ACTIVISTS gathered to demand urgent action to save the NHS at a rally outside Malvern Community Hospital at the weekend.

Protesters assembled near the the main entrance to the hospital on Worcester Road, Malvern Link, on Saturday for the national day of action, organised locally by It’s Our NHS Worcestershire.

Rallies took place across the country, most at 11am, organised by Health Campaigns Together and the

People’s Assembly Against Austerity as concerns mount about an NHS crisis.

Campaigners are worried about cancelled operations, bed shortages, rising waiting times and patients

being cared for on trolleys in A and E corridors over the winter.

Demonstrations also took place at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Evesham Community Hospital, Tenbury Community Hospital, the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and Kidderminster Town Hall.

Samantha Charles, Malvern town councillor and chair of the West Worcestershire Labour Party, said: "Cold and drizzle is not the ideal weather to accompany a demo. This makes the number of people who gave up their morning to stand outside Malvern Community Hospital all the more significant.

"Many were members of the Labour Party but the protestors also included a recent patient from the hospital, ex-NHS staff and people who had heard about the demo from their friends.

"It was felt that the public were incredibly supportive of this cause, with many drivers waving and beeping their horns. 68 toots were counted by one of the children.

"This was a very successful demo, which raised the public's awareness of the impact of cuts to the NHS and local services. All those who attended agreed that it was a morning well spent."