News / Bristol
Hundreds march in support of NHS
An impassioned speech from a nurse at Southmead Hospital set the tone for a march in support of the NHS which attracted hundreds of people on Saturday afternoon.
Film director Ken Loach also spoke to protesters in St Andrew’s Park after they made their way down Gloucester Road from Horfield Common.
Many healthcare professionals attended the march
These protesters encouraged passing cars to hoot their support before the start of the march
But it was nurse Lorna who got the biggest cheers of the day.
is needed now More than ever
“We get so much joy out of our profession,” she said to the gathered crowds close to the Wellington pub.
“We love the job we do, we love our patients, we really do. We go home at the end of every day smiling because of those patients we have helped.
“The only thing that really hurts is when we can’t do the best job we can do, the job that we have been trained to do.”
She added: “When these people that have this calling to deliver this care for you from cradle to grave out of the goodness of their hearts tell you that there is something wrong, I really think it’s important to listen.”
Watch her full speech at 10 minutes into the below video:
https://www.facebook.com/bristol247/videos/10154958590149807/
Of course, with there being an upcoming election, there were also speeches from politicians – Labour’s Bristol North West candidate Darren Jones on Horfield Common before the start of the march (watch from 6.40 in the above video) and Green Party Bristol West hopeful Molly Scott Cato in St Andrew’s Park.
Standing on top of a fallen tree in St Andrew’s Park, Loach spoke to the crowds about a “possible catastrophe” happening to the NHS.
“There are many here working in the Service who know this only too well. It’s up to the rest of us to fight their battle for them.”
Scott Cato, whose son is a junior doctor, said: “We must stop our politicians undermining our healthcare workers…
“I can absolutely guarantee to you today that if you elect me as MP for Bristol West I will have no truck with the privatisation of the health service.
“The Green Party has always been committed to a public NHS and we always will be.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is expected to speak at an NHS rally in Bristol on Wednesday.
One protester impersonated Theresa May and even started rapping
The NHS is for us all
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