HUNDREDS of people took to the streets for a noisy and colourful march to highlight fears for the future of the NHS.

The protesters, made up of health professionals, local political parties, campaigners and members of the public were cheered by shoppers as buses stopped and cars hooted their horns in support.

Saturday’s march, organised by Sussex Defend the NHS, was also attended by Labour Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell.

The protesters made their way from the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Eastern Road, Brighton, up to Brighton Station, where the rally was held.

Mr McDonnell echoed Sussex Defend the NHS’s reasons for the march, which protested at the under-funding and under-recruitment of the NHS which has led to its current crisis.

Concerns highlighted included Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust being placed in special measures, the chaotic result of the decision to transfer the Sussex patient transport service to private firm Coperforma and a spate of GP closures in Brighton and Hove.

Mr McDonnell said the only reason health services were still going was because of the extra work being put in by all the staff in hospitals and across all the services.

Speeches from health workers at the rally told how they were struggling to cope and how morale was being devastated by impossible targets and a lack of funding.

Campaigners also spoke passionately against the proposed sustainability and transformation plans, which set out the future of health and social care services for the next five years.

The proposals covering Sussex and East Surrey could lead to hundreds of millions of pounds being slashed from NHS budgets.

Janet Sang from Sussex Defend the NHS said: “These plans mean nothing but cuts and closures.

“We are marching to tell our authorities to reject these plans before it is too late and instead insist that our NHS is run properly and funded to do the job that it was intended to do - to provide a universal and comprehensive health service based on need.”

Upcoming events from Sussex Defend the NHS include a Stand Up for Our NHS Benefit Gig on February 10 at the Latest Music Bar, Manchester Street, Brighton.

Tickets are available from eventbrite.co.uk.

DOCTORS URGE GOVERNMENT TO CONFRONT CRISIS OVER GPS

LEADING doctors have called on the Government to address the crisis in GP services.

The British Medical Association (BMA) spoke out after it emerged that the seventh surgery in two years is closing in Brighton and Hove.

BMA GP committee deputy chairman Richard Vautrey said: “This is a disastrous situation for the people of Brighton and highlights once again the crisis facing general practice across the country.

“GP services are being overwhelmed by a combination of rising patient demand, contracting budgets and chronic staff shortages.

“Recent BMA surveys have found that a third of GP practices have had vacancies for 12 months, nine out of ten believe their workload is damaging patient safety and more than 300 GP practices are facing closure.

“We cannot allow this situation to go on.

“The Government must begin a programme of long term investment in GP services that ensures all patients have access to the services they need.”

Lewes Road Surgery in Brighton is closing at the end of the month following the decision of its GP Amrut Shah to stand down.

This has meant 2,300 patients now have to register with a new surgery.

Since 2015, more than 25,000 patients across seven practices have had to relocate.

NHS England said it new services were under pressure both locally and across the country and it was working with the city’s clinical commissioning group to develop sustainable services for the future.