TRADE unionists in Lancashire are campaigning to defend the NHS against change.

The Lancashire Association of Trade Union Councils (LATUC) is concerned that the Government's introduction of competition and privatisation into the NHS is undermining patient care.

LATUC Secretary Peter Billington said: "Government reforms' to the NHS threaten the way in which care is provided to patients.

"If these reforms carry on then income and profits will increasingly come before patient needs and clinical considerations.

"Greater inequalities in healthcare will appear, as profitable services and patients attract money at the expense of unprofitable ones.

"Forced market competition among NHS hospitals and primary care will break up the NHS as a network of collaborating bodies that share resources and information.

"We are already seeing job losses and bed closures in NHS hospitals.

"Even more of the new money allocated to health will be diverted to shareholders and company profits, and wasted on the huge administrative costs associated with establishing and running a market."

The LATUC has organised a meeting at 10am on Saturday, June 3 at the Blind Centre, Crown Street, Chorley, to launch its campaign.

The meeting is open to the public, trade unions, healthcare workers and patients.