OUR NHS DESERVES BETTER: 72 anniversary weekend 3/4/5 July

This 72nd NHS anniversary, share our ‘2020 vision’ for better health care

This NHS anniversary weekend Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th July, Keep Our NHS Public, Health Campaigns Together, The People’s Assembly Against Austerity and We Own It, are calling for nationwide local events and a national online rally on Sunday 5th July at 3:30 PM to say, 'Our NHS deserves better'

SUNDAY 5 JULY 3:30 PM OUR NHS DESERVES BETTER ONLINE RALLY

SPEAKERS INCLUDE: Cat Hobbs (We Own It), Dr Sonia Adesara (Keep Our NHS Public), Helen O’Conner (GMB), John Lister (Health Campaigns Together), Dr Kambiz Boomla (Doctors in Unite), Kevin Courtney (National Education Union), Laura Ho (Build Back Better), Laura Pidcock (People’s Assembly), Rachel Ambrose (mental health nurse) and Roger McKenzie (Unison) more tba

Sunday 5th July is the 72nd anniversary of the NHS. It was created in the aftermath of World War II, (a conflict that saw 67,100 British civilians killed) to create something better for us all.

During the coronavirus crisis in 2020, NHS and Social Care workers have been called upon to work on the frontline to keep us safe. They have often had to work without proper resources and PPE, within an already failing system. Many have been forced to sacrifice their lives. In the UK we have now reached the frightening number of excess deaths linked to coronavirus of 64,000 (up to 28 May 2020), the second-highest death toll in the world. The NHS deserves better, we all deserve better. 

This is a damning indictment of recent Government policy and its mishandling of our NHS. When we emerge from this deadly crisis, this can no longer be tolerated. This is also a critical moment when the systemic inequalities in our society are starker than ever. We, therefore, demand an immediate end to the hostile environment, all migrant charging stopped and an urgent investigation into the disproportionate death toll in Britain’s BAME community during this pandemic. Likewise, the many disadvantages placed on disabled people and others with additional needs has never been clearer. We believe this moment gives us a unique opportunity to demand we not only rebuild the NHS but go much further and call for radical reform of social care provision.

Covid-19 has exposed what’s wrong with healthcare, in the 'spirit of 2020', it's time to rebuild and go much further. Here are some of our demands that make up our ‘2020 vision’ for the NHS:

>> Download our full '2020 vision' in PDF here.

Our online rally on Sunday 5 July at 3:30 pm which will be live-streamed on the following platforms:

9:00 pm Friday 3 July | London | Candlelit vigil

To open the weekend's events, on Friday 3rd we will hold a socially distanced vigil in central London to mark the lives that have been lost to the pandemic in recent months. This will be a quiet and dignified event.

If you are based in London and would like to attend, please fill out this google form or contact us at [email protected] for more information.

The event is called by Keep Our NHS Public, NHS Staff Voices, The People's Assembly Against Austerity, Health Campaigns Together and We Own It.

Please note: Please only fill out the form if you are sure that you wish to attend the event if you are currently well, and if you do not belong to a category of people at high risk of Covid-19.

You can download the promotional material here:

Download the A3 poster to print

Download the A4 poster to print

Download the A5 flyer to print

Please note if you have any concerns about leafletting you can find sound advice here.

What we're asking you to do:

We're calling on all local Keep Our NHS Public, Health Campaigns Together and other affiliated campaign groups to plan a rally, a protest, a stunt or any other kind of activity to help us celebrate the 72nd anniversary of the NHS, but say loud and clear, 'Our NHS deserves better'. In the 'spirit of 2020', with our '2020 vision' let's rebuild and let's go further.

What your event looks like is entirely up to you, how you do it is too - however, we've put together some guidance here on how to put on your event safely during the Covid-19 outbreak.

We're asking you to use the national Facebook event to help build the national online rally on Sunday 5th July at 3:30 PM.

We'll also be producing, promotional materials such as leaflets, stickers, posters, placards, banners and online artwork, including Facebook frames and much more. If you're interested in any of the above you can contact us today on [email protected] 

Keep your eyes peeled for more information soon, but for now, save the dates and help us say, 'Our NHS deserves better'

This event is called by the following campaign groups:

Our event is supported by the following trade unions and campaign groups: