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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Hospital staff rally against cuts | Hospital staff rally against cuts |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| About 2,000 hospital workers are to march through Leeds city centre on Saturday in a protest against NHS cuts. | About 2,000 hospital workers are to march through Leeds city centre on Saturday in a protest against NHS cuts. |
| Nurses, cleaners, porters and other clinical staff are due to take part in the rally to protest against the impact of cuts on hospitals across the region. | Nurses, cleaners, porters and other clinical staff are due to take part in the rally to protest against the impact of cuts on hospitals across the region. |
| Andy Freeman, Unison regional officer, said NHS staff in Leeds and surrounding areas were facing a "bleak future". | Andy Freeman, Unison regional officer, said NHS staff in Leeds and surrounding areas were facing a "bleak future". |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair has defended the government's record on reforming the NHS and cutting waiting times. | |
| But hospital staff have been outraged at plans by the Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust to cut £84m over the next three years. | |
| Mr Freeman said: "Ward closures, bed reductions and staff redundancies are already taking place and staff are extremely concerned about the impact on patient care. | Mr Freeman said: "Ward closures, bed reductions and staff redundancies are already taking place and staff are extremely concerned about the impact on patient care. |
| 'Smoke and mirrors' | 'Smoke and mirrors' |
| "Cuts in the NHS in Leeds of this magnitude will impact directly on patients in the area and any denials to the contrary are just a smoke and mirrors exercise." | "Cuts in the NHS in Leeds of this magnitude will impact directly on patients in the area and any denials to the contrary are just a smoke and mirrors exercise." |
| The march through Leeds city centre will culminate in a rally, with speakers to include Bobbie Chadwick, deputy president of the Royal College of Nursing. | The march through Leeds city centre will culminate in a rally, with speakers to include Bobbie Chadwick, deputy president of the Royal College of Nursing. |
| Regional head of health at Unison, John Cafferty, said: "As well as Leeds there are cuts proposed in Hull, Sheffield, York and almost everywhere in the region. | Regional head of health at Unison, John Cafferty, said: "As well as Leeds there are cuts proposed in Hull, Sheffield, York and almost everywhere in the region. |
| "Patients and the public are rightly concerned about the future of NHS services in their area and we are hoping that this rally in Leeds will provide a focal point for them all." | "Patients and the public are rightly concerned about the future of NHS services in their area and we are hoping that this rally in Leeds will provide a focal point for them all." |
| 'Necessary' change | |
| Earlier this month, health workers from across England rallied outside Parliament over NHS cuts and privatisation. | |
| After being challenged by Tory leader David Cameron about the protest, Mr Blair said "necessary" changes were taking place. | |
| He said: "Of course, there are changes taking place, rightly because there are more cases being done on a day case basis, new technology is shortening waiting times and specialist care is being developed. | |
| "All of this is part of necessary change. | |
| "The only way the NHS is going to improve is keep the money coming in, not cut it back, which is your policy, and make sure we make the reforms, which add value for money." |