Local contingent swells national lobby

1 November. Hundreds of NHS staff turned up at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster to join a rally and to lobby their MPs about their concerns for the future of the National Health Service.

While NHS staff queued outside the House of Parliament to see their MPs, whistleblowing supporters took to the streets in an open top bus, decked out with blue and white balloons and carrying the logos of the 16 unions and organisations representing health service staff.

The bus toured the streets of Westminster, passing a number of the capital's NHS landmarks including University College Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Department of Health.

Back at Methodist Central Hall, a packed rally heard from representatives from unions, health service associations and organisatons, as well as frontline workers.