July 12 saw a host of top British comedians gather in London to rally behind the Your NHS Needs You campaign, in an event organised by DiEM25 and UNITE.

The campaign has counted on the support of DiEM25 and UNITE since its inception, and is fighting against the ever-increasing privatisation of the institution.

The big comedy night sought to raise awareness of a serious topic in a light-hearted manner, with stars like Jen Brister (MC), Frankie Boyle, Jo Brand, Marcus Brigstocke, Kerry Godliman, Markus Birdman, Rosie Jones, Malinda Mukuma and Michael Rosen coming together for a fun night of entertainment.

With a total of 1,210 people in attendance, the event proved to be a resounding success, with laughter being shared and a healthy sum of money raised for this crucial cause.

What is the ‘Your NHS Needs You’ campaign?

While generations of us have been lovingly patched up by our NHS, and proud to fund it with our taxes, successive UK governments have been quietly privatising this cherished institution. Decades of academic research, and the brave campaigning of doctors and nurses, has exposed how this privatisation plot smuggled in private providers and US corporations while selling off NHS land and buildings.

Now, public health experts are sounding the alarm that the current Health and Care Bill is likely to be the nail in the coffin for our public health service. They are warning that the Bill will pave the way for the English NHS to be replaced by the profit-driven American system, in which private health providers are incentivised to cut and deny care to increase profits.

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