This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/6103290.stm

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
NHS staff rally over health cuts NHS rally told of cuts 'disgrace'
(40 minutes later)
Health workers from across the country have descended on Parliament in the strongest show of opposition yet over the government's handling of the NHS. Health workers from across England rallying outside Parliament have heard the government's handling of the NHS called "a disgrace".
Campaigners have travelled to Westminster to demonstrate and lobby MPs over NHS cuts and privatisation. Hundreds of campaigners joined a rally and lobbied MPs over NHS cuts and privatisation in the strongest show yet of opposition to changes in the NHS.
NHS Together, an alliance of 16 health unions, is protesting over what its says is "unprecedented upheaval". Unison general secretary Dave Prentis highlighted opposition to NHS cuts.
Prime Minister Tony Blair defended the government's record on reforming the NHS and cutting waiting times. But Prime Minister Tony Blair defended the government's record on reforming the NHS and cutting waiting times.
Hundreds of doctors, nurses, midwives, cleaners and other support staff are warning continued reform risks are "fragmenting" the health service. Challenged by Tory leader David Cameron in the Commons about the protest, Mr Blair said: "Of course, there are changes taking place, rightly because there are more cases being done on a day case basis, new technology is shortening waiting times and specialist care is being developed.
Jobs have been axed and hospitals face cutbacks as the government pushes ahead with its reform programme. "All of this is part of necessary change.
A campaign open-top bus will tour London, while a rally of NHS staff will take place in Westminster before a mass lobby of MPs. "The only way the NHS is going to improve is keep the money coming in, not cut it back, which is your policy, and make sure we make the reforms, which add value for money."
A series of speakers, including Unison general secretary Dave Prentis, have been lined up to address the rally. 'Mystified'
Doctors, nurses, midwives, cleaners and other support staff descended on London under the umbrella of NHS Together, an alliance of 16 unions warning job cuts and continued reforms risk "fragmenting" the health service.
Health staff were joined by members of the National Pensioners Convention and national campaign Keep Our NHS Public.
Staff morale is at an all time low NHS Together spokeswoman Send us your comments Public split over NHSStaff morale is at an all time low NHS Together spokeswoman Send us your comments Public split over NHS
They will say that 20,000 posts are being cut - although the government says only 900 staff will actually be made redundant, with the other cuts made through natural wastage and voluntary redundancy. They say that 20,000 posts are being cut - although the government says only 900 staff will actually be made redundant, with the other cuts made through natural wastage and voluntary redundancy.
Health staff will be joined by members of the National Pensioners Convention and national campaign Keep Our NHS Public, who will march to the Houses of Parliament from Waterloo from 11.30GMT.
Over recent years, the government has increasingly relied on private involvement through independent sector treatment centres, which carry out minor surgery, and PFI schemes, which use private money to build new hospitals.Over recent years, the government has increasingly relied on private involvement through independent sector treatment centres, which carry out minor surgery, and PFI schemes, which use private money to build new hospitals.
Some of the NHS's major acute hospitals are also coming under threat as local health bosses carry out reviews of services to make the health service more efficient.Some of the NHS's major acute hospitals are also coming under threat as local health bosses carry out reviews of services to make the health service more efficient.
A spokeswoman for NHS Together, which includes the British Medical Association, Royal College of Nursing and Unison, said: "NHS staff are proud of the real improvements in the health service in recent years, but we are increasingly worried that progress is now under threat. Mr Prentis told protestors: "People were mystified by the health secretary's claim it was the best year for the NHS.
"Staff morale is at an all time low. We support changes that improve patient care, but there is too much top-down change that has not won the support or involvement of the staff who have to implement it." "It is the best year for private companies taking over the NHS."
Beverly Malone, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing said it backed the goals of the reforms, but wanted the pace of change to be slowed down. But he added: "This was hardly the view of patients whose services faced cuts."
She said: "Nurses are under-staffed, under-pressure and under stress." He was joined on the stage by Beverly Malone, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing.
Money She said: "No one is saying no progress. Standing still is not an option.
Steve Sweeney, a psychiatric nurse from Cambridge, who will be joining the protest, said his area was facing cuts to mental health, inpatient care and rehabilitation wards. "But when you reform, you have to reform for the right reasons and in the right way.
"You don't go in with your ears closed to the warnings."
Commitment
Frontline workers also addressed the rally.
Mandy Robotham, a midwife at Stroud maternity hospital added the NHS has an admirable midwifery service but is, like many parts of the NHS is 'fighting for its survival'.
Guide to the NHSGuide to the NHS
"I'm going to London because what's happening here is happening throughout the country.
"The government is diverting money to private companies, who are leeching off the NHS.
"It's important for people to stand up and show the government that they can't do this without a fight."
The protest comes as a YouGov poll of 2,000 people showed more than half believed the NHS had got worse in the last decade.The protest comes as a YouGov poll of 2,000 people showed more than half believed the NHS had got worse in the last decade.
Ministers have said they will listen to the views of the health staff who gather at Westminster.Ministers have said they will listen to the views of the health staff who gather at Westminster.
But Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said the government was committed to pushing ahead with its reforms.But Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said the government was committed to pushing ahead with its reforms.
"If we know that change will deliver better quality care and better value for money for taxpayers, then standing still is simply not an option."If we know that change will deliver better quality care and better value for money for taxpayers, then standing still is simply not an option.
"However, what will never change is our commitment to safeguard NHS values," she said."However, what will never change is our commitment to safeguard NHS values," she said.