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Thousands protest in London over NHS funding cuts 'Cuts leave scars': thousands join protest over NHS funding
(about 2 hours later)
Tens of thousands of people have marched through London to mark the NHS’s 70th anniversary and demand an end to government cuts to the health service, of which large swathes have been privatised in recent years. Tens of thousands of people have marched through London to mark the NHS’s 70th anniversary and demand an end to government cuts and further privatisation of the health service.
Bearing placards reading “Cuts leave scars”, “For people not profit” and “Democracy or corporate power” demonstrators moved down Whitehall to the chant of “Who’s NHS, our NHS”. Bearing placards reading “Cuts leave scars”, “For people not profit” and “Democracy or corporate power” demonstrators moved down Whitehall on Saturday afternoon to the chant of “Whose NHS? Our NHS”.
They stopped outside Downing Street to demand Theresa May’s resignation en route to the stage where Jeremy Corbyn and others were due to speak on Saturday afternoon. They stopped outside Downing Street to demand Theresa May’s resignation en route to the stage where they were greeted by a choir singing “the NHS needs saving, don’t let them break it”.
A festival atmosphere permeated the crowd, although the anger towards the government’s NHS policy was palpable. Shortly after, Jeremy Corbyn addressed the crowd – organisers said there were about 40,000 people present – demanding an end to privatisation, the closure of the internal market, for staff to no longer be subcontracted to private companies and for social care to be properly funded.
The organisers estimated that around 40,000 people had turned out and taken to the streets for the NHS 70 March, which proceeded down Regent Street to the thump of a marching band. “There have been huge attacks on our NHS over many years,” he said. “The Tories voted against the original legislation and have always sought to privatise it and continue an internal market.
Protesters spoke of how the NHS had saved the lives of themselves and their relatives, while others feared that a comprehensive health service might not exist for future generations unless there is radical change. “Paying money out to private health contractors, the profits of which could and sometimes do, end up in tax havens around the world.
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the NHS, they saved my life at 15 and the unit that I stayed at is now closed because of the cuts,” said Polly Ridgewell-Cook, from Essex. “Think it through, you and I pay our taxes because we want a health service for everybody, I don’t pay my taxes for someone to rip off the public and squirrel the profits away.”
“I’ve worked for the NHS as an analyst for 10 years, I’ve seen the frontline cuts, staff leaving because they’re not supported enough – they’re in tears in A&E and many have even gone into the private sector. A festival atmosphere permeated the diverse crowd throughout the day, although the anger towards the government’s NHS policy was palpable as protestors proceeded down Regent Street to the thump of a marching band.
“We outsource things because we have do so to meet targets because we don’t have the capacity. I think that’s a design. It’s just terrible, we can do better than this, we did do better than this.” Some spoke of how the NHS had saved their lives and those of their relatives, while others feared that a comprehensive health service might not exist for future generations unless there is radical change.
Others paid tribute to the dedication of NHS staff who saved their loved ones when they had thought they were on the brink of death. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the NHS, they saved my life at 15,” said Polly Ridgewell-Cook, from Essex, who added that the unit she was treated in has now been closed because of cuts.
“NHS staff saved my mothers life when she stopped breathing,” said Dan Harper, a protester from Camden. “The ambulance drivers resuscitated her and then went above and beyond to get her to hospital. “I’ve worked for the NHS as an analyst for 10 years, I’ve seen the frontline cuts, staff leaving because they’re not supported enough – they’re in tears in A&E.
“Nurses from many different countries then treated her and gave me the opportunity to spend more time with her. Whatever it takes to meet the needs of the NHS should be given by government.” “We outsource things because we have to do so to meet targets because we don’t have the capacity. I think that’s a design. It’s just terrible, we can do better than this, we did do better than this.”
A cake held aloft to mark the NHS’s 70th birthday had a candle with a “For sale” sign sticking out of it, while campaigners and politicians took to the stage outside All Souls church in Marylebone to give speeches. Others paid tribute to the dedication of NHS staff who saved their loved ones from the brink of death.
There was a real fear among the speakers that the NHS might one day no longer be free at the point of use. “NHS staff saved my mother’s life when she stopped breathing,” said Dan Harper, a protester from Camden. “The ambulance drivers resuscitated her and then went above and beyond to get her to hospital.
“Nurses from many different countries then treated her and gave me the opportunity to spend more time with her.”
A giant birthday cake for the NHS with a candle with a “For sale” sign sticking out of it was held aloft, while copies of This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor were handed out for free as “No ifs, no buts, no NHS cuts” rang out.
At midday, campaigners and politicians took to the stage outside All Souls church in Marylebone to give speeches before the march.
“I come from a generation that had to pay for their healthcare and in a climate like that it was only the rich who could afford to be healthy,” said Jan Shortt, the general secretary of the National Pensioners Convention.“I come from a generation that had to pay for their healthcare and in a climate like that it was only the rich who could afford to be healthy,” said Jan Shortt, the general secretary of the National Pensioners Convention.
“On the street in Luton, Bedfordshire, where I lived there were various families who lost their children to whooping cough. My grandad told me he used to pay one and six every time the doctor came to visit and medication was extra.“On the street in Luton, Bedfordshire, where I lived there were various families who lost their children to whooping cough. My grandad told me he used to pay one and six every time the doctor came to visit and medication was extra.
“Since the budget cuts my chronically asthmatic son has been forced to change his inhaler and the new one isn’t as effective.”“Since the budget cuts my chronically asthmatic son has been forced to change his inhaler and the new one isn’t as effective.”
Other demonstrators cited fears that the UK was heading towards a US-style system, where 20 million people do not have access to healthcare.
Nurses from Wigan, who have been on strike over privatisation at their hospital, spoke about how there are plans to transfer hundreds of staff from the NHS to a private sector company called WWL Solutions on 1 August.Nurses from Wigan, who have been on strike over privatisation at their hospital, spoke about how there are plans to transfer hundreds of staff from the NHS to a private sector company called WWL Solutions on 1 August.
“The NHS isn’t just a logo, it means everything to us,” said Joanna McClure, a striking nurse. “We’ve done two two-day strikes, we’re currently on a five-day strike and we’ll carry on striking again until we get where we need to be.“The NHS isn’t just a logo, it means everything to us,” said Joanna McClure, a striking nurse. “We’ve done two two-day strikes, we’re currently on a five-day strike and we’ll carry on striking again until we get where we need to be.
Between 2010-11 and 2016-17, health spending increased by an average of 1.2% above inflation and increases are due to continue in real terms at a similar rate until the end of this parliament. This is far below the annual inflation-proof growth rate that the NHS enjoyed before 2010 of almost 4% stretching back to the 1950s. As budgets tighten, NHS organisations have been struggling to live within their means. In the financial year 2015-16, acute trusts recorded a deficit of £2.6bn. This was reduced to £800m last year, though only after a £1.8bn bung from the Department of Health, which shows the deficit remained the same year on year.Between 2010-11 and 2016-17, health spending increased by an average of 1.2% above inflation and increases are due to continue in real terms at a similar rate until the end of this parliament. This is far below the annual inflation-proof growth rate that the NHS enjoyed before 2010 of almost 4% stretching back to the 1950s. As budgets tighten, NHS organisations have been struggling to live within their means. In the financial year 2015-16, acute trusts recorded a deficit of £2.6bn. This was reduced to £800m last year, though only after a £1.8bn bung from the Department of Health, which shows the deficit remained the same year on year.
Read a full Q&A on the NHS winter crisisRead a full Q&A on the NHS winter crisis
“We’re passionate about working for the NHS but a lot of things have changed: there are longer waiting times and people can’t get appointments for months. It’s getting so much more difficult.”“We’re passionate about working for the NHS but a lot of things have changed: there are longer waiting times and people can’t get appointments for months. It’s getting so much more difficult.”
Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, said NHS staff demonstrated “compassion in action” every day and restated Labour’s pledge to end the privatisation of the health service.
“Every minute of every day NHS staff go well beyond the call of duty to bring life into the world, to save life, to respond to unspeakable tragedy and they are there for the final moments of our loved ones lives,” he said.
“We’re all immensely proud of the NHS and we’re all going to fight for it. Labour would end privatisation and start properly resourcing the NHS.”
The government has faced enduring criticism that it has failed to adequately fund the NHS since 2010, and that it has overseen a decline in the once widely admired public health service as a way to privatise it by stealth.The government has faced enduring criticism that it has failed to adequately fund the NHS since 2010, and that it has overseen a decline in the once widely admired public health service as a way to privatise it by stealth.
Earlier this month, Theresa May promised an extra £20bn of funding as part of a “Brexit dividend”, although a government spending watchdog challenged the basis of the pledge, which it suggested was ambiguous.Earlier this month, Theresa May promised an extra £20bn of funding as part of a “Brexit dividend”, although a government spending watchdog challenged the basis of the pledge, which it suggested was ambiguous.
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Jeremy CorbynJeremy Corbyn
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