PROTESTERS gathered outside the office of Forest of Dean MP Mark Harper last week in an attempt to convince him to vote against the Government’s latest NHS bill.

Local people displayed banners and placards outside Mr Harper’s office on Cinderford High Street last Friday (September 24), calling on him to vote against the legislation when it returns for further votes in the House of Commons.

Campaigners say the controversial bill, which has been dubbed the "NHS Corporate Takeover Bill", would hand private companies more power by allowing them onto health boards, meaning they could decide where public money and care are allocated.

Critics say the move will lead to "more power concentrated in Westminster" in the hands of the health secretary and reduced scrutiny over NHS contracts being awarded to corporations.

There are also fears that the bill will lead to decisions being made at a regional level, which could result in different services and standards of care across the country.

The bill is currently at the parliamentary committee stage, with further votes in the House of Commons and House of Lords and the final vote expected before the end of the year. 

The legislation passed its second reading back in July, with three Conservative MPs voting against the Government alongside the Labour Party, Lib Dems, Greens and the SNP.

Mr Harper voted in support of the Government, but local campaigners are hoping to "build enough pressure" to see the bill defeated in the next round of voting.

St Briavels resident Corinna Seaton, who joined the protest, said, "No-one in the UK wants to see our amazing, incredible NHS sold off to greedy private investors, who care only about profits and not about health at all!

"The problem is people don’t believe it is actually happening; the public is misinformed by the mainstream media, so it’s important for anyone that’s aware of what’s going on to try and let others know whenever and however they can."

The protest was part of national action coordinated by patient-led healthcare campaign group Just Treatment, with other demonstrations taking place outside MP offices across the country on the day.

Organisers have taken "a number of actions" in recent weeks and months to mobilise people against the bill.

Campaigners are also hoping to build support for NHS New Deal, which is a list of demands crowdsourced from NHS patients across the UK that call for a "fully-funded and truly public" NHS.

Local organiser Victoria Blair, who is also from St Briavels, said, "This Bill really is the final nail in the coffin of our beloved health service, which they want to replace with an American-style system, where many can’t afford even the most basic healthcare - can you imagine 3000 dollars for an antenatal ultrasound and 400 dollars for ONE asthma inhaler? 

"And one, where your insurance company is regularly trying to get out of funding your care! 

"As someone, whose disabled twins depend on the NHS as a matter of life and death, it is truly terrifying - we wouldn’t be able to afford their healthcare privately! 

"Mark Harper has no mandate to remove his constituents’ healthcare!

"Please help to join NHS campaign groups (KONP, We Own It, Just Treatment and Patients4NHS), sign our petition at NHSNewDeal.org and put pressure on your MP."

Adele Bates, NHS doctor and fellow protester, commented: "The NHS Corporate Takeover Bill is a huge threat to our loved and trusted NHS as we know it: free, quality healthcare accessible to all at the point of use, there for us when we so desperately need it.

"We must defend it against deliberate destruction from huge, predatory corporations.

"As an NHS doctor, I am staggered this does not seem to be a current topic of conversation and is largely invisible in mainstream media.

"Thank you to my friend, Toria, for asking me along to help spread the word in Cinderford."

For more information and updates on the bill and the campaign to stop it, go to Justtreatment.org.