THE nationwide impact of the Con-Dem assault on NHS England was laid bare on Saturday by Stafford activists organising to beat back cuts and closures.

Locals have set up a protest camp on the doorstep of a hospital that found itself in the cross hairs of a national “scandal” over deaths and standards.

Stafford Hospital campaigner Karen Howell issued a stark warning for the public not to be taken in by the mantra of failure being used to justify disastrous changes.

“They don’t want you to hear the good things about the NHS,” said Ms Howell.

Since the scandal campaigners have branded scare stories merely a smokescreen for an agenda which will see maternity services slashed and A&E hours massively reduced.

Ms Howell — herself a health and safety manager — said: “Beware the words: ‘We need to move these services on safety grounds.’

“They’re using safety as an excuse to change and close services.”