Local healthcare activists joined a national march on Parliament on Saturday to oppose further cuts to and privatisation of the National Health Service (NHS).

Newham Save Our NHS is a campaign group made up of health professionals and residents who came together last autumn around a petition against services being contracted out to private providers which gathered around 500 signatures.

The demonstration, organised by “Keep Our NHS Public” and trade unions GMB and Unite, began at Waterloo and marched to the Department of Health and the Houses of Parliament.

Among those taking part from Newham was Susan Masters who said: “It was a really good day. The banner was applauded by passers-by and a crowd of Unite demonstrators coming through Waterloo station.”

Newham Save Our NHS meet every month at the Kitchen Table cafe in Central Park, East Ham, from 10.30am to 12pm.

The next meeting, entitled “How do we move forward following the successful Defend London’s NHS march and rally on 18th May?”, is on Sunday June 16.

Visit their blog at newhamsaveournhs.weebly.com to find out more.