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Campaigners set to protest in Broadstairs against NHS privatisation

Health campaigners are set to gather in Broadstairs tomorrow in protest against the increasing privatisation of the NHS.

Members of Save Our NHS In Kent (SONIK) will protest outside the office of South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay, in The Broadway, at 3pm, and are asking all opposed to privatisation to join them.

Members of Save Our NHS In Kent (SONIK) protesting in 2019. Stock picture
Members of Save Our NHS In Kent (SONIK) protesting in 2019. Stock picture

The action coincides with a major event planned tomorrow in which celebrities and health workers will band together outside parliament in London to demand that MPs oppose the Health and Care Bill, which campaigners fear will be disastrous for the NHS and social care services.

A spokesman for SONIK said: “There is widespread agreement among health campaigners that if this bill is passed it will result in more privatisation and more cuts in the NHS. It will be a disaster for our health service. Everyone who is concerned about the future of our NHS should join our protest.”

Celebrities including Stephen Fry, Jo Brand, and Michael Rosen are supporting the London event.

The national campaign against the bill has already seen protests outside parliament, and celebrity social media video messages have reached millions of people.

In support of the campaign, Stephen Fry said: “I’ve seen what a nightmare healthcare is – if you can call it that – in America. A real nightmare! And the idea of that infecting our NHS is like the idea of a new pandemic, frankly.

"It will be a disaster for our health service..."

“That kind of infection would destroy and compromise the health service we’ve grown to depend on and love, and to be incredibly proud of.

"Research shows that American corporations are already embedding themselves in our NHS. And this is a really dangerous, and a very, very worrying turn of events.”

To keep up-to-date with all the latest developments with your local hospitals and other health stories, click here.

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