955

Councillor Sydney Mitchell (Rhondda) - Chairman
Dai Hopkins - Vice Chairman
NEC member - J. O Lewis (Bridgend)
Regional Secretary - F. Mc Carthy

A.C. Powell - Bridgend
G. Thomas - Bridgend
G. Pyle - Aberbeeg
L. J. Oakley - Royal Gwent
T.G. John - Whitchurch
G. Haylings -Pontypridd
A. Davies - Carmarthen
I. Daniel - Carmarthen
J.W. Davies - Tredegar
P.G. Tiley - Abergavenny
D. Weaver - Abergavenny
P.Palmer - Ely Lodge
F.S. Tudball - Hensol Castle
E.G. Read - Mount Pleasant
J. Perry - Hill House
D. B. Davies - Cefn Coed
C. Neville - Aberystwyth
P. Powell- Chepstow
T.P Reardon - Talgarth
A.W Green Royal Gwent
T.G Westcott Bridgend Officers & Sub Officers
H. J Stonelake Porth
A.E. Lewis - Talgarth
A.E. Davies St Davids (Cardiff)
G Pyle - Aberbeeg
T. O'Neil - Mounton

COHSE Executive Regional Executive Powell, Haylings and Pyle and officers

Membership COHSE Wales January 1954 2,622

COHSE Regional Office

Merthyr Chambers
50 High Street
Merthyr Tydfil

NOTES


C. F Cromer COHSE General Secretary retired in 1953, Mr J. T Waite was elected general secretary.

Retirement of long standing and respected branch secretary at Cardiff Royal infirmary Mr E. Baker awarded with life membership.

Pontypridd branch resolution calling for a TB allowance Carried.
Problem with new Matron at Porth Hospitals, student nurses complaining about her rule.

Regrading claims won included, nurses, clerical staff, hospital stokers (heating), bakers and farm Labourers to head pigman (NHS psychiatric hospitals often had attached farms for therapy and food for patients).

A number of cases of staff being forced to work excessive hours or on the wrong grades were reported.

The Region was concerned about the use of overseas NHS staff.

the Regional Secretary Mc Carthy stated
"There are still within the health services, a large number of employees, who are unorganised each and everyone of us have a responsibility in this direction, by example, and force of argueement we have to convince these employees that it is in their interest to organise within a specialist trade union and that union is COHSE".

membership in the Region increased by 67 in the year.

The Regional secretary reported that as a union official he had in 1955 carried out the following duties.
509 visits to COHSE union branches
68 meetings with hospital management
Undertaken 13 appeals
Attended 12 regional union meetings

Recruitment in Ebbw Vale and North Monmouthshire was being carried out by G Pyle, COHSE District Secretary.

L. W. Oakley at Royal Gwent Hospital had retired as COHSE Branch secretary in 1955

New branch of COHSE established at Pension Hospital, Chepstow, Monmouthsire. This was due to the efforts of the long established branch secretary P. Powell at Chepstow branch.

The biggest increases in COHSE membership had occured at Cardiff Royal Infirmary (CRI), Aberbeeg Pontypridd.

Overseas guests at October 1955 Regional Council were
Mr N.C.A Thompson Exchange manger and Mr C.H.K Brown Gold Coast Personnel officer Ministry Labour
Mer Wong Siew Wai Malaya Labour Officer and Mr Loke Wing San Asst Comm for Labour officer

1956

P G Tiley Abergavenny
D R Watkin Bridgend officer
A. E Lewis Talgarth
W. D Davies Ely
D B Davies Cefn Coed
P Powell Chepstow
D. L. Williams Talgarth

It was reported that discussions were being held with NUPE at a national level

COHSE branches were demanding in 1956

A 44hr week for nurses
6 weeks holiday
Seperate council for mental health nurses
Increase in salary for NHS staff
Enhanced overtime

COHSE branches were actively discussion banning overtime and working to rule strikes in furtherance of their claim for a 44hr week and substantial pay rise for nurses.

It was reported at may 1956 regional council of COHSE Wales that staff in the laundry departments (Tredegar COHSE branch) were demanding that staff who operated steam iron presses should secure an enhanced or plus rate of 3d per hour The region agreed .

Council noted that T.G. Westcott (Tommy G Westcott - Bridgend - national asylum workers union) was due to retire after long service to COHSE/NAWU and the NHS.

COHSE had secured the re instatement of nurse Mrs M. Wakely Blaina hospital .

Membership of COHSE increased by 173 in 1956 in Wales

COHSE reported supporting NHS Tailors, ambulance members working for the Red Cross


the winners of the 1956 COHSE Christmas Draw included
Sister Walstead, MOP Hospital Chepstow
E Jaynes, 5 Buller Terrace Tredgar
Sister Nancy Jones F1 ward St Davids, Carmarthen

At theDecember 1956 it was reported that Mr I Adams, Brigend (Mental) hospital branch ex regional council member had died

1957

Dai Hopkins (CRI) loses vote for Vice Chair to A. C Powell (Bridgend)

A. C. Vine - Mounton Chepstow
D. R Watkin - Bridgend Officer
E Williams - Cardiff Royal infirmary (CRI)
N A D Bosanko - Hensol Castle
J Edwards - Ely
E W Jones - Bridgend
J Perry - Hill House
D Weaver - Abergavenny
T.E. Selkirk - Mounton Chpstow
G Goodwin - Brecon
K. Evans - Bridgend
H. J Stonelake - Porth
A. Davies - Llwynypia
E. G Read - Mount Pleasant
A W Green - Royal Gwent Hospital
Dai Hopkins - CRI
D. R Watkins - Bridgend officers
G Stephens - Abergavenny
I Daniels - Camarthen
E W Jones - Bridgend
A. E Lewis - Talgarth
T.G John - Whitchurch
G Pyle - Aberbeeg

It was reported that the COHSE national ban on overtime in furtherance of reduced hours and improved pay had been 100% effective in Wales, the branch that had carried out the selective action being Bridgend from 1st until 28th September 1956

A 46 hour week for NHS ancillary workers was introduced 1st October 1957 down to 44 in july 1958



April 1957 it was reported that Mr F. McCarthy, was to be the sole regional secretary for COHSE Wales No 10 Region, previously he had combined the role with regional secretary for South west No 7 region. The new regional secretary in the South west was Mr Tiley.

It was reported that Alderman Sydney Mitchell OBE was now President elect for 1958 Welsh regional council of Labour (Labour Party).

COHSE was conducting recruiting at Rookwood Hospital and a new COHSE union branch at Brecon Hospital (Powys) branch had been established.

Wales COHSE Union Branches 1957
Abergavenny
Aberystwyth
Carmarthen
Chepstow
Bridgend
Ely Lodge (Cardiff)
Hill House
Pontypridd Hospital
Mount Pleasant
Amman Valley
Cardiff Royal Infirmary
Cefn Coed
Hensol Castle
East Glamorgan
Caerleon
Llwynypia Hospital
Porth Hospital
St David's Hospital
Cefn Coed Officers & Sub Officers
Talgarth
Whitchurch
Swansea Central
Mounton (Pension) Chepstow
Bridgend
Bridgend Officers & sub officers
Tredegar Hospital
Abeerbeeg Hospital
Royal Gwent Hospital
Pontypool Hospital

1957 COHSE union Wales membership 2,898 in 16 branches


It was reported that a national ballot of (mainly nurses) in mental hospitals and mental deficiency hospitals(mentally handicapped) had resulted.

In favour of a national ban on overtime 11,126
against 2,995

Cefn Coed branch had written to branches in the region urging support for Rainhill Hospital (Lancashire) "sit down strike" in support of improved pay and reduced hours for nurses.

Issues for local branches included hospital accomodation rent rises and imposing of new rotas, such as at Blaina.

A big recruitment campaign was in place at St Woolas, and Royal Gwent hospital

Delegete from Hensol Castle Mr Bosanko Hensol Castle

membership 2,898 16 branches

New COHSE Branch Secretary at the newly formed COHSE union branch at Brecon hospital, Councillor G. Goodwin.


New COHSE hospital union Branches at

Shepton Mallett 1954
Bristol United 1954
Chepstow Pensions (Mounton) 1955
Stapleton General 1955
Royal Devon Exeter 1955
Brecon 1957

Netley Hospital WW1 banner

Netley Hospital, Southampton was a military hospital during World War 1, the main hospital had been expanded considerably to cope with causalities from the front. At it's peak had over 2,500 beds and an estimated 50,000 patients were treated at the hospital during the war.

This unique picture of World War 1 soldiers and a banner which has Power House Camp - Netley Light Infantry - (power hose probably referring to the electricity/gas supply).

click to enlarge photo above