Campaigners on the march down to London. Pic: 999 Call for the NHS
The final leg of the 300 mile long ‘999 Call for the NHS’ march reaches Hackney tomorrow as thousands of demonstrators pass through the borough on their way to the climax of the protest.
The march, coordinated by a group of mothers known as “the Darlo mums”, set off from Jarrow, Tyne and Wear on August 16 culminates tomorrow from 10am, when protestors in their thousands walk from Edmonton Green, north London, to Westminster for a rally. The route follows that of the famous Jarrow Crusade of 1936, when unemployed workers from the north-east marched south to raise the plight of industrial decline and economic depression.
Hailing from Darlington, the Darlo Mums and are leading the People’s March for the NHS through 23 towns and cities across the country in protest at what they see as the increasing privatisation of the NHS and the effects of the 2012 Health and Social Care Act.
From 11:45-12:45 the group will pass through Clissold Park, Hackney and the march will culminate with a rally in Trafalgar Square, starting at 3.30pm. Campaigners say they have received invaluable support at every stage.
When Labour minister Aneurin Bevan launched the NHS to a post-war society in July 1948, the core principles were to provide free healthcare for all who needed it. But with the introduction of the Health and Social Care Act in 2012, concerned protestors say that the founding principles are under attack.
According to the Darlo mums, services are becoming more fragmented and an increasing numbers of NHS contracts are being awarded to the private sector. The campaign wants to see the repeal of the act and a halt to the privatisation of NHS care, with Bevan’s famous phrase in mind: “The NHS will last as long as there are the folk left with faith to fight for it.”
It is something the Darlo Mums have taken to heart.
Stoke Newington mum and 999 Campaigner Catherine McArdle will be marching on Saturday, because she feels it is vital for people to understand what is happening to the NHS before it is too late.
McArdle was born in Darlington and her sister-in-law Rehana Azam is one of the mums who conceived the idea for the march. Her husband is a hospital consultant and her sister is a GP so she believes she is more aware than most of the cuts to health and social care budgets and the threat of privatisation.
Talking about her experiences with NHS care in Stoke Newington she says: “I have noticed that the wait for appointments with my GP has increased massively. Even my young children would have to wait three weeks to see a named GP. Surgeries throughout Hackney are facing closure because the fund for areas of deprivation is being cut”
McArdle is a graphic designer and has produced a series of striking posters for the campaign highlighting worrying statistics about the erosion of NHS services.
Need a reason to join the #march4nhs on Saturday? http://t.co/jXS0W3mGIb Have FOUR xx pic.twitter.com/ymPWuZnpGE
— stevencarne (@OhStevenCarne) September 4, 2014
“The NHS has touched most people in some way or another. People are desperate to get involved” says McArdle. The march is set to become the biggest pre-election campaign for the NHS in history as well as a way to bring together NHS protest groups across the country. Save Lewisham A&E hospital which campaigned successfully last year have also shown their support.
BE THERE TOMORROW! Welcome NHS Jarrow marchers! 2pm Red Lion Sq. Trafalgar Sq hear Owen Jones Billy Bragg #march4nhs pic.twitter.com/lKY7vchEAp
— SaveLewishamA&E (@SaveLewishamAE) September 5, 2014
On Saturday, McArdle is encouraging people to “march, march, march. One mile, 10 miles, do whatever you are capable of. Join the rally in Trafalgar Square. It is over to you. You are the people. You are the electorate. What you say really does matter. Make sure the politicians do sit up and take notice. Above all remember this is OUR NHS. We own it, so it is our job to save it”
Details of the full route is available here.
