Today is a day to celebrate, cheer and remember. Today is the 60th anniversary of the National Health Service.
We all know what it is and the NHS helps define what is one of the best things about being British.
There are enough people around, thanks in many cases to the NHS, who can testify what life was like before the NHS was founded on July 5, 1948. Too many people's health and welfare were determined by their income.
Visits to the doctor or the hospital were avoided if at all possible because visits were beyond most people's ability to pay. The rich prospered and the poor suffered and died before their time.
It took the experience of the Second World War to make the winning case for a collective investment through taxation in a national health service which offers treatment free at the point of use from the cradle to the grave.
The truth is that the post-war Labour Government couldn't really afford to set up the NHS, but they ignored the advice and went ahead under the historic leadership of Aneurin Bevan.
Now most people would agree that we cannot afford to be without the NHS and we are willing to keep paying our taxes to ensure that we don't have to worry about the immediate financial costs of a broken leg, a stroke or whatever lies round the corner.
All of us will have our own story to tell, how could we not with a service that one million people use every 36 hours. My story is of a race to hospital after being knocked down by a car just three days after starting work. It's a story that has seen my family supported through the devastation of muscular dystrophy, and where both my father and sister worked in the NHS.
My story isn't unique, except for the fact that I'm massively proud to have been the president of Unison, the largest trade union in the NHS. I met so many people who make the NHS the envy of the world. They are dedicated to their service, committed to those in their care and passionate about their place in society.
Far too often politicians have forgotten that the NHS is only as good as the people who work in it and not, as some arrogantly believe, because of those who control it.
I am proud of the work done by Government over the last decade where we have had record investment and medical and technological advancement.
I'm glad that we are finally improving quality of life and ensuring that people in the North East are living longer than ever before through innovations such as cancer screening, life savings drugs, pioneering operations and raising awareness of the benefits of making healthier life choices.
The NHS is working hard to reduce deaths from heart disease and cancer, traditionally two of the region's biggest killers. All of this great work has increased public expectations.
People are rightly more demanding about the services they receive and want access to flexible healthcare to meet their needs. And there are more of us and we are living longer.
But I don't want to disguise problems. I think it's a disgrace that so many cannot easily find NHS dentists. I am worried about superbugs and glad to see that this remains a major target for the Government. I want men and women to have their own wards. We need to continue to ensure that patients are treated with dignity and respect.
As Nye Bevan said 60 years back:
"We shall never have all we need. Expectations will always exceed capacity."
And there is nothing wrong with that. Why not strive for ever more advances to make the quality of life and people's longevity the key to our NHS?
| Promoted by Paul Foy on behalf of Dave Anderson, both of St Cuthbert's Church Hall, Shibdon Road, Blaydon, NE21 5PT |