To: George Osborne and Jeremy Hunt

Hold Jeremy Hunt and George Osborne accountable for the 9% rise in UK death rates

Jeremy Hunt and George Osborne should be held accountable for failing in their duty of care to the British public by causing an increase of 52,400 deaths across England and Wales, a massive rise of 9% in UK mortality rates. The British Medical Journal have identified austerity and economic inequality as major contributing factors to the unprecedented rise.

We are also calling for a public review of the health budget cuts and privatisation deals that have been negotiated and agreed upon on our behalf.

Why is this important?

On 23rd June 2016, the Office for National Statistics released distressing data, which shows an increase in death rates of 9% (that's 52,400 people) in England and Wales between June 2014 and June 2015 when compared with data from the previous year.

This rise is unprecedented. Never before have we failed our sick and elderly populations to such a degree.

The British Medical Journal (BMJ) published the data in an article on 6th July, stating that austerity and economic inequality played a "major role" in this increase.

There are now millions fewer social care visits to the elderly per year since Osborne assumed office in 2010 and Jeremy Hunt in 2012. These care packages were seen as playing a vital role in the early identification and treatment of the deterioration in a person’s health and well-being.

Public Health England stated that they are observing rapidly increasing mortality rates in the over 75s. These rates are particularly high in “spearhead areas”, which are some of the poorest parts of the country.

The BMJ have stated that members of the public with long term health needs such as dementia and other disabilities are suffering the most. Often these are the people among us without a voice. Be their voice and sign this petition to hold Jeremy Hunt and George Osborne accountable for causing the premature deaths of these 52,400 people by inflicting vile austerity measures upon public health services against the wishes of the majority of the British public who value our national health service.

We are also calling for a public review of the health budget cuts and privatisation deals that have been and are being negotiated and agreed upon on our behalf.

The NHS belongs to us, the responsibility to save it is ours.