a small group of protestors, including the now infamous pensioner june hautot, waited for the appearance of health sec lansley this afternoon at royal free hospital in hampstead. he was about an hour late, and then refused to even acknowledge the presence of the demonstrators who tried to ask questions as he walked away down a hospital corridor before police closed ranks.

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mr lansley was due to meet staff at the hospital at 4pm, and a group of protestors assembled outside the main entrance. the campaigners came from 'keep our nhs public', 'coalition of resistance', and 'global women's strike'. they had some banners, and were handing out leaflets to passers-by.

the hospital has several entrances, and i heard there were more protestors round the back. there, i found june hautot, the retired unison rep who achieved some notoriety in the press a couple of weeks ago when she challenged the health minister outside number ten on his way to the contrived consultation meeting to which no dissenting organisations were invited.

as time passed, the police seemed no better informed than protestors about whether mr lansley was already in the building or not. a couple of activists found the area of the hospital (a radiology facility) where he was expected, and soon, several were inside waiting for him there.

the door to the unit was guarded by hospital security and a couple of police aided by community support. mr lansley had somehow entered the the hospital avoiding the protests, (perhaps through the sewers, like a rat), but he was being shown another facility and so had to pass the few protestors along the corridor.

following him a few yards along the route, they asked him to wait and answer a few questions, but he rudely acted as if they simply weren't there, avoiding their questions, any eye contact, or even the slightest human recognition. with his small entourage he piled into a ward, and in deference to the patients, the activists turned back.

lansley then found another way out of the building, slinking out as he had slunk in.

the 'keep our nhs public' campaign point out that:

- the NHS is facing a 20% cut in funding, despite being the most efficient health service in the world according to a commonwealth fund report.

- that even before the legislation is enacted, more and more people are being forced to pay for treatment because of waiting times or rationing.

- that  the bill will open the market for GPs to purchase healthcare, but that given most GPs aren't trained in management, this will get delegated to private companies who will no doubt then try to sell you healthcare as part of their service.

- that 68% of NHS staff want the bill withdrawn, with the royal college of GPs saying that the bill will "cause irreparable damage to patient care"

www.keepournhspublic.com