NHS Celebrates 70th Anniversary
On July 5, 1948, then-Health Secretary Anuerin Bevan launched the NHS at Park Hospital, known today as Trafford General Hospital. With the NHS in the midst of passionate debate about its future, today provides a checkpoint to consider the UK’s national institution in light of where it began and where it should go in the coming decades.
NHS England chief executive, Simon Stevens, has sent a message of thanks to NHS staff on its 70th birthday, attributing its success to the “brilliance” of its staff.
Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt began the Twitter day wishing the NHS a happy birthday, and setting aside debate on how the NHS should develop for another day.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan was next to deliver his many happy returns, praising the service for its work in the capital in particular. He said:
“London owes an enormous debt of thanks to everyone who works or volunteers for the National Health Service, or has done since it started 70 years ago today. Their hard work and commitment helps make London the greatest city in the world.
“Today, on behalf of all Londoners, I wish the NHS and every doctor, nurse, porter, cleaner and volunteer who works there, a very Happy 70th Birthday.”
The Labour party has used to today to warn that four more years of Conservative rule will push the NHS ‘to the brink’. Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth cites growing waiting lists and staff vacancies:
“[…] under the Tories the NHS is being run down, with our new analysis showing waiting lists could rise by 700,000 by the end of the Parliament, with an extra million people waiting too long in A&E. Across the NHS there are 100,000 staff vacancies operations delayed, treatments rationed, services cut back, a £5 billion backlog of repairs and £9 billion worth of contracts are handed to private providers.”
Ashworth has also has pledged that Labour will “always stand up for our NHS and protect the service for generations to come.”
Responding to Labour’s claims, a Conservative Party spokesperson has said:
“We know from last time time that Labour can’t deliver a strong economy, and so would have less to invest in our NHS.
“The Conservative government will invest an extra £394 million a week into the NHS by 2023/24, and develop a long-term plan so our NHS is always there to look after everyone.
“Our balanced approach to building a stronger economy is enabling us to increase investment in public service such as the NHS.”
Councillor Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, has called for equal priority funding for public health, adult social care and prevention, so that the £20.5 billion ‘birthday gift’ announced by the Prime Minister can go further.
Events taking place today include a choral celebration at York Minister and special commemorative service at Westminster Abbey, with attendees including survivors of last year’s Manchester Arena and London Bridge terrorist attacks.
In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has visited the Royal Hospital for Children with Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, where the pair met with patients, family and staff on the wards. The First Minister said:
“Our NHS has gone from strength to strength over the past 70 years, and this anniversary is an opportunity to appreciate the vital role the service plays in all our lives. It is also a time to reaffirm our commitment to the founding principles of the NHS — that healthcare should be provided free at the point of need. This commitment remains as strong as ever, and is just as relevant today as it was in 1948, which is why we are investing record-high real terms health funding and have delivered an all-time high in NHS staff numbers.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to the health service over the last 70 years, and all those who continue to work and volunteer across the NHS today.”
Wales First Minister Carwyn Jones started the birthday celebrations yesterday, at a special service at Llandaff Cathedral, also attended by HRH Prince of Wales.
Welsh Health Secretary Vaughn Gething has announced a pay rise for NHS Wales to bring salaries in line with those across the Severn Bridge, and has committed to extra funding in addition to the consequential funding the Welsh Government will receive due to the UK Government’s decision to raise pay for NHS England staff.
