COACH loads of worried campaigners and residents from Wyre Forest will travel to London to take part in a national demonstration about the NHS.

Health Campaigns Together, which is made up of 35 NHS campaign groups, trade unions and other political supporters, has organised the event for Saturday, March 4 from 12pm.

They say the alliance has been formed to defend against privatisation of the service and fight for a fully funded, public NHS free at the point of entry.

It’s Our NHS Worcestershire, featuring representatives from political parties, trade unions and campaign groups in the county, will support the event

Organisations from Wyre Forest, including campaign group Betrayed By Their Trust (BBTT) and the district Labour Party, will be travelling down via coach and are encouraging as many people to join them.

Coaches will leave Wyre Forest at 8am and pick up participants in Bromsgrove and Redditch.

BBTT, which was set up to in response to allegations of bullying at the NHS Trusts in Worcestershire, has hosted a stall outside Kidderminster Town Hall on Saturday mornings for the past five weeks.

It’s Our NHS Worcestershire spokesman and BBTT Chairman Nigel Gilbert said more than £150 had been collected through donations to help keep the costs of the coach down for people who wish to support the demonstration.

He said: “The tragic deaths at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, the downgrading of services at community hospitals and the threat of closure for local county hospitals has provided campaigners with an urgency to organise for this demonstration.

“It’s Our NHS Worcestershire supports all NHS workers and opposes any efforts to divert blame onto them.”

Stephen Brown, of Wyre Forest Labour group, added: “I don't think the people of Wyre Forest having voted to leave the EU will wait years for the Brexit promises of more NHS funding to materialise.

“Something will give and the public want their NHS properly funded now. A new management structure in Worcestershire is simply moving the deckchairs around on a sinking ship.

“Whilst management undoubtedly needs improvement, the whole existing four year review of the Acute Trust may pale into insignificance when NHS STP kicks in and a further £22 billion has to be saved in the next four years.

“That is why two coach loads of ordinary people from Wyre Forest are heading to London on March 4. That is why local people have donated at street stalls to BBTT towards these coaches. Wyre Forest has had enough.”

People wishing to get a place on the coach for a voluntary donation of £5 (£1 for low paid) can contact Mr Gilbert on 07504 874503 or email nigel.gilbert@hotmail.com