A non-political campaign group took to the streets of Uxbridge over the weekend to protest against the "creeping privatisation" of the NHS.

Members of 38 degrees, which is a non-political online campaign group protesting against services under threat, were gathering signatures for a petition against cuts to the NHS outside Uxbridge tube station on Saturday (February 28).

Sandy Van Drummen, William Holyday and Situl Shah, from West Drayton, are members of the local group who were called to action by 38 Degrees, one of the UK’s biggest campaigning communities, with over 2.5m members online.

The timing of the demonstration was designed to coincide with the run-up to the General Election in May.

Sandy Van Drummen, 67, said: “Years of privatisation and squeezed funding are putting our NHS in danger. If the next government doesn’t dramatically change course, our health system could crumble before our eyes.

“This petition is aimed at the MP candidates before the General Election. The online 38 degrees group aims to appeal to individuals on a local level who care enough to get up off their backsides and do something.

"The NHS is precious and we must stop the creeping privatisation and protect it from US health corporations.

"We need to make sure that there’s enough funding to provide high quality health care for everyone.”

A petition signed by 368 people has also been sent to all candidates challenging for the Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat in this year’s election – including Mayor of London Boris Johnson - urging them to show their support for the health service.

John Garrett, a 38 Degrees member from Ruislip, said: “We all need the NHS at our best and worst moments in life.

“Having fallen foul of a congenital heart disease and suffering a myocardial infarction at 40-years-old, I simply would not be here without the NHS."

38 Degrees members have been setting up local groups with other members. They believe local groups will help win more campaigns and bring people together who care.