Queer Resistance: Emergency Operation

"We welcome the fact that the cuts have been reduced from 43% to 20%, but still question the idea of cutting HIV prevention services at a time when infections are rising. It is also a matter of concern that these cuts are happening before a comprehensive needs assessment and evaluation has been completed. Surely it would be sensible to complete this and reinvest cuts into services that have been proven effective.
“On Saturday 28th May as part of UK Uncut’s “Emergency Operation” against Health Secretary Andrew Lansley’s plans for the NHS, Queer Resistance and The London Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence closed down a branch of HSBC in Covent Garden for the day and turned it into an STI clinic. We were highlighting that there are alternative ways of tackling the financial situation, rather than cutting essential public services, cuts which will affect some of the most vulnerable in our society.
“Current cuts to the NHS amount to a £20bn ‘efficiency drive’, whilst taxpayers continue to subsidise the banking sector by up to £100bn/year - equivalent to the entire NHS budget.
"This HSBC branch and at least forty other bank branches in the UK closed today as a direct result of the campaign to save the NHS...
"Through this action, Queer Resistance highlighted the 43% cut in NHS Primary Care Trust funding for HIV prevention services in London, which particularly puts gay and bisexual men’s health at risk. This is its first specific action focusing on this cut with and there will be more in the future.
"Queer Resistance demands a stop to the slashing of funding for HIV prevention services, in addition to a complete rethink of these ideological cuts which are hitting the most vulnerable in our society. There are alternatives - leave the NHS alone and cut benefits to bankers.
"Current cuts to the NHS amount to a £20bn ‘efficiency drive’ whilst taxpayers continue to subsidise the banking sector by up to £100bn/year, which is equivalent to the entire NHS budget...."

Statement by Queer Resistance.