Press release on behalf of Keep Our NHS Public for immediate use – Friday 14 February 2020
Keep Our NHS Public will hold a National Winter Crisis Day of Action tomorrow
Against a backdrop of damning NHS statistics that show the effect a decade of government under-funding has had on the NHS, health campaigning organisation Keep Our NHS Public (KONP) have launched a National Day of Action around the country to draw attention to the problems in the health service.
NHS staff and campaigners will join forces at 23 UK locations over the weekend in a series of marches, rallies, street theatre and demonstrations to be a visible presence and let the public know the real stories behind government spin.
Action will be taking place from Liverpool to Brighton and many places in-between and Keep Our NHS Public invite everyone to join them in raising awareness of the pressing issues facing our NHS. In particular many NHS staff feel very strongly about the pressures they are now daily under and are joining forces to co-ordinate many of these events.
Alia Butt, an NHS Psychotherapist who is helping to organise action planned in central London says:
“The NHS is an essential foundation of a compassionate, cohesive, and healthy society. The affects of 10 years of austerity has gutted the NHS and its ability to provide excellent healthcare, to treat people properly, both staff and patients alike. This Saturday, we will be joining many other NHS activists across the country in the campaign against further destruction of the NHS from underfunding and privatisation. We are forming a new campaigning group called ‘NHS staff voices’, part of the KONP family, hoping to make our demands for an adequately funded NHS heard, particularly by the government. We wish to express solidarity with all NHS staff everywhere.”
Dr Tony O’Sullivan, retired Consultant Paediatrician and Co-Chair of Keep Our NHS Public says:
“Winter Crisis in the NHS’ is now an annual cry, in danger of failing to move the public. But every statistic is a real person – an actual family affected – and thousands of avoidable deaths result from long waits on trolleys before a bed is available. Millions are waiting for treatment in dangerous circumstances. Government failure to support the NHS and social care system means our dedicated NHS staff are working in unsafe conditions. Our Day of Action is a thank you to NHS staff and a demand to the Government: restore our NHS to a fully funded, publicly provided, safe service with the sole priority to care for all.”
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Spokespeople are available for broadcast interview. For more information please contact Samantha Wathen Press Officer [email protected] or call her on 07776047472
Notes to Editors
For more detailed information on events happening as part of the national day of action please visit: https://keepournhspublic.com/winter-crisis-day-of-action-2020/