MORE than 250 residents took to the streets of Colchester to demand a fair pay deal for NHS workers and an end to health service privatisation.
Keep Our NHS Public, Health Campaigns Together, NHS Workers Say No and NHS Staff Voices organised a day of action on Saturday to mark the 73rd birthday of the NHS.
Colchester was one of 70 places across the UK where activists took to the streets to call for a 15 per cent pay increase for NHS staff.
Holly Turner, a nurse at Colchester Hospital, is a founding member of NHS Workers Say No.
She said: “NHS staff were involved but also the community and different community groups joined us which was brilliant.
“There was support from Colchester and Harwich councillors too.
“It is not just about marching around the town chanting, although obviously that is part of it.
“The day of action was organised to raise awareness of threat to patient safety as well as demanding a fair pay deal for staff and an end to privatisation.
“NHS workers are fed up and angry. The Government offer of one per cent is disrespectful to workers.
“Nurses have had a real terms pay cut of 32 per cent in real terms. Our pay has not kept up with inflation.
“That translates into there being 100,000 vacancies in the NHS which means there are 5 million people on waiting lists for treatment.”
Read more:
- Colchester's NHS workers will march to demand a pay increase of 15%
- WATCH: England fans celebrate in Colchester High Street
- Colchester: Three students test positive for Covid at Philip Morant
Protesters met at St Botolph’s Church, in St Botolph’s Street, where a minute’s silence was held to honour the 1,000 healthcare workers lost during the pandemic.
As many as 300 residents then marched through the town to Castle Park where there were speeches from nurses, teachers and union representatives.
Holly said: “It was really uplifting because as we were walking down the High Street people were clapping.
“Nationally we have found the general public are behind NHS workers. Residents are sick of being unable to get appointments or being stuck on waiting lists for treatment.”
Search for @NurseSayNo on Twitter or NHS Workers Say NO on Facebook.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel