Turnout ‘proves strength of feeling’ on NHS

Dr Carl Walker, National Health Action Party candidate for East Worthing and Shoreham, organised talks and a question time at the Shoreham Centre on Friday, to give people the chance to quiz health professionals about various issues in the area.

He said: “The strong turnout shows just how important the NHS is to people’s everyday lives. Many people came to this meeting because they were worried about what is happening to the NHS and found much of what they were told useful.

“Although the response to the meeting was very positive, the general feeling, both from the health professionals and the vast majority of the people in the room, was the way that unwanted privatisation and cuts were damaging a raft of services.

“The audience was united in condemnation of the decision to sell off hospital land at Southlands for redevelopment, and of the CCG’s waste of £350,000 on the MSK tendering saga.”

The five speakers were former A&E worker Barbara Porter, GPs Dr Helen Salisbury and Dr Jo Monjardino, Dr Jacky Woolcock from the Save Southlands campaign and Dr Walker, who works in community mental health.

Nearly 150 people heard them outline some of the ways in which the NHS has suffered recently, both locally and nationally.

Dr Walker said people were able to find out more about services in their area and how to be involved in giving their own opinions in future local health issues.