Published at 11:08, Thursday, 08 March 2012

PUBLIC health director John Ashton was expected to take part in high-profile rally against the Government’s health bill in London yesterday (Wednesday).

Professor Ashton, NHS Cumbria’s director of public health, has previously been warned by bosses after speaking publicly against the controversial reforms.

But he insists his opposition is based on informed professional opinion, not his personal or political views.

As the Health and Social Care Bill enters its final stages in the House of Lords, patients, health workers and campaigners were joining together for yesterday’s Save Our NHS rally organised by the TUC union.

More than 2,000 nurses, midwives, doctors, cleaners, porters and other health service staff were expected to join with patients to fill Central Hall Westminster.

They were due to hear speeches from comedian Jo Brand – who once worked as a psychiatric nurse – and from politicians, fellow health workers, union leaders and health service users.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk