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This year marks the 60th anniversary of founding of the National Health Service. Claire said of the anniversary, “I believe that the NHS is one of this nation’s greatest achievements, founded on the values of fairness and equality. Sixty years later the service remains available to all based on need and not on ability to pay.”
“We should also celebrate the huge improvements we have seen in the NHS over the last ten years. Record investment has meant that the NHS is now performing more than a million operations a year while waiting lists have been slashed. Now no one waits more than 6 months for an operation compared with a wait of sometimes up to 2 years in 1997. Since 1997 the number of nurses has increased by over 80,000 and the number of doctors has risen by over 35,000. I know these are just numbers but its important to remember that behind every statistic is a life changed by a better NHS for patients.”
“I’ve seen the improvements first hand at Watford General Hospital in my constituency. More nurses and doctors there have made year long waiting lists that were once the norm, a thing of the past. I am delighted that more investment will be put into the NHS in Watford - £23 million of government money will fund a programme of extensive building enhancement at Watford General and plans for the Health Campus continue apace.”
“It is the government’s priority that the NHS continues to change and evolve to meet the needs of the British people. Our mission is to make the NHS a more personal health service, fitted to the needs of families and focused on preventing ill health as well as curing it. I welcome the proposals put forward by renowned surgeon Lord Ara Darzi which will give patients even greater influence over the services they use, increase the quality of care, foster a pioneering NHS and empower frontline staff. The NHS has a proud history and, under this government, a bright future.”
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