Barnstaple rally
Demonstration news
"A very positive demonstration and worthwhile day."Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses and other health care staff in North Devon hit the streets and the shopping centre in Barnstaple on Saturday 3 March, showing a united front in support of the health service as part of the NHS Together campaign's day of action. The Barnstaple NHS Together event culminated in a packed rally in the Guildhall. See our photo review of the rally further down this page.
Physiotherapists Colette Frost and Jo Elliott were the CSP members taking the lead at the front of the march through Barnstaple's High Street (Jo, Colette and Colette's son, Tristan, can be seen in the photograph accompanying the news story on the event in the Western Morning News.
Colette, a senior physiotherapist in Intermediate Care at South Molton Hospital, describes the day:"A fresh sunny day greeted us all in Barnstaple for the rally. CSP and COT members joined together with UNISON and RCN members outside the beautiful Guildhall to demonstrate our feelings and frustration about the increasing privatisation of the NHS, financial cuts and the recently announced pay "award". We all staged an impromptu march the length of Barnstaple High Street, gaining support from the public as we went - the main chant being "Keep the N in NHS". There was an information stand in the local shopping centre, where we all discussed current issues with members of the public whilst obtaining signatures on the TUC petition. It was lovely to head home and see so many balloons and stickers around Barnstaple advertising the NHS together. A very positive demonstration and worthwhile day."Jo Elliott adds:
"The reaction from the public was, in general, very supportive of our aims. One member of the public in particular was passionate that the NHS should not be privatised in any way. Some who approached the stand in the local shopping centre seemed shocked at all the proposed changes and the speed with which they are occurring. After this information they were then keen to add signatures to the TUC petition. We had a good time and it was good to have the support of our OT colleagues and be seen by the larger unions."
Photo review
Together, NHS workers getting ready to go places
Marching behind the message: Save Our Services
Partnership in action as physios and nurses lead the way
This text on this page was last updated on 8 Mar 2007.
