contribution by Sean Gittins

Yesterday, a group of activists under the banner ‘NHS Direct Action group’ gathered outside Westminster tube at 1pm. Around thirty people wearing scrubs turned up.

They had been planning an action for several days sending out periodic tweets that were hashtagged with #FLASHMOB #saveourNHS and #Demo2011.

The group then left for its intended protest target – the Policy Exchange think-tank, which they say is integral to Andrew Lansley’s current NHS proposals.

On arrival at Policy Exchange twenty-five of the scrub wearing protesters went into the building whilst another half a dozen remained outside to put up banners.

After doing so, the remaining members of NHS Direct action went upstairs into the think tank to join their colleagues. They were soon followed by two policemen who arrived, their car sirens blaring.

In the think tank itself members of NHS Direct Action requested to have someone from Policy Exchange speak to them about Andrew Lansley’s proposed NHS reforms. Policy Exchange declined the offer.

The spectacle of about thirty people gathered outside dressed in scrubs began to draw crowds and journalists towards the action.

.

To onlookers NHS Direct Action speaking through megaphones declared that they would give “a demonstration of the massacre that is currently happening to the National Health Service.”

The whole protest took around thirty minutes or so.

The press had got their pictures, the point had been made, and NHS Direct Action had already begun to move on back to Westminster tube station.

You can follow NHS Direct Action on Twitter and from their website.

Reader comments

1. Liberal Conspiracy

   Activists confront 'NHS slashers' Policy Exchange http://bit.ly/hJjJFh

2. Richard Murphy

   RT @libcon: Activists confront 'NHS slashers' Policy Exchange http://bit.ly/hJjJFh Good for them – we have to defend the NHS now

3. Lynn Hancock

   RT @libcon: Activists confront 'NHS slashers' Policy Exchange http://bit.ly/hJjJFh

4. Neil Heavens

   RT @RichardJMurphy: RT @libcon: Activists confront 'NHS slashers' Policy Exchange http://bit.ly/hJjJFh Good for them – we have to defend …

5. Tom Griffin

   RT @libcon: Activists confront 'NHS slashers' Policy Exchange http://bit.ly/hJjJFh

6. Finola Kerrigan

   RT @libcon: Activists confront 'NHS slashers' Policy Exchange http://bit.ly/hJjJFh

7. sunny hundal

   Activists confront ‘NHS slashers’ Policy Exchange (pics and account by @sean_gittins) – http://bit.ly/hJjJFh

8. DPAC

   RT @sunny_hundal: Activists confront ‘NHS slashers’ Policy Exchange (pics and account by @sean_gittins) – http://bit.ly/hJjJFh

9. Daniel Pitt

   Activists confront 'NHS slashers' Policy Exchange http://bit.ly/hJjJFh #ConDemNation