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# Campaign guide - NHS Cuts and closures
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/campaign-guide-nhs-cuts-and-closures/
- Published: 2013-12-10T12:12:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-23T00:12:58.000Z
- Description: I'll cut the deficit, not the NHS, promised Cameron. But what's the real story? One of OurNHS's key NHS campaigns.
- Author: OurNHS
- Tags: Cuts - dismantling the NHS, #Migrated, Resources , #en, #Import 2026-04-09 16:46, #ImagesUploaded, #appended-excerpt

![ill cut deficit not nhs.jpg](https://www.opendemocracy.net/content/files/2026/04/ill_cut_deficit_not_nhs_AlXWeJx-1776345568019.jpg)

ill cut deficit not nhs.jpg

*Read about NHS cuts and closures on OurNHS here and here or see links on the right.*

What A&Es have already been cut? This [up to date (October 2014) list from the Daily Telegraph lists the 64 A&E and maternity departments that have been cut](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/11184912/The-list-of-66-AandE-and-maternity-units-being-hit-by-cuts.html?ref=opendemocracy.net). The government’s November 2013 [‘Urgent and Emergency Care Review, phase 1’](http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/keogh-review/Documents/UECR.Ph1Report.FV.pdf?ref=opendemocracy.net), which appears to envisage further closures and downgrades of [up to 100 units](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/nhs/10445410/Two-tier-AandE-as-100-units-cut-care.html?ref=opendemocracy.net), according to the Telegraph.

[‘NHS rationing is putting patients' lives at risk, says doctors leader’](http://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/aug/31/nhs-rationing-risking-lives-doctors-leader?ref=opendemocracy.net) \- head of the BMA writes in the Guardian after the Act came into force.

[‘NHS Cuts Route Finder’](https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=215161370665697146990.00049b2a7e555c1cc3716&z=6&ref=opendemocracy.net) \- A useful (if not fully up to date) map of cuts across the country (perhaps someone would like to volunteer to update it?).

[‘Population ageing - the timebomb that isn’t?’](http://www.savelewishamhospital.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Population-Ageing-Nov-2013.pdf?ref=opendemocracy.net) \- November 2013 article in British Medical Journal debunking the myth that we can’t afford the NHS due to an ageing population.

**Action**

Challenge closure plans - check out the whole ‘[TSA’](http://www.savelewishamhospital.com/specialists-say-no/?ref=opendemocracy.net) section from the successful Save Lewisham Hospital campaign.

Find official figures on [bed shortages ](http://fullfact.org/finder/health/treatment?ref=opendemocracy.net)and [waiting times](http://fullfact.org/finder/health/waiting%5Ftimes?ref=opendemocracy.net) via Full Fact Finder.

[‘Your rights as an NHS patient’](http://www.patients4nhs.org.uk/nhs/your-rights-as-an-nhs-patient/?ref=opendemocracy.net) \- Advice from Patients 4 the NHS on dealing with individual examples of poor care.

See other campaigning tips on our 'Resources - Campaign tools' page [here](https://www.opendemocracy.net/ournhs/ournhs/resources-practical-tools-for-nhs-campaigners).

***Find this useful? Please donate to OurNHS*** [**here** ](https://www.opendemocracy.net/ournhs/donate)***to help keep us going - we rely on reader donations for our work.***

I'll cut the deficit, not the NHS, promised Cameron. But what's the real story? One of OurNHS's [key NHS campaigns](https://www.opendemocracy.net/ournhs/ournhs/key-nhs-campaigns).