CAMPAIGNERS have hailed a national day of action as a 'success' as they joined forces with the 'We Own It' national pressure group.
On Saturday a group of campaigners from Keep Our NHS Public (KNOP) Kendal and South Lakes joined KNOP groups across the country.
Paul Casson, on behalf of KONP Kendal and South Lakes, said: "It was another successful day in Kendal on Saturday with regard to the national day of action to rebuild our NHS.
"Many people, then and there, used our QR code or used our weblink to sign the email to David Flory the chief executive of Lancaster and South Cumbria NHS, demanding that he set the policy to prevent private companies from sitting on our ICs boards.
"We also collected 80 signatures in 90 minutes on hard copy, from those who were less tech savvy, but equally committed to keeping our NHS public."
The group is demanding that the local NHS is rebuilt for 'people over profit' and demanding that 'private profit-making companies are no longer permitted to suck the life out of our NHS'.
Kevin Lavery, chief executive designate of the NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “There has been extensive engagement with partners about the membership of the ICB unitary board and the contents of the constitution and these have been discussed in meetings where public have been able to observe.
“The board membership has been confirmed and is comprised of Non-Executive Members, ICB Executive Directors, and Partner Members, who will be collectively and corporately accountable for organisational performance, ensuring its functions are effectively and efficiently discharged and its financial obligations are met. We have confirmed that we will have a number of Participants at board meetings, in order to inform its decision-making and the discharge of its functions.
“Participants do not hold accountability, do not have voting rights, but are invited at the discretion of the Chair in order to bring a broader perspective to the discussions and decision-making in the Board, particularly for items where they can bring a perspective relevant to their area of expertise.
“We already have a mixture of public sector and private providers within our health and care system and we have clear processes in place to manage conflicts of interest, which have to be declared and recorded and made transparent."
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