Health professionals got together with councillors and members of community and religious groups last night to kickstart a campaign on limiting the privatisation of the NHS.
The union Unison gathered more than 30 people together for a meeting at City Hall in Bradford.
Guest speakers, including Bradford Council leader David Green (Lab, Wibsey) and his deputy Imran Hussain (Lab, Toller), told of the need to protect the NHS. There was also a message of support from the Bishop of Bradford, the Right Rev Nick Baines.
Tony Pearson, Unison’s regional head of health in Yorkshire and Humberside, said: “We are trying to bring together a community pressure group. It is a question of focusing on getting patients’ groups, community groups and religious groups together – a community coalition of concern about the NHS.
“And to see that privatisation of the NHS is avoided.”
“Our aim is to work together and find out what is going on in their parts of Bradford and what support they can give to ensure the NHS remains free at the point of delivery.”
Mr Pearson said multinational private companies are already picking off profitable parts of the NHS, adding: “Our campaign will highlight this scandal so people can see precisely what this Government is allowing to happen to our NHS.”
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