Wyre Forest Labour calls upon everyone who cares about the NHS to come and show their support for it on Saturday 3rd February at 11am in front of Kidderminster Town Hall.

It’s well documented that our NHS has a crisis coping with the level of demand being placed on it, and it is the view of Labour that this crisis is down to underfunding of the NHS and is exacerbated by the lack of capacity invested in our social care system.

It is a fact that by historic comparators dating back to 1950, funding of the NHS since 2010 has not kept pace and has fallen behind by 3% per year, meaning an overall shortfall of 21%. A sum of £2.5 billion in national terms, and which for Worcestershire represents an underfunding figure of over £30million. If that money had been provided, the situation for our local NHS would be vastly different.

Wyre Forest Labour’s NHS event on Saturday is part of a national day of action called ‘Fix Our NHS’ and which was originally called by the People’s Assembly. Similar events are happening across the country including Worcester organised by “Its Our NHS Worcestershire.

Labour will also use the “Fix Our NHS” event to promote the campaign in which they are working with the parents of disabled children to ‘Save Ludlow Road’ NHS Respite Centre. The Centre is threatened with closure, and the petition which has gained nearly 8,000 signatures, will be available for members of the public to sign to show that they too want it kept open.

‘Fix our NHS’ event directions and further details

Stephen Brown of Wyre Forest Labour said “the purpose of Saturday’s ‘Fix our NHS’ event in Kidderminster is for people to come and support our NHS. It is the people’s NHS and only the people can save it from the current crisis by demanding the Government provide the funding it needs. We call upon the people of Wyre Forest, whichever way you vote, to come at 11am to show you care about our NHS. Locally, we have seen the impact of NHS underfunding with the closure of Harvington Ward at Kidderminster Hospital. We’d also like to see more services at Kidderminster as we know wards and beds are unused and it would better serve the local community and reduce the problems at Worcester to open them up. This is not a partisan event because we support Dr Taylor’s calls for a doctor at Kidderminster Minor Injuries Unit to take the load off Worcester Royal’s A&E. Saturday also provides the opportunity for local people to come and find out more about Ludlow Road NHS Respite Centre and why it needs to be saved. Many services rely on the cooperation of the NHS with Councils like Worcestershire County, yet at a time of financial restraint, they seem to have their heads stuck in silos ignoring the consequence of closure on other services in the NHS and care system. It doesn’t make any sense, but we say by working together better, it is our view that local services like Ludlow Road, which serves the whole County and beyond can be saved. We know Wyre Forest people care about our NHS and Saturday is an opportunity to come and show it.”