The NHS truly is a national treasure; it is there for us throughout all stages of our lives and can always be relied on in times of need. That is why I could not think of a better 70th birthday present for the NHS than the Prime Minister’s announcement of an extra £20.5 billion a year by 2023/2024.
The NHS was founded in 1948 and for 43 of those 70 years the NHS has flourished under a Conservative government. To mark 70 years of the NHS the Prime Minister hosted a reception at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday, 4th July in order to thank staff working in the NHS from all around the country.
I was pleased to attend this reception and I brought with me Dr John Trenfield, the Consultant in charge of Emergency Medicine and Head of Service at the Accident and Emergency Department at Northampton General Hospital, whom I have known for many years, having met when one of my relations who is a doctor worked in Northampton.
Hundreds of NHS staff from around the country attended the reception and the Prime Minister spoke of her huge admiration for NHS staff and how the NHS is an invaluable institution in this country. It is crucial that the extra funding given to the NHS makes a real and tangible difference to patient care, which is why the Prime Minister has asked the NHS to draw up a 10-year plan to make sure every penny is well-spent. I would like to thank NHS staff here in Northampton and across the country for all the work they do.
