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Date: Weds 2 Jan 2008
'Sicko' screening launches union's campaign to back 60 year-old
NHS
UNISON, Scotland's public service union, today (Wednesday) announced
that a special free showing of the Michael Moore film Sicko - about
the US Healthcare system - is to be organised later this month,
to mark the 60th Anniversary of the founding of the British NHS.
The union is using this film - which is highly critical of the
insurance-based US healthcare system - to point out the advantages
of a fully public system, free to all at the point of use, that
Scotland has had since 1948.
The film, which is being shown at the Glasgow Film Theatre on the
evening of 15 January 2008, will also be followed by a short discussion
featuring leading politicians and healthcare workers. Invited speakers
include Nicola Sturgeon MSP,- the Cabinet Secretary for Health,
and Margaret Curran MSP, The Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health.
Matt Smith, UNISON's Scottish Secretary, said "As part of our campaign
to Revitalise Public Services, we are using Michael Moore's film
to highlight the dangers inherent in moving away from a publicly-funded,
publicly-accessible system of healthcare. The Scottish model of
our NHS, based on cooperation rather than competition is delivering
for Scotland and should be retained. But we are not complacent,
we want to discuss ways of making the system more accountable to
the Scottish people, which is why we are also staging the discussion."
Allson Gardner, Head of Cinemas at the Glasgow Film Theatre said
"We are delighted to be able to show this important film again,
and particularly glad to be able to do so in association with UNISON
which allows us to offer the tickets for free. Michael Moore really
does show why we need a comprehensive NHS."
The showing will take place at 5.30pm on 15 January, tickets are
free to the general public, and available from the GFT box office
on the day of the screening.
ENDS
Note for Editors:- UNISON is Scotland's largest health care
union, representing well over 60,000 workers working in Scotland's
NHS. The UNISON website is on http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk
For Further Information Please Contact: Matt Smith (Scottish
Secretary) 07771 548 997 (m) Dave Watson (Scottish Organiser - Policy)
07958 122 409(m) Chris Bartter (Communications Officer) 0771 558
3729(m)
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