PROTESTERS gathered outside Southend Hospital to demonstrate against proposed changes to the NHS.

Members of Southend Against the Cuts group joined the national Keep Our NHS Public campaign to stage a vigil in Prittlewell Chase.

The campaigners were objecting to the Government’s Health and Social Care Bill, which is due to be debated in Parliament this week.

They claim the legislation will lead to the break-up and privatisation of the NHS.

Tim Sneller, chairman of Southend Against the Cuts, said: “We needed to make people aware of what is happening. The NHS should be a public service, and that will not be the case if these changes are brought in.

“People should know about it so they have a chance to object.”