People in Chippenham and North Wiltshire will be taking to the streets this Saturday in an effort to save the NHS.

The day of action, coordinated by campaign group 38 Degrees, is open to all and will be held at the Town Bridge near Superdrug on February 28 from 11am.

Those taking part will join more than 9,000 other members of 38 Degrees protesting on the same day across the UK.

More than 680 people in the Chippenham constituency have already signed a petition to all of their candidates standing to be an MP in May’s general election. The petition asks each candidate to commit to protect the NHS from privatisation, make sure it has the funding it needs, and keep the NHS out of the TTIP trade deal with the US.

Christine Gale, 68, a 38 Degrees member from Castle Combe, said: “We all need the NHS at our best and worst moments in life. That’s why I’ll be going out this Saturday to spread the word about our campaign and collect signatures on our local petition in Chippenham and North Wiltshire day of action will show our MP candidates that if they want to sell off or run down our NHS, they’ll have a fight on their hands.”

David Babbs, executive director of 38 Degrees, said: “This day of action should send a clear message to politicians: you’re being watched by millions of us fighting to protect our NHS.

“The NHS is the best healthcare system in the world, and it belongs to all of us. But too many politicians have ignored the doctors and nurses on the frontline. They've turned their back on the principle of an NHS owned by all of us and working to save lives, rather than to make money.

“People in Chippenham and North Wiltshire will be standing with thousands of people across the country to say that we love our NHS too much to let it be sold off to the highest bidder.”

The petition to save the NHS is at www.38degrees.org.uk/nhs