A WEEKEND of protests against NHS cuts gets under way across the region today with a demonstration at the gates of the region's only blood centre.

Blood service workers, all members of the health union Unison, will demonstrate outside the Newcastle Blood Centre in protest against plans to close it and move services to Manchester.

It will be the first in a series of protests across the region, focusing on Sunderland and Darlington, and bringing together the main health trade unions including Unison, the Royal College of Nursing and Amicus.

By the time the marches, speechs and rallies are over on Saturday afternoon, hundreds of heath workers, including doctors, nurses, hospital cleaners, midwives and radiographers are expected to take part in demonstrations.

Probably the most dramatic event will take place at the gates of Sunderland Royal Hospital, where bouquets will be laid to signify the number of health jobs expected to be lost in the region over the next few months.

Liz Twist, Unison's regional head of health, said: "The rallies and marches taking place in the North-East and elsewhere in the country are a testament to the growing number of people worried about the future of the NHS. Here in the region we have suffered job cuts, ward closures and a reduction of services. Government policy is leading the NHS ever deeper into the hands of the private sector and we want to call a halt to this."

In the past few days, letters have gone to staff employed by County Durham Primary Care Trust and Darlington Primary Care Trust, including district nurses, warning them their jobs may be at risk in the NHS reorganisation.

The main protest in the North-East is expected to take place on Wearside. Saturday's rally will be held at Barnes Park at 10.30am, followed by a march to Sunderland Royal Hospital where hundreds of flowers will be laid.

On the same day, North-East MEP Stephen Hughes will address a rally in Darlington's Market Place, at 11am, at the corner of Bondgate and High Row.

The protests are being organised by NHS Together, a new alliance of all the organisations representing NHS staff. Its aim is to defend and celebrate recent improvements in local health services, but warns that NHS services are under threat because of widespread job cuts.