Up to 2,000 people are expected to take part in an NHS mass march and demo this weekend.

The GMB, together with Defend the NHS Sussex, are staging the event in Brighton on Saturday to protest at increased privatisation of services and its impact on patients and staff.

Changes have included Specsavers taking over audiology services from Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust.

As well as highlighting concerns about the hospital trust and chief executive Matthew Kershaw, marchers will also be raising awareness of the effect of the Health and Social Care Act and fears it will lead to the NHS being broken up.

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Support will come from a variety of local and national NHS unions, political parties including the National Health Action Party, campaign organisations outside the NHS and public pressure groups.

Speakers include Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas, Stephen McLean from Defend the NHS Sussex, Louise Irvine from the Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign and GMB national officer Rehana Azam.

GMB organiser Gary Palmer said unions were also angry at Mr Kershaw’s involvement with Lewisham Hospital in London before moving to the Brighton trust earlier this year.

Mr Kershaw recommended to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt that the hospital’s A&E, maternity and acute care services be downgraded.

Mr Palmer said: “Matthew Kershaw hardly comes with a track record that inspires our support and confidence, especially off the back of his part in the Lewisham hospital fiasco.”

Paramedic Dave Skidmore, from Bognor, is a member of the National Health Action Party.

He said: “We are coming along as a show of support.

“The changes brought about by the Health and Social Care Bill has led to private companies cherry picking NHS services so they can make the best profit.

“These services should be left in the hands of the |NHS.

“We have already heard about services like audiology being lost from the Brighton trust but this is happening everywhere.”

The march will leave from outside the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Eastern Road at 11am, and will take in Edward Street, Steine Gardens, North Street, Queens Road and North Road before ending with a rally at Victoria Gardens.