A DISTINCTIVE photographic exhibition is launched this weekend to highlight concerns about the future of the NHS.

Fifty giant black and white portraits, called NHS Stories, will be going on show in North Laine, Brighton.

Visitors will be able to hear each person’s story about their experiences and why they support the NHS through linked audio clips.

The project, led by GP Sarah Andersen, aim is to raise the public’s awareness of changes in the NHS and get a debate going about what is happening in their health service.

Dr Andersen, who is a supporter of the Sussex Defend the NHS pressure group, said: “The current system of a publicly owned NHS is being changed for ever right now, because once services are privatised it is very difficult, though not impossible, to bring them back into public ownership.

“So our message is that the NHS is under threat right now.

“We believe that healthcare is a human right and not a commodity to be sold off.

“If people to do not stand up for it we think that the world-class system we have now will continue to be dismantled.”

Dr Andersen came up with the idea for the project after seeing a similar project undertaken by anonymous French photographer and artist JR.

She said: “I was really moved by a talk he did in 2011 which described using art to turn the world inside out.

“It is a truly global and collaborative project and I can’t quite believe we are actually doing one here in Brighton.

“I joined a Defend the NHS neighbourhood action group because I am a GP and it was happening in my neighbour’s living room, on my street.

“We talked about how hard it was to get a message across to the public about what has been happening in the NHS in a way which was engaging and powerful.

“I thought of JR’s project and thought that maybe this would be one way to catch people’s attention in a new way.”

Dr Andersen said one of the reasons she became involved with the campaign was because of her concerns about cuts in funding, particularly those caused by the controversial sustainability and transformation plans (STPs).

She said: “Right now there are structural changes taking place in the way that services are organised in geographical areas.

“The changes are difficult to grasp, even for those working in the health service.

“However the STPs appear to be anything but sustainable or transformational.

“They contain some great ideas and some interesting new ways of working.

“However the overarching ‘transformation’ is that budgets will continue to be cut over the next five years and the services can be made ‘sustainable’ only by bringing in private companies.”

The installation on Saturday will take place during a street party between 11am and 2pm on Saturday in Gloucester Road.

All are welcome to attend.