Protesting for BBC health balance

A demonstration outside the BBC building today called for more balanced reporting of health matters.

Protesters began to assemble at 11am outside the BBC Broadcasting House, Portland Place.

The group did not amass to a large number, but three of the protesters entered the building to give a letter of complaint to the BBC.

They continued to hand out leaflets highlighting two areas of news that they felt the BBC had failed to report.

One that on Monday the 24th of June the British Medical Association passed an overwhelming vote of no confidence in the health secretary Jeremy Hunt.

They also complained that on the 10th of January 2012 two Oncology Consultants Clive Peedell and David Williams ran six marathons in six days from Aneurin Bevan's Statue in Cardiff to 10 Downing Street to present a petition to request the withdrawal of the controversial Health and Social Care Bill 2012.

The protest was part of an ongoing campaign by Keep Our NHS Public against what they view a the gradual privatization of the health service.

NHS bill protests continue

Around 100 people gathered to protest outside the Department of Health building in Whitehall at 2.30 pm today.

The demonstration was organised by a mish mash of small campaiging groups, including Health Alarm and Keep Our NHS Public, who have come together to protest against the NHS bill that is currently going through parliament.

Again there was vocal remonstration about the fact that the TUC have failed to follow up the huge protests in March with similar protests in defence of the NHS.

Some of those I spoke to cited the TUC links with the labour party for their lack of action.

At 3pm Occupy arrived to join the demonstration in their characteristic masks.

The demonstration was peaceful and everyone dispersed by 4pm.

Human chain round St Thomas' - EYEWITNESS

A human chain surrounded St Thomas' hospital today at lunch time in protest at the current bill that is going through Parliament, in spite of heavy rain.

100s of people gathered from 12 o'clock, in a downpour, to protest against the government's actions.



Unite, PCS and Keep Our NHS Public all had a presence at the protest.







At roughly 2 o'clock the protesters dispersed to cross the bridge to the Houses of Parliament and lobby the government.

Keep Our NHS Public believe that: "Lansley's parliamentary Bill, dressed as up as a simple reform, threatens to destroy the NHS by stealth."



One protester said that she was disappointed by her union, Unite, who she felt had not done enough to protest against the bill early enough.

She said her group Health Alarm hoped to try and link up the movement that she felt was growing against the bill.



The protesters remained at time of writing outside the house.

More protests are planned for the rest of the day.