Protesters are due to take to the streets in York and North Yorkshire this weekend as part of a day of action in support of the NHS.

The coordinated event has been organised by campaign group 38 Degrees to take place across the UK as a stand against what has been called a creeping privatisation of the health system.

In York, there will be an event in Parliament Street from 11am to 1pm. More than 700 people in the area have already signed a petition to all of the candidates standing to be an MP in York in May’s general election, asking each candidate to commit to protect the NHS from privatisation and make sure it has the funding it needs.

David Casswell, a 38 Degrees member from York, said: “The NHS is so important to us in our best and worst moments of life. We'll be going out this Saturday to spread the word about our campaign and collect signatures on our local petition. We want local candidates to be aware of how precious the NHS is to us."

There will also be a similar event in Knaresborough in Market Square from11am on Saturday. Both gatherings are open to all.

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 York 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.”