There’s a rare chance to see a unique film about the life and death struggle for the future of the NHS on Sunday, October 6.
Called “Groundswell — A Grassroots Battle For The NHS” the documentary film follows a group of campaigners as they lobby politicians to save the NHS from cuts and privatisation.
Charting the campaigners’ frustrations, ups and downs, failures and successes, the film highlights the importance of people power in bringing about change.
It begins in 2014, during the setting up of the “999 Call for the NHS” campaign, and culminates with campaigners achieving a great lobbying breakthrough at the Labour Party conference in 2017.
The screening, which is sponsored by Save Our NHS In Kent (SONIK), will be followed by a question and answer session with the film-maker John Furse.
SONIK chair, Jon Flaig, said that Groundswell is “required viewing” for anyone worried about the health of the NHS.
Mr Flaig said: “Here in Thanet locally and in Kent as a whole we face a threat to our stroke services and the downgrading of our hospitals and the local NHS establishment wants to portray it all as a done deal. But what Groundswell shows is that “done deals” can be undone. If we get together we can make a difference. We have to take the lesson and fight to save our services here in Thanet and Kent.”
The screening is the first in a series of films about the NHS SONIK is planning to show in Kent in the coming months, more to be announced shortly.
Groundswell will be screened at 4pm on Sunday, October 6 at the Palace Cinema, Harbour St, Broadstairs. Tickets are £5 in advance from Eventbrite or SONIK stalls, or £6 on the door.