Press release on behalf of Save Our NHS Leicestershire – for IMMEDIATE use

This Saturday, January 28th, NHS staff and campaigners from national organisation Keep Our NHS Public [1] will stage around 20 events across England to mark a national ‘Day of Action’.[2] This emergency action has been called in response to the immediate NHS crisis which has resulted in unacceptable and dangerous delays in accessing emergency care, and widespread industrial action by frontline healthcare staff.

In Leicester, NHS staff and campaigners will be holding a rally on Gallowtree Gate (across from the NatWest building), between 12 noon and 2pm, with speeches at 1pm. Locally, the action is backed by Save Our NHS Leicestershire, Unite Community Leicester, Enough is Enough Leicester, and Leicester and District Trades Union Council.

Campaigners hope to draw public attention to the reasons for this crisis and show solidarity with NHS workers fighting for better pay and conditions and for a better services. All members of the public are welcome to join us.

Dr John Puntis, Co-Chair of Keep Our NHS Public, says:

“For the NHS, the ‘winter crisis’ is now all year long. As government choose to look the other way, waiting lists, delays in treatment, staff vacancies and ambulance hold ups increase. Each week there are 500 excess deaths related to difficulty in accessing emergency care. The first priority must be to retain and recruit staff, without whom no services are deliverable. Patient safety demands acknowledging the crisis we are in, an end to strikes through serious engagement by politicians with unions, and promoting a fair pay settlement not only for health workers, but also for grossly underpaid care staff. We stand by those on strike who are demanding not only pay justice but a long term commitment by government to invest in the NHS as a publicly funded and delivered system once again capable of providing first class care to patients, irrespective of the ability to pay. The future of our NHS is now at stake and the coordinated national demonstrations on 28th January are to give voice to our collective anger, and to tell staff: ‘we understand why you are on strike, and we stand by you 100%’.”

Tom Barker, Secretary of Save Our NHS Leicestershire, says:

“Steve Barclay, the Conservative Health Secretary, continues to try to pin the blame for deteriorating conditions in our health service on striking NHS workers. But it is clear to everyone else that the NHS is not functioning due to government neglect over many years and failure to value staff. This government has made a conscious choice to inflict harm on patients. Striking NHS workers are trying to push back against precisely these conditions. That’s why they need our support.”

ENDS

Spokespeople are available for interview (subject to availability). Contact: Tom Barker, 07896 841 902 tom.p.barker@googlemail.com

Notes to editors

1. Keep Our NHS Public is a national independent organisation campaigning for a well-funded, publicly owned and provided NHS www.keepournhspublic.com
2. For more information on the Day of Action including links to other local events, see: https://keepournhspublic.com/event/national-day-of-action/