Over 400 shoppers in Bath signed a Bath Labour petition at the weekend calling on the government to care for and adequately fund the NHS.
442 people signed the petition in person during a two-hour period at a stall on Union Street.
Thousands of leaflets were also given out there and at SouthGate and Green Park as part of Labour’s national campaign day ‘Care for the NHS’.
Some Bath residents were also signing in protest at the decision by B&NES to give responsibility to Virgin Healthcare for delivering community and social care, as well as central government neglect of social care – something which the Autumn Statement was heavily criticised for.
The petition reads: “The NHS is facing a financial crisis, and underfunding of social care is leaving older people and people with long-term conditions without adequate care.
“We, the undersigned, call upon the government to increase funding for the NHS and social care as a matter of urgency.”
3.9 million people are now on the English waiting list for treatment and 1.8 million waited more than 4 hours in accident and emergency – a 400% increase since 2010.
The NHS deficit currently stands at £2.45 billion.