'I love the NHS' - Nov 2007

'I love the NHS' Trafalgar Square rally, 3 November 2007

Around 7,000 people attended the NHS Together campaign’s national march and rally in celebration and support of the NHS on Saturday 3 November, which culminated in London's Trafalgar Square. The theme of the day was 'I love the NHS' and the aim was to champion the NHS's achievements, as well as to deliver serious messages such as the damage done to morale of staff from this year's pay award, the continuing problem of graduate unemployment, and the dangers posed to the NHS of fragmentation and privatisation.

Alabama 3, the band behind the theme tune from the TV show, the Sopranos, played a short headline set at the end of the day, and marchers were accompanied by music and entertainers as they made their made along the Embankment and down Whitehall to Trafalgar Square. But the main attraction was the range of speakers and what they had to say about the NHS - including second-on-the-bill (behind TUC President, Dave Prentis), CSP member Jess Dentith, who told the rally:

"As a physiotherapist working for the NHS I am proud to be supporting this rally and proud to be standing here, speaking up for the NHS. Away from the newspaper headlines, NHS staff do their utmost to give patients the best possible care. And over the past few years we have seen the NHS get better.

Waiting times are coming down. Faster, more patient-centred care is coming in. And, at last, there is now more investment in promoting healthy lifestyles, rather than health care being seen as purely a service for the sick. And physiotherapists - CSP members - are working alongside all of their NHS colleagues to bring about these improvements.

But the NHS has its share of problems too, some of them self-inflicted by a government that has - at least until recently - seemed to stop listening to its own staff. We have seen too much top-down reorganisation imposed on the NHS; too little regard for the impact that below inflation pay awards have on the morale of NHS staff and, something affecting my own profession in particular, a hopeless approach to workforce planning that has left thousands of new physiotherapists without work - at a time when the demand for physiotherapy has never been higher.

These are issues that can and must be sorted out for those of us working in the NHS to feel good about the future. I don't believe there is anyone here today who does not want the NHS to thrive - NHS staff do, NHS patients do. So let's junk the policies that get in the way of this and restore the NHS to its place as the jewel in the crown we all want."

CSP director of Employment Relations & Union Services, Lesley Mercer, had her message to the event broadcast on giant video screens. Lesley told the crowds gathered in Trafalgar Square:

"It seems sometimes that all the press wants to cover are the bad news stories about the NHS. But this ignores all the good work carried out, day after day, by NHS staff.

My union, the CSP, represents 25,000 physiotherapists and assistants in the NHS. They play a crucial role in treating patients who have had an injury - a stroke, a heart attack, or who have a long-term condition and want to stay independent, living at home. And they are at the forefront of developing new innovative services to meet patients' demand.

For example, if you live as I do in Tower Hamlets, you can now go direct to an NHS physiotherapist if you suffer from lower back pain - guaranteeing faster access to proper advice and treatment: this is just one of many examples of the NHS getting better.

But there is one big problem that is stopping us from delivering more, and that is the problem of graduate unemployment. At a time when demand for physiotherapy has never been higher, when all the evidence shows that the longer you wait for treatment, the less likely you are ever to return to work - thousands of new physiotherapy graduates are without a job. This is a shocking waste of their talents and skills.

We need to find solutions to this problem and are working with Government and I am confident that we can. But this shouldn't overshadow the fact that today is a day of celebration - of an NHS which still belongs to everyone, is still free at the point of delivery and is still quite simply the envy of most other countries."

Celebrity support

Also flashed up on the giant video screens flanking the stage were messages of support for the day from 1966 World Cup winner and West Ham and England football legend, Sir Geoff Hurst, the explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes and star of the award winning medical comedy, Green Wing, Tamsin Greig.

Sir Geoff Hurst's message of support for the NHS said:

"As a young professional footballer, dependent on my health and fitness, I had reasons to be thankful to the NHS but it wasn't until two family members were ill that I truly appreciated the full extent of the care and commitment available to those needing treatment in this country. In recent years, my grandson and one of my daughters required the expertise of the NHS. In both cases the levels of consultation, surgery and aftercare received were outstandingly good. In my family's experience the NHS response to serious health problems has been swift, efficient, caring and professional and has ensured that my grandson and daughter have been able to return to their everyday lives."

Sir Ranulph Fiennes’ message of support, in tune with the theme of the day, said:

"I love the NHS because they saved me from certain death following a massive heart attack. Also, when my wife of 36 years was terminally ill with cancer the NHS, Exeter, looked after her diligently and with expertise and patience."

Actress Tamsin Greig, star of the medical comedy, Green Wing, gave her support to the day by saying:

"The National Health Service is a unique and invaluable organisation that puts life first. I and my family have only ever been treated with diligence, care and dignity, in life and death. It is a national treasure and should be valued and honoured as such."

CSP reaction to the day

Commenting on the day, CSP director of Employment Relations & Union Services (ERUS), Lesley Mercer said:

"Thanks to everyone who came along on Saturday, especially those with the furthest to travel such as from Cumbria and the South West. I thought the rally went really well - the CSP banner was prominent and we had between 30-40 members present. In Trafalgar Square, CSP speaker Jess Dentith was brilliant - she highlighted graduate unemployment and NHS pay in her very well received speech, in the context of a celebration of the NHS's core values."

CSP member Georgina Williams, from Hertfordshire, said:

"We had a good day and it was great to see so many people from all the different unions there and share experiences with them. There was a good atmosphere and we enjoyed the speakers in Trafalgar Square, particularly our very own Jess Dentith!"

Shirley Rainey, who had travelled from the South West to be at the event, said:

“I thought it was good! It was good to be celebrating the NHS for us, and not just complaining. Everyone was very relaxed and I thought Jessica's speech was wonderful! – I was proud to hear her speaking and proud that the CSP were speaking second in celebration of our NHS.”

And the final word goes to CSP speaker, Jess Dentith herself, who said:

“It was really exciting to be there, speaking up for the NHS in front of so many people, and I could clearly see the CSP banner from where I was on the stage. The march itself was great, with lots of noise and colour, and it was a really great day. The best NHS Together event yet!”

Photo review

'I Love the NHS' footballers united

'I Love the NHS' marchers

'I Love the NHS' CSP banner on march

Jess Dentith on screen