Bandage-clad protesters gathered in Slaithwaite as a row over cuts to the local surgery continued.
The Slaithwaite SOS group held a patients parade in the village amid growing concerns the local health centre is soon to see almost half its budget slashed, affecting 5,000 patients in Colne Valley.
Campaigners stuck with the theme by donning bandages, crutches and even fake blood.
Organiser Fiona Russell, who is a patient at Slaithwaite Health Centre, said: “Although we are protesting against any form of cuts being made, the event was also in part to celebrate the fact a proposed cut in April was dropped.”
VIDEO: Hear from Slaithwaite Healthcare SOS Campaigners
More than 40 residents turned out for the parade, which was warmly received by residents in the village who are also concerned about the surgery’s future.
The NHS England proposal to cut the budget last month was postponed, making Slaithwaite the only endangered surgery in the country to escape cuts.
Campaigners say the surgery has won a stay of execution after one local resident threatened legal action due to not consulting anyone over the plans.
Fiona said: “It looks like we’re off the hook for a short while, but we wanted to let the community know these cuts may happen at any time.
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“We think they have postponed because we made a lot of fuss and made them realise how serious the knock on effects would be.
“We handed out flyers in the parade to let people know we are still at risk.”
Fears have been widened over the surgery following news of cuts made to a group of health centres in Norfolk.
Fiona added: “They have seen cuts but no plan.
“This is similar to our situation, where the public haven’t been consulted about the proposed changes.”
