Residents protest NHS privatisation

Peoples NHS Activists Lynn Doran, Paddy Mackel and Tayra McKee were joined by residents Keith Smylie and Colin Cunningham at the protest in Thornhill Dromore © Edward Byrne Photography INBL1446-227EB

Residents Keith Smylie and Colin Cunningham joined activists from the People’s NHS for the protest at Thornhill Drive against what they say is “the irreversible sell-off of their health services to America.”

Rows of houses Dromore erected signage calling on the government to stop the so-called “sale”. The collective action is the beginning of a nationwide movement by the People’s NHS across hundreds of neighbourhoods in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Rev Hudson, spokesperson for the People’s NHS NI, said: “Hundreds of households are delivering a clear message by raising ‘stop the sale signs’ in protest over the sell-off of their health services and David Cameron’s refusal to veto the NHS from the dangerous trade deal called TTIP.

“Not only is the government selling off the NHS they are putting it at risk of irreversible privatisation because of TTIP.

“We expect our local MP to call on Cameron to ensure he uses his veto in Europe to protect the NHS.

“The government had no mandate to sell-off the NHS. This is a clear message to our local politicians and to the government that it’s time to take the for sale sign down from our hospitals and GP services and and put our cherished NHS back into public hands.

“The Tories won’t stop there, they want to make the sell-off irreversible through a trade deal called TTIP. But David Cameron did not tell us this sell-off was being planned when he was out campaigning during the 2010 general election campaign.

“The action is a strong message to East Belfast and Dromore politicians that their constituents oppose the the Tory agenda to hand our NHS to the profit driven companies.”