CAMPAIGNERS will take to the streets of Kendal over the weekend for a national day of action.

The group of campaigners from Keep Our NHS Public (KNOP) Kendal and South Lakes will be joining KNOP groups across the country on Saturday, June 11 in partnership with the 'We Own It' national pressure group.

The group is demanding that the local NHS is rebuilt for 'people over profit' and demanding that 'private profit-making companies are no longer permitted  to suck the life out of our NHS'. 

The national day of action will take place from 11am till 1pm at Kendal Market Place and will be 'an opportunity for local people to add their names to an email to David Flory demanding he commits to making it policy to prevent privatisation in Lancashire and South Cumbria'. 

Kevin Lavery, chief executive designate of the NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “There has been extensive engagement with partners about the membership of the ICB unitary board and the contents of the constitution and these have been discussed in meetings where public have been able to observe.

“The board membership has been confirmed and is comprised of Non-Executive Members, ICB Executive Directors, and Partner Members, who will be collectively and corporately accountable for organisational performance, ensuring its functions are effectively and efficiently discharged and its financial obligations are met. We have confirmed that we will have a number of Participants at board meetings, in order to inform its decision-making and the discharge of its functions.

“Participants do not hold accountability, do not have voting rights, but are invited at the discretion of the Chair in order to bring a broader perspective to the discussions and decision-making in the Board, particularly for items where they can bring a perspective relevant to their area of expertise.

“We already have a mixture of public sector and private providers within our health and care system and we have clear processes in place to manage conflicts of interest, which have to be declared and recorded and made transparent.”