NHS petition delivery: local press release

You can copy and paste the template press releases below into an email to local journalists to tell them about your local ‘Save our NHS’ petition delivery. Remember to change the red text in square brackets to the details of your local event!

You should find contact details for your local papers here. Or if that doesn’t work,  Google “the name of your local paper + news desk” and you should see the contact details for the editor.

You can find the latest total for the petition in your area by searching your postcode here.

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TEMPLATE PRESS RELEASE TO SEND BEFORE THE NHS PETITION DELIVERY

Embargo: for immediate release
Contact: [add your phone number and email address here].
Journalists are invited to attend the petition delivery event

[Your area] campaigners to deliver x,000-strong NHS petition to MP candidates

People from [your area] will deliver a ‘Save Our NHS’ petition signed by x,000 local people to their MP candidates this Saturday 25th April.

The petition will be handed over at [time] at [location] by [your name], a member of independent campaign group 38 Degrees from [the area you live in] and other members of 38 Degrees.

It calls on the MP candidate to do everything they can to protect the NHS from funding squeezes, privatisation, and the TTIP trade deal if they’re elected.

The campaigners will also be challenging their MP candidates to answer questions on exactly how they will protect the NHS if they’re elected on May 7.

[YOUR NAME], a 38 Degrees member from [Area] who’s helping to organise the event said: “[This quote is the place for you to write why you care about the NHS and why you want to challenge your local MP candidates to protect it.

Here’s an example: “Our NHS has always been there for me and my family when we’ve needed it. The thought of my family being cared for by profit-making companies really scares me. That’s why I’m taking the message to protect our NHS from privatisation and funding freezes straight to every MP candidate standing in [area]. We invite anyone in [area] who cares about having a public NHS that’s there for all of us when we need it, to come and join us at [location] at [time]. ”]

David Babbs, executive director of 38 Degrees said: “We’re sending a clear message to our local MP candidates: you’re being watched by hundreds us, and we all want you to protect the NHS.

“Politicians can’t sit on the fence about the NHS. If they want our votes, they need to promise to keep the NHS safe from private companies and funding freezes. We won’t stand for another five years of the NHS being broken up or squeezed to breaking point.

“Saturday’s petition delivery event is all about the people of [area] telling our next MPs exactly what we want for our NHS.”

Notes to editors
38 Degrees is one of the UK’s biggest campaigning communities, with over 3 million members. 38 Degrees brings you together with other people to take action on the issues that matter to you and bring about real change in the UK.