A MARCH to highlight the NHS staffing crisis in Oxford will be held later this year to coincide with the health services 70th anniversary.

Organisers say the local rally on June 9 will highlight the 'underfunding' of local health services are calling for as many people to join the march as possible.

The event will be staged by Oxfordshire Unison Health Branch with support from Oxford Keep Our NHS Public.

A public meeting will be held at Oxford Town Hall on Thursday evening to formalise plans for the local march and to also discuss supporting a national NHS demonstration on June 30.

Oxfordshire Unison Health Branch spokesman Ian Mckendrick said: "We want to highlight the impact the lack of staff and underfunding is having on services locally and to demand the government introduce an Oxford weighting to NHS staff pay in Oxford.

"The meeting will be to organise the march but also to see how we can link to the Health Campaigns Together and People's Assembly march on June 30 and how we can bring different campaign groups together."

The public meeting is scheduled to begin at 7.45pm on Thursday at Oxford Town Hall.

The NHS will mark 70 years since it was formed on July 5.