Thousands turned out last weekend to protest at cuts, deficits, and increasing private sector involvement in the NHS.
The “Day of Action” was organised by NHS Together, a collaboration of health service unions, NHS staff organisations, and the Trades Union Congress.
A series of events took place across the country. A “Rock for the NHS” concert took the stage at Woking, while in Crawley protestors marched in nightgowns and bandages.
Other rallies were held in Brighton, Maidstone, Gloucester, Preston, Belfast, London, and Sunderland, where Dr George Rae, chairman of the BMA's northern regional council (left) took part. In Tunbridge Wells, a small crowd protested at the closure of the Homoeopathic Hospital.
In Birmingham, Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said the protests were “testament to the growing number of people worried about the future of our NHS.”
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber, speaking at a rally in Sheffield, warned the government that it “is in danger of squandering the political credit it deserves, and it is running out of time to put it right.”