CHANTS of ‘Save our NHS’ were heard along Bridge Street when members of Evesham Labour Party carried their banner from the stall in Market Square to Evesham Community Hospital.
The protest was one of hundreds of actions carried out nationally to draw attention to the crisis particularly around social care.
Labour claim increasing numbers of elderly people are not able to return home from hospital due to insufficient care arrangements.
The march further highlighted the imminent threat to local NHS provision, due to plans for large funding reductions under the guise of the local Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP).
STPs are currently being rolled out countrywide and the Evesham Labour Party say local authorities of various political persuasions are already refusing to support them.
The party claims health experts say efficiency savings have already been made, meaning further savings would mean cuts to services.
The demonstration ended at the hospital by the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) which has seen its opening hours reduced by 20 per cent.
A party source told the Observer hospital staff waved to demonstators and one said ‘thank you very much for drawing attention to this situation’.
The demonstration was aimed at raising public awareness and building support for a united front to defend the NHS.
One banner quoted NHS founder Nye Bevan who said: “The NHS will last as long as there are folk with the faith to fight for it.”
Campaign organiser, Stan Emmett, said,”STPs are a huge threat to the NHS as we know it. There seems to be an effort by STP leaders to avoid engagement and consultation.
“A recent British Medical Association survey of consultants and GPs revealed 59 per cent had not even heard of STPs, even though their approval should be sought.
“Consultation with the general public has not yet happened, though there may be a meeting on January 10.
“People should look for the Hereford and Worcester STP online and come to the meeting,” he added.
