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NHS protest in London: Thousands march against 'hospital cuts'
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NHS protest in London: Thousands march against 'hospital cuts'

LC

Laura Campbell

Published 4 March 2017·over 9 years ago 1 min read
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Thousands of people - including NHS workers, union representatives today marched in London to protest against the cuts facing the  health service.

Protesters on the #OurNHS march wanted to draw attention to plans which could see hospital services in nearly two-thirds of England cut back. The Department of Health claims it is investing an extra £4bn in the NHS.

Organisers say that "at least 360,000" people took part in the march, which began in Tavistock Square and ended in Westminster, where speakers including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn addressed the crowd.

Mr Corbyn called for the government to provide more funding for the health service in next week's Budget.

He added: "The NHS is in crisis, in crisis because of the underfunding in social care and the people not getting the care and support they need.

"It is not the fault of the staff. It is the fault of a government who have made a political choice."

TopicsfeaturedJeremy CorbynLondon marchNHSNHS London MarchNHS march in LondonNHS workersunderfunding
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About the Author

LC

Laura Campbell

Laura Campbell reports for National Post UK with a focus on rigorous analysis and authoritative journalism — a trusted voice across British public life.

Reader Discussion · 6

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R
Robert Hedges6 Aug

The article mentions thousands, but I wonder how many of those protesters actually understand the complexities of hospital budgeting. It is a very difficult balancing act for the government given our aging population.

F
Fiona Campbell6 Aug

I stood in that rain today because I believe in a public health service that is free at the point of use for everyone. If we don't protect it now, we won't have it for our children.

M
Mark Sterling6 Aug

Where is the money meant to come from exactly? We are already taxed to the hilt and there is only so much the public purse can stretch before something else has to give.

L
Linda Thompson6 Aug

My local GP surgery has already cut two full-time positions this year. It is getting impossible to get an appointment, and seeing these cuts continue is truly heartbreaking for our community.

D
David Thorne6 Aug

While I appreciate the sentiment, simply throwing more money at the NHS without addressing the massive inefficiencies in management won't fix the underlying issues. We need structural reform, not just more protests.

S
Sarah Jenkins6 Aug

It is about time people stood up for our nurses and doctors. The pressure they are under is completely unsustainable and it is the patients who suffer most in the end.

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