“Wear a bandage” to show support for NHS

Disappointed by the government’s ‘inadequate’ offer to the NHS local campaigners are calling on the public to “wear a bandage” to show support for the NHS.

The Save our NHS campaign group made up of NHS staff, health professionals and cross-Party health campaigners will gather for a vigil in Penzance town centre on the eve of the 70th Birthday of the NHS – Saturday 30th June between 11am and 12.30pm. They will gather to invite the public to support their ‘Charter’ to save our NHS, sign petitions and hear from speakers. The group will gather at the bottom of Causewayhead.

This week the Group were encouraged to receive the strong backing of Call the Midwife star, Jenny Agutter and have pledged to press the Government to a financial settlement which will do more than simply “paper over the cracks”.

They fear that pressure will mount on the local NHS. After closures of local community hospitals, including Poltair at Penzance and now Edward Hain in St Ives they believe further closures and reductions of service will become unstoppable and that the service will become less safe as medical staff will leave the service unable to maintain safe services as cuts and pressures undermine the sustainability of services.

The campaign group are calling for “20% more by 2020” which is in stark contrast to the 3.4% offered by the Prime Minister this week.

Other events will take place in Cornwall and a march and rally in London on Saturday 30th and Save our NHS will celebrate the 70th birthday on 5th July when they deliver birthday cards to local hospitals to thanks NHS staff for their service and wish them the support they need for the next 70 years.