PROTESTERS gathered at Regent Circus to demand a pay rise for NHS workers.

Despite only a dozen people showing up they were determined to have their voices and message heard.

They want nurses and doctors to be recognised financially for their efforts and say the weekly Clap for Carers held during lockdown did not go far enough as a show of appreciation.

It comes after nurses were excluded from the wage increase for around 900,000 public sector workers announced in July.

Sarah Newman of Old Town was among the group on Saturday. She says she will always feel grateful for the health service after her son was saved having been diagnosed with leukaemia five years ago.

She said: “When my son was ill the NHS were brilliant so when I heard that there were protests going on around the country and in Swindon I wanted to be a part of it.

“It’s so important to show nurses and doctors that we want to support them and not just by clapping but campaigning.”

The protesters marched from Regent Circus through the town centre chanting "whose NHS, our NHS" with one telling onlookers "you’re not clapping for their pain now".

Another, Gillian Nunn of Old Town, believes it is more important than ever to give staff a pay rise.

She said: “In my eyes it’s very obvious why we should be here today. The NHS nurses and staff have fought so hard through this Covid situation and before it. They’re putting their lives on the line, they’re at risk while they save us.

“I have two small children Julian and Eliza and when I need the health service they’re always there. This service is worth every taxpayer's money.

“When my little girl Eliza was younger she got a stone in her ear and we had to go to the hospital and they got it out, no questions asked.

“I didn’t do the Clap for Carers because I thought it was condescending but everyone has their own opinion. But we have to do more than clap now, I want these workers to get a raise now.”

They are fed up of NHS staff not getting the recognition they deserve after 640 healthcare workers died during the pandemic.

A protester who wishes to remain anonymous said: “It is one of the gems of Great Britain and we’re in danger of losing it.

“We all relied on it during the pandemic so we need to put our money where our mouth is.”