Concerned Bromsgrove campaigners will make a stand to ‘save our NHS services’ this weekend, urging residents to join them in a national demonstration. Campaigners from across Worcestershire, including an alliance of groups and worried residents in Bromsgrove, have met under the banner of ‘It’s our NHS Worcestershire’.
The group have organised street demonstrations, petitioning and leafleting to support a wider national campaign by ‘Health Campaigns Together’. Made up of around 35 NHS campaign groups, trade unions and other political supporters, the body aims to prevent privatisation and fight for an NHS that is free at the point of entry.
Bromsgrove campaigners will hold a street stall by the Housman statue on High Street from 11am-1pm on Saturday, February 4. The group will seek signatures of support in the town and offer information on the campaign, as well as encouraging residents to join a demonstration in London.
The rallying call has been issued following shocking patient deaths at Worcestershire Royal Hospital and a damning CQC report into Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
A spokesman said: “The tragic deaths at Worcester Royal added a poignancy and an urgency to the campaign. “This, taken with downgrading of services like maternity and A&E at the Alexandra Hospital, and the recent sustainability and transformation plans (STP) announcement of a 43 per cent cuts in beds at all of Worcestershire’s community hospitals, has provoked great public interest and support including NHS staff.
“The current further threat of special measures is very demoralising, and threatening, for an already hard-pressed staff.
“Our campaign defends staff and is opposed to any efforts to divert blame on to them. “We welcome support, discussion and especially those who want to come to the demonstration and stay involved. Please visit us on the stall and future stalls.”
The London demonstration will take place on March 4 from noon, marching from Tavistock Place to Parliament Square.
Full story in the Evesham Journal, 4 February 2017