Carlisle Socialist Party were collecting signatures for their petition to ‘save the NHS’ in Carlisle City Centre as the health service celebrates its 75th birthday.

Founded in 1948 by Clement Atlee’s pioneering government, the NHS was set up to provide free healthcare at the point of use for every citizen of the country.

But campaigners have said that decades of underinvestment and lack of funding have thrown the NHS into crisis.

Chair of Carlisle Socialist Party, Brent Kennedy, said: “What we've been saying for the last couple of years that the cuts and the constant underfunding and underinvestment is a deliberate plan by the Tory government to destroy the NHS.

“And now Tony Blair, who gave us the disaster of PFI, has actually said that the NHS needs to be radically changed or it'll decline and lose support.

“What he means and what he’s explicitly said is that the health service needs more privatization and use of private beds.

“Wes Streeting (shadow health secretary) and Keir Starmer are also saying the same thing and if they’re not helping then what hope is there for the future of the NHS?”

The group are planning a public meeting on Monday, July 10 entitled ‘how can we save the NHS’ with health workers from the Cumberland Infirmary speaking out about the current situation in the health service.

Praising the primary and secondary health services that serve residents in and around Carlisle, Julie Minns said: “Our NHS has supported the people of Britain for 75 years, bringing longer life expectancy, greater health security and equality.

“This is vitally important in the local area in and around Carlisle, where thousands of people living in poverty are suffering from health problems.

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“Consecutive chaotic Conservative Governments have brought our NHS to the brink of failure, and it is only the Labour Party that will restore it to full health,” she claimed.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "Cutting waiting lists is one of the government’s top five priorities and we are investing up to £14.1 billion in health and social care over the next two years, on top of record funding."

The public meeting will be held upstairs at the South-End Club on Monday, July 10 at 7pm. 

The Socialist Party plans to hand its petition to striking junior doctors.