Many campaign groups from across the country joined together on Saturday 28th January in London to HOWL and march in protest against the cuts, defunding and privatisation of our NHS.
Organised by “Hands off our NHS” – https://www.facebook.com/handsoffournhsddaymarch/ – this event saw campaigners travel from as far as Swansea, Grantham, Lincoln, Cambridge, Banbury, Oxford and across London.
There was representation from the following campaign groups:
“Keep our NHS public (KONP)” – https://www.facebook.com/keepournhspublic/
“Fighting 4 Grantham Hopsital (F4GH)” – https://www.facebook.com/groups/158598821210992/
“Fighting 4 Life Lincolnshire (F4LL)” – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1696693563977788/
“Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC)” – https://www.facebook.com/disabledpeopleagainstcuts/?fref=ts
“Keep our St. Hellier Hospital (KOSHH)” – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php…
“Unite in Health” – https://www.facebook.com/UniteInHealth/?fref=ts
“Unite Community” – https://www.facebook.com/Unite.Community.UK/
“Momentum NHS” – https://www.facebook.com/nhsmomentum/?fref=ts
“Horton Hospital campaign – Save Our Horton” – https://www.facebook.com/groups/7187646388/
“Junior Doctor’s Alliance” – https://www.facebook.com/groups/635355123304526/
“Ealing Save our NHS” – https://www.facebook.com/ealingsaveournhs/?fref=ts
“999 Call for the NHS” – https://www.facebook.com/999CallForTheNhs/?fref=ts
“The GMB” – https://www.facebook.com/GMBunion/
“Save Charing Cross Hospital” – https://www.facebook.com/SaveCharingCrossHospitalAccidentE…/
“Save Lewisham Hospital” – https://www.facebook.com/savelewishamhospitalnhs/
It was good to see both familiar and new faces at the London HOWL outside Parliament, bringing new campaign groups on board and listening to their voices was inspirational, particularly as many had travelled long distances to get to the event.
Hearing speakers talk of overcoming political differences was particularly uplifting as this is one of the major challenges faced when pulling together to Save our NHS.
Speakers on the day included:
David Matthew Bailey – A&E Nurse and NHS Activist
Aneira Thomas – The first NHS baby, born 1 minute after midnight on the day of it’s introduction
Fiona Dent – Labour Party National Policy Forum
Jac Berry – Nurse and Unison NEC member and organiser of “It’s our NHS” demo on 4th March in London – https://www.facebook.com/events/1771664639725061/
Kishan Rees – Watmed Media and Junior Doctor
Aislinn Macklin-Doherty – Junior Doctor (JDA)
Paula Peters – DPAC – Disabled People Against Cuts
Eve Turner – Ealing Save our Hospital
Tony O’sullivan – Keep our NHS public chair
Sarah Stock – Nurse, Cancer patient and NHS campaigner (F4GH & F4LL)
Melissa Darcey – Avid NHS Campaigner (F4GH & F4LL)
Peter Stefanovic – Lawyer and Campaigner
The general feeling among the campaigners was clear in that we all feel the moment has come to really stand up, united, and move beyond the traditional ways of thinking and protesting – NHS crisis means NHS crisis and we must stop the dismantling of our much needed and much loved NHS.
We came together to prepare for the huge event on March 4th at Tavistock Square in London .
We've chosen Jac Berrys event to link here
https://m.facebook.com/events/1771664639725061/?ti=icl
But there are many groups and many event posts , please join one and join us on the 4th March !
We must bring the NHS back into the hands of the public – where it belongs! – Join your local campaign, your regional campaign and the national campaigns – together we can save our NHS – #StrongerTogether
Author Melissa Darcey
NHS editor Unity March News
