HUNDREDS of protestors marched across the city to oppose government NHS plans.

It’s Our NHS Worcestershire (IONHSW) rallied together on Saturday due to fears of cuts to services and closures.

Protestors banged drums and held up banners opposing government plans for the NHS with support from Green Party and Labour Party councillors.

Mike Cross, an NUT delegate to Worcester Trades Council said: "We do not think the public realise how damaging the substantial reduction of funding proposed by the government would be.

"It would mean longer waiting times, less services and higher costs and longer travel for clients.

"Fifteen years ago people were protesting against the closure of the A and E in Kidderminster, and five years ago there was a protest against the loss of walking centres in Worcester, and people were told that they would have to go to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

"It seems that the only people surprised that this has caused over demand on Worcester Royal is the trusts.

"The problems there are caused by underfunding, purely and simply, the staff are excellent."

The protest started in Mealcheapen Street and made its way through the city centre before finishing outside Tramps Nightclub in Angel Place.

Green Party leader in Worcester, Cllr Louis Stephen attended the march. He said: "We want to raise the profile of the problems that the NHS are facing particularly in Worcester, going into special measures.

"This is a cross party movement to raise awareness of the unacceptable position that the NHS has been put in through underfunding.

"The NHS needs a funding increase higher than the normal inflation rate, due to the growing population."

Cllr Lynn Denham, of the Labour Party added: "The NHS is absolutely essential to British society and we want to raise awareness of the problems it is facing, particularly the NHS in Worcester which is really struggling.

"I have been working in the NHS since 1989 and cutting nursing bursaries is crazy, it means that many cannot afford to do it.

"I read in the paper that there is a shortage of more than 100 doctors in the county and it is cheaper to fund bursaries and locally train staff than to bring them in from abroad."

Robin Walker, Conservative MP for Worcester said in response to the protest: " He said: "Funding in Worcestershire and across the UK is at its highest ever level and set to continue to increase.

"Both nationally and locally we are seeing increases each and every year in public funding for our health service and I am proud to support a health service which is free at the point of need.

"The Conservative manifesto promised a further £8 billion investment over and above inflation over the term of this parliament and this followed the decision of the previous government to provide billions more for the NHS in line with the recommendations of the NHS itself.

"I have long campaigned for extra resources for the health service in Worcester and will continue to do so.

"Our hospitals are due for an upgrade and I will be campaigning to ensure that upgrade is delivered as soon as possible so that the hard working staff in our local NHS get the facilities and the support they deserve."

He also pointed out that the STPs are clinically led rather than politically spearheaded.