Hackney’s healthcare watchdog is holding a public discussion on Thursday (September 23) about government proposals to privatise the NHS.

Hackney Local Involvement Network (Hackney LINk) will be meeting to formulate a response on behalf of patients to the coalition’s NHS White Paper published in July.

Meg Hillier, MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch, and Patrick Vernon, chief executive of the Afiya Trust and Queensbridge ward councillor, will be among the speakers.

Malcolm Alexander, chairman of Hackney LINk, said: “There are concerns that this White Paper puts the National Health Service at considerable risk.

“We don’t want to wake up one day and find that our healthcare has gone to the private sector and that the NHS has been left as nothing more than a brand name. That’s why we need to organise a powerful response now.

“We must ensure that the NHS is fully accountable to patients and the public and is focused on their needs, not the need to make profits out of healthcare.”

The meeting will take place on at 6.30pm at Morley Hall, City Edge in Mare Street, Hackney Central.

For more information, go to www.hackneylink.org.uk.