Protest in against degrading of Devon NHS in Exeter, 3.12.16, photo by Sean Brogan

Protest in against degrading of Devon NHS in Exeter, 3.12.16, photo by Sean Brogan   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Sean Brogan, Exeter Socialist Party

Hundreds protested in the centre of Exeter on 3 December against the decimation and degrading of Devon’s NHS. Coming from all points of the compass and forming ‘red lines’ of marchers from different parts of the city, they cheered and clapped speakers from the community and the labour and trade union movement.

Many came from communities that have organised themselves in the more rural areas and small towns. Loss of community hospitals will mean long journeys to city ‘hubs’ and the loss of the maternity services in north Devon district hospital will mean long journeys for pregnant mothers.

So-called ‘social care’ has been shown to be totally inadequate and calls were made for a halt to the plans by local commissioning groups. The stalls set up by both Exeter and Torbay & South Devon Socialist Party branches were almost overwhelmed as protesters mixed with Christmas shoppers rushing to sign petitions.

Hundreds of Socialist Party leaflets were handed out and there was a great sale of the Socialist and generous contributions to our fighting fund.

The protest was reminded of the next step – building for a national demonstration on 4 March.

  • Exeter Socialist Party has a meeting about what is needed to defend the NHS at Exeter Community Centre, St David’s Hill, Thursday 8 December