More protests erupt in Bristol over the passing of the anti-NHS bill, and more are to come...

Update! Meet 1pm Sat 24th at the fountains in Bristol to protest the privatisation of the NHS.

Demonstrators gathered outside the Bristol Royal Infirmary to protest the government’s controversial health and social care bill which was passed on Tuesday. The protest was the second in two days outside the hospital and had more than doubled in size. More protests are planned for the coming days and are expected to draw larger crowds again.

From 4pm this afternoon crowds of people showed their opposition to the Bill, which they see as a threat to the system of free universal health care and a way for Whitehall to pass the blame for huge spending reductions on to family doctors.

The protest received warm support. Many passersby cheered and joined the protesters, while drivers sounded their horns. Ambulance drivers gave some of the most enthusiastic “Honks for Free Healthcare!” Hospital staff, patients and visitors also came to welcome the protesters and express their deep concerns over the future of the NHS as a result of the recent Bill.

At the end of the demonstration the protesters held a large open meeting at which further protests were planned for the coming days. ... On Saturday there will be a further protest at the fountains. This is expected to be much larger. People from all over Bristol and representatives from trade unions and anti-cuts groups will be out on the demonstration.

One protester, Andrew McCarthy, said: “It feels like we have sleepwalked into letting a bill be passed which threatens the very basis of healthcare in the UK. But it’s not too late. Unpopular legislation has been overturned in the past after being made law, Poll Tax, for example. If enough people fight against this bill, we can do the same thing and win back the NHS from the Tories and their greedy friends.” Full article

| NHS Bill protesters say: more demonstrations to come | Spontaneous demo against privitisation of NHS | Spontaneous Protest Erupt in Bristol At Passing Of Anti-NHS Law |