05.02.18
Thousands gather in London to protest deepening winter crisis
Protesters rallied in central London on Saturday to protest the NHS’ “worsening winter crisis.”
Around 60,000 attended the event, called NHS in crisis - fix it now, organised by Health Campaigns Together and anti-austerity group the People’s Assembly.
The group Keep Our NHS Public claims that the NHS is in crisis, with ambulances queuing for hours, postponed operations, and mental health patients travelling miles to find a bed.
It argues that the problems have arisen as a result of the “deliberate government policy of cuts, bed closures, pay restraint and privatisation,” and that the NHS has been “starved” of funding.
The group also states that there has been a closure of 8,000 front line beds and a fifth of mental health beds, and that below inflation pay settlements have contributed to 100,000 vacancies.
Protesters were joined by actor Ralf Little, who was recently involved in a Twitter spat with Jeremy Hunt, and invited him to attend.
He told protestors: “Time and time again we have to assemble, like we're doing today in the rain, to remind the government that there's neither political mandate nor popular opinion to privatise it, to underfund it, or to go to war with the people that run it, but that's what's happening.”
Royal College of Nursing president, Cecilia Anim delivered a speech, telling supporters that staff are experiencing burnout, with many turning their backs on their jobs.
“Urgent action is needed to address the current crisis - if none is taken, it is our patients who will suffer,” she said.
Smaller protests also took place across the UK.
Top image: Yui Mok
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