38 Degrees Petition – Give Bankers Fines to the NHS

£1.1 billion: that’s how much massive banks like HSBC and RBS coughed up this week in UK fines. [1] That’s a lot of unexpected cash. Together we can make sure the government spends it well.

The NHS is desperately in need of more money: squeezed services, short-cuts in care, longer waiting times. [2] So let’s challenge the government to put this unexpected cash from the banks to good use – protecting our NHS.

George Osborne’s making the decision right now. He wants us to think that the government are good for the NHS. Let’s make him – and his Treasury – prove it. If tens of thousands of us sign a petition today telling him to put that £1.1bn into the NHS, we could make it embarrassing for him to refuse.

Click here to sign the petition to the Treasury now:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/banking-fines-petition

The government have used the money they’ve received from misbehaving banks for social good before. Last year, they spent the fines on help for war veterans. [3] A huge petition to George Osborne and the Treasury today, telling them to spend this new money on vital NHS care, could make sure they do it.

38 Degrees members make protecting the NHS a top priority because we know that it’s literally a matter of life and death. We want to live in a country where everyone gets the care they need, whether they are rich or poor. The less funding the NHS gets, the more that’s under threat. So let’s try and get this extra £1.1 billion from immoral bankers spent on frontline NHS services.

Tell the Treasury now: spend the £1.1bn on the NHS. Click here to sign:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/banking-fines-petition

Thanks for being involved,

Nat, Susannah, Blanche & the 38 Degrees team

PS: This £1.1 billion wouldn’t solve everything. Privatisation is looming and there’s a long-term need for much better funding. Just this morning, the government pledged £300m to the NHS to help through the winter – but the BMA Council, who represent doctors, said it was a “sticking plaster”, and called for much, much more. [4]

This £1.1bn is a sticking plaster too. But it would definitely help. And what better way to spend the ill-gotten gains of bankers? Please sign the petition now:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/banking-fines-petition

NOTES:
[1] BBC: Six banks fined £2.6bn by regulators over forex failings:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30016007
The six banks were charged a total of £2.6bn, and £1.1bn of that is being paid to the UK. The rest is being paid to the US.
[2] Guardian: Norman Lamb: ‘NHS could crash without emergency £1.5bn funding’:
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/nov/11/norman-lamb-lib-dem-nhs-crash-emergency-funding
Guardian: NHS finances in crisis due to rising demand and budget cuts:
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/oct/05/nhs-finances-crisis-rising-demand-budget-cuts-30-billion-pound-deficit-2020
[3] BBC: Bank fines go to good causes after rule change:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25214567
[4] Independent: Hospitals and A&Es to get extra £300m to combat “unprecendented” winter pressure:
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/department-of-health-earmarks-300m-to-combat-unprecedented-winter-pressure-9859261.html