Health

Elective surgery: a new party for the NHS February 2013
Alex Nunns interviews Clive Peedell, co-leader of the new National Health Action Party, which will fight the next election on the issue of the government’s destruction of the NHS

The health hurricane: a year of destruction in the NHS February 2013
Alex Nunns looks at the gale of privatisation, sell-offs and cuts in services blowing through the health service

Lines of battle in the NHS August 2012
It is not inevitable that the feeding frenzy of privateers will succeed as people organise to resist them, writes Caroline Molloy

McKinsey’s unhealthy profits July 2012
Stewart Player and Colin Leys on the consultancy firm making a fortune from the privatisation of the NHS

After the health bill: The end of the NHS as we know it April 2012
With the health bill passed, the government is now setting about forcing the market into the NHS. Colin Leys looks at what is likely to happen next

Lancet editor and doctors write: The fight for our NHS goes on March 2012
As the health bill becomes law, Richard Horton, editor of The Lancet, and doctors Jacky Davis and Jonathon Tomlinson issue a call to action

Healthy alternatives July 2011
Colin Leys looks at how Scotland and Wales have rejected marketising the NHS

Making sense of the ‘pause’ in the health bill April 2011
Colin Leys on the proposed changes to the health bill, and how we can use the pause to defend the NHS

The worst fears confirmed January 2011
Elizabeth McGuirk explains the key proposals of the Health and Social Care Bill

Spreading the pain November 2010
Patients need health workers to take action on their behalf, says Mike Marqusee

An unsuitable case for treatment October 2010
GP Jonathon Tomlinson tells how creeping privatisation has affected one of his patients

Dismantling the NHS October 2010
Stewart Player and Colin Leys expose the reality of the government's plans for the health service

Vital resistance September 2010
Donald Morrison looks at the resistance needed to beat the health white paper

Killing your own creation April 2009
Colin Leys examines how and why Labour is destroying the NHS

Bad practice April 2009
GP services are being undermined by a blind faith in 'market solutions', writes Dr Louise Irvine

The PCT and the public April 2009
Susan Secher describes her experiences of local health care 'consultation'

Nye’s nightmare April 2009
Health secretary Alan Johnson maintains that in backing centralised GP 'super-surgeries' he is staying true to the dream of the founder of the NHS. Tom Foot says the reality is more like Nye's nightmare

Hepatitis C and me September 2007
Anita Roddick, who helped fund the redesigned Red Pepper magazine and website, died from a hepatitis C-related brain haemorrhage in September 2007. Earlier that year she wrote about discovering she had the illness that is known as the 'silent killer' because so few people know they have it

A healthy choice July 2007
Labour's deputy leadership contest has at least revealed one thing - the extent of unease over Tony Blair's market reforms of the NHS. Ministers have made statements that would once have got them sacked but now get them votes. Red Pepper and Keep Our NHS Public teamed up to survey the six candidates' views and see who's best for the NHS. By Alex Nunns

Alan Johnson June 2007
Red Pepper / Keep Our NHS Public survey of Labour deputy leadership candidates views on the NHS

Harriet Harman June 2007
Red Pepper / Keep Our NHS Public survey of Labour deputy leadership candidates views on the NHS

Peter Hain June 2007
Red Pepper / Keep Our NHS Public survey of Labour deputy leadership candidates views on the NHS

Hilary Benn June 2007
Red Pepper / Keep Our NHS Public survey of Labour deputy leadership candidates views on the NHS

Hazel Blears June 2007
Red Pepper / Keep Our NHS Public survey of Labour deputy leadership candidates views on the NHS

Jon Cruddas June 2007
Red Pepper / Keep Our NHS Public survey of Labour deputy leadership candidates views on the NHS

The £4 billion rip-off November 2006
It's like putting Enron in charge of the power grid. That's how US businessman Phil Zweig describes the privatisation of NHS procurement.

The great NHS ‘deficits’ con May 2006
With the hospital ‘deficits crisis’ dominating the headlines, amidst claims that increases in NHS funding have been eaten up by pay and other cost increases, Colin Leys continues Red Pepper’s exposure of what is really happening in the health service.

Not safe in their hands March 2006
New Labour is in the process of achieving what Thatcher didn’t dare – the demolition of the National Health Service

The winged killer flies in December 2005
As avian flu continues its seemingly unstoppable advance through the world’s bird population, fears of a human pandemic are growing. Be afraid, says Mike Davis, be very afraid – not least because we are so unprepared

Spoiling for choice August 2004
Choice, if Labour and the Tories are to be believed, is in danger of becoming like motherhood and apple pie: no right-thinking person could possibly be against it. If you raise questions about choice you are quickly condemned as a supporter of the old Stalinist-type "command and control" economy. Choice in public services is, however, a problematic concept.

Spoiling for Choice August 2004
The Labour-Tory market model for extending choice in the NHS will inevitably result in a dramatic decline in service-user equity. Here Marian Barnes outlines reforms that would benefit everybody.

Modern heroes, modern slaves April 2004
Doctors and nurses from the Philippines pay thousands of pounds so they can travel to the UK and work for as little as £8 a day in British hospitals and nursing homes.

New alliance calls on government to withdraw bill on foundation hospital trusts July 2003
A new alliance of groups against the introduction of foundation trusts in the NHS has called on the government to withdraw proposals until more consultation has taken place.

Holiday in Sars-land June 2003
Just when you thought it was safe to travel to Toronto, Sars once again reared its ugly head. Why is it that this industrialised city can't cope? Natasha Grzincic unmasks Sars in Canada's largest city.