NHS staff from hospitals and trusts across the country have converged on Westminster to express their concern over job cuts and "privatisation".

The rally was organised by NHS Together, an alliance of unions and organisations representing NHS staff, which aims to highlight the impact that budget deficits and rapid change are having on patient care.

A YouGov poll for the TUC found that 81 per cent of those quizzed either strongly agree or agree that "when planning changes to the NHS ministers should do everything they can to involve NHS staff in agreeing to and implementing change".

Protesters were lobbying MPs over health trust deficits and hospital closures which they say are causing the NHS is become too fragmented and reducing staff morale.

An NHS Together spokesman said: "We are very worried that the NHS is being fragmented with a rapid dash to the private sector and the introduction of competition.

"The government should do more to recognise the progress made by their extra money and our hard work, and should make sure that change and reform involves the staff who will have to deliver it."

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Steve Webb said the lobby showed the depth of opposition within the NHS to the government's "rushed" reforms.

He said: "The NHS depends on the dedication of its staff who work hard to provide a high standard of care in an increasingly demoralising environment.

"The job cuts confirmed by the government this week are only the tip of the iceberg - how many jobs have been lost to recruitment freezes and compulsory retirement?"

But health secretary Patricia Hewitt said: "If we know that change will deliver better-quality care and better value for money for taxpayers, then standing still is
simply not an option."