Sheffield rally

Demonstration news

Brendan's rallying cry to the Government was "work with us. Win back our trust. Work together to make the NHS even better."

TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber, was the key speaker at the NHS Together rally in Sheffield on Saturday 3 March. Brendan told the 250 plus strong rally that "the Government is in danger of squandering the political credit it has earned for its investment in the NHS and the better patient care that NHS staff are now delivering." See our photo review of the rally further down this page.

Brendan went on to say that there was "a rising tide of cynicism about the NHS", with people telling pollsters that the service has got "no better" since the Government came to power - even when their own personal experience of the NHS has been good.

Other points Brendan made were that "the brakes have been slammed on too fast" with regards to health spending, leading to "job losses up and down the country"; that the NHS was a victim of constant change that should stop; and that the fragmentation of "one of Britain's most valued institutions" should end.

Brendan's rallying cry to the Government was "work with us. Win back our trust. Work together to make the NHS even better."

Other speakers at the rally included Derek Simpson, General Secretary of Amicus; the President-elect of the RCN, Maura Buchanan; and representatives from the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and the Huddersfield Action Group of NHS users.

Listening to the speeches were 3rd year physiotherapy student Emily Burns and her mother, Alison Pickard. Alison commented:

"The points made by the main speakers rang very true to me. 'Privatisation by the back door' and 'fragmentation of services' were, I think, key phrases."

CSP Senior Negotiating Officer, Rosie Lloyd, said:

"Fortunately, the sun shone on us for most of the time and the march was led by an excellent steel drum band and we stopped the traffic, if not the NHS reforms. We got lots of support from the public, and it was pleasing to see all the flags and banners showing support from lots of different organisations, not just the health unions. The highlight, from a CSP perspective, however, was our steward from Rotherham PCT, Judy Dalton, being interviewed by the BBC."

Judy herself said:

"It was great to be with other people who feel as passionately about the NHS as I do. I thought there was great solidarity with the other trade unions, and I was proud to be there as a physiotherapist, representing the CSP."

Physiotherapy student Emily Burns, appearing at her first rally, said she was "very heartened by the support of the qualified physios on the march."

More of Brendan Barber's speech can be seen on the TUC website.

Photo review

Sheffield: are you ready for this?

On the march at the Sheffield rally

Sheffield shows it steel (band, very good!)