CAMPAIGNERS will be taking to Romsey’s streets tomorrow (Saturday) to whip up support for the National Health Service.

Members of the independent campaign group 38 Degrees are calling on people to “vote to protect the NHS” at next month’s General Election and they want candidates in the Romsey and Southampton North constituency to guarantee that they will do all they can to stop the service being privatised and funds frozen.

Group members will be in The Hundred at 11am and in a symbolic gesture of support thousands of people across England will be protesting in other towns and cities at the same time.

Joe Dukes, a 38 Degrees member from Nursling, said: “I have spoken with many local residents on the NHS, the vast majority of whom are worried about a lack of funding, and growing fears of further privatisation. The NHS is the most precious public service we have, it does an amazing job in caring for ordinary people like me and my family, which makes healthcare a key political subject for the upcoming election. I am joining others in Romsey on Saturday to make our collective voice heard loud and clear, that we will not support any politician, or political party, that is determined to break up the NHS and sell it off to the highest bidder. The way we vote on the 7th May could determine whether our NHS is still there for our children and grandchildren.”

David Babbs, executive director of 38 Degrees said: ““We want Romsey and Southampton North MP candidates to see that the best way to win votes is to pledge to save the NHS from privatisation and funding freezes. Every candidate needs to realise that cutting NHS funding, or handing it over to private companies, is a huge turn off for voters.”

The Romsey and Southampton North petition to save the NHS is at: www.38degrees. org.uk/nhs