The Communist Party has called on all supporters of the NHS to hit the streets on 8 October to raise pressure on the government and House of Lords which will vote on NHS and Social Care Act around the 11th October. In this feature, Dr Mike Squires, south london campaigner for the health service, sets out the case against Lansley's Bill.

Mina Boromand was our photographer on the scene of the first of the dozens of marches planned around Britain this week to support the health service. 

Scotland will be spared Andrew Lansley’s top down reorganisation of the health service in England. Scotland’s Health Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that there will be no more creeping privatisation of the NHS north of the border.

Across Britain, marches and rallies are organised to celebrate the establishment of the NHS 63 years ago and to protect its achievements.

There are hundreds of marches, workplace and community based rallies organised over the coming days. To locate the nearest event to you, go here.

Read Dr Alan Mackinnon on NHS Scotland here. View CP campaign NHS VOICES - communists speak up for NHS. Add your VOICE FOR NHS here.

As a front line social worker, employed in a Community Mental Health Team for Older Adults, I have seen how the privatisation agenda impacts on NHS staff, patients, and their carers on a daily basis, writes communist party health worker Chris.

Dr Richard Doll 1912-2005 set up the national blood service, insisting that Britain avoid the American path of paying donors for their blood writes Mike Walker. In so doing, it established a national system of delivering an essential service based on the values of the NHS.