More than 70 people attended a screening of award-winning film director Ken Loach’s ‘Spirit of 45’ last week as part of a campaign to protect the National Health Service from privatisation.

The screening, held at St Peter’s Church Hall in Warner Place, Bethnal Green, was followed by a discussion on the future of the NHS.

Among those attending were local GPs, who warned that increased the reforms would lead to increased competition and a greater presence of private companies I t he healthcare system.

The audience at last Monday evening’s even also heard from pensioners who spoke of the problems they faced before the welfare state was established.

Ken Loach’s film “Spirit of ’45” shows how it was possible to set up the NHS despite the economic struggles which followed World War Two if there was the political will to do so.