SOS NHS DEMONSTRATION – END THE CRISIS – SUPPORT THE STRIKES
Saturday 11 March 2023

DEMONSTRATION REPORT:

What a fantastic day Saturday 11 March was.  It was an incredibly lively and sometimes moving demonstration which including a tearful minute’s silence for Covid victims at the start. 

The demonstration was called to demand that the government act now to end the extreme crisis in the NHS, a crisis which is causing hundreds of unnecessary and preventable deaths every week. 

It was also about showing support for all striking NHS workers – and it included large contingents of angry nurses, midwives and junior doctors.

The many thousands of protestors were addressed by MPs and politicians from the Labour Party, Green Party and Sinn Fein, leading trade unionists and strikers and from campaigning groups including Keep our NHS Public, NHS Staff voices and the People’s Assembly and many more.

Dr Tony O’Sullivan from Keep our NHS Public insisted that the ‘current tragedy unfolding before our eyes is 100% the fault of the government’, Jeremy Corbyn MP made it clear how important the strikes are to the fight to protect the NHS, calling everyone to join the Junior Doctors’ picket lines on Monday.

Holly Turner from NHS Workers’ Say No insisted that we must be absolutely clear that the NHS crisis is not really an economic crisis, but a political one, ‘the fact is’ she said, ‘the money is there and the rich are getting immeasurably richer in our society’.

The marchers expressed solidarity with Gary Lineker by singing the Match of The Day theme tune as the march got under way!

Many speakers also referenced the Gary Lineker affair and there was widespread recognition that the Government was trying to distract people with racist politics from the NHS crisis and the wider crisis across society.

John Rees from the People’s Assembly pointed out that the massive support for Lineker showed that the government can be isolated when we fight back.

The demonstration clearly showed that the public really do have the will to fight for our NHS and that the Government has made a major miscalculation in attacking NHS workers who rightly remain hugely popular. The message was clear; the Government must act now to end the NHScrisis, and NHS workers must be granted the pay justice they deserve!

PLEASE DONATE TO COST OF DEMO

To make a one-off donation to the costs of the SOS NHS demonstration click here.

Suggested donations as follows: 

Individual donation……………………………………… £25
Local campaign group…………………………………… £50
Trade union branch………………………………………. £100
National organisation (or non-health trade union)……. £500

If you’re a national health union and willing to make a contribution please get in touch with us to discuss what you can give by emailing, co-chair@keepournhspublic.com

If you’d like to send us a BACS transfer or a cheque please email campaigns@keepournhspublic.com