Unite members will stage a series of actions up and down the country as part of the union’s NHS day of action on 26 February, which it is holding with SOS:NHS.

Members of Unite’s Community section, along with activists in Unite in Health, which represents over 100,000 health service workers, will be holding rallies and stalls in high streets and outside hospitals in cities and towns throughout the English regions to talk to locals and encourage voters to tell their MPs to oppose further privatisation of our NHS by the Health and Care Bill. 

Billboards, ad vans and bus stops already carry direct messages to voters in many constituencies asking them to tell their MP to vote against the Bill.

The majority of Saturday’s actions will be targeted at Tory MPs who voted in favour of the Bill last November. Unite members will be in handing out postcards and leaflets carrying their message to them to put their constituents and local health services first and vote against it this time. They will also hold marches and rallies in some locations.

Unite, along with NHS campaign groups including SOS:NHS and Your NHS Needs You, believes the Health and Care Bill, which is back before parliament on 1 March, will be a disaster for healthcare services, resulting in further privatisation and cuts and reduced patient access to treatments.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 

"While our members and their families in England are being told to expect NHS waiting lists to rise for years to come, the government's priority is to pave the way for further disastrous privatisation. Every time private companies run NHS services they put profits before patients who pay the price. 

“So MPs must put their constituents before their private sector mates and vote to junk the Bill. Of course, it is unlikely they will, and Unite will have to continue to fight these big corporate money moves step by step inside the NHS.”

Liane Groves, head of Unite Community, said:

“Our NHS is under threat and time is running out. The Health and Care Bill will cut medical and emergency services, force more people to pay for their health care and let more private companies take over services and make decisions on budgets.

“That is why Community members will be out on the streets on Saturday, highlighting the tsunami of attacks our health service is facing and asking local people to tell their MPs they must vote against the Health and Care Bill to save our NHS.”

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For more information please contact Unite senior strategic communications officer Jennie Walsh on 07958 514695. Unite press office is on 020 3371 2065.