On a day that will likely be overshadowed by the shifting of political power in this country following the Labour Party’s general election victory, the NHS celebrates its 76th anniversary.
NHS England’s CEO, Amanda Pritchard, said: “Over 76 years the NHS has adapted to, and created, a huge amount of change.
“But the skill, ingenuity and dedication that NHS colleagues display — doing their best for all those who need them — has been constant. Thank you to all NHS staff, today and every day.”
Meanwhile, England’s chief nursing officer, Ruth May, said it was her final time marking the July anniversary in her current role.
“I want to say a special thank you to all nursing, midwifery and care colleagues, volunteers and carers across health and social care,” she said.
“Thank you for the difference you make to so many every day.”
Last year saw the health system as we know it celebrate its 75th anniversary and we spoke to medicine and public health historian, Dr Chris Sirrs, to look back at the last three-quarters of a century’s worth of continuous revolution.
At the same time, NHS Providers’ CEO, Sir Julian Hartley, looked to the future of the NHS; as did the Medical Writers Club’s president, Dr Dawn Harper a few months later.
Our upcoming digital magazine edition will see the Welsh NHS Confederation’s chair, Jonathan Morgan, assess how the NHS may look at its centenary, and how we may have to reimagine its future.
With junior doctors still in dispute, vacancies still toppling, discontent still festering, and promised investment falling short of what many consider to be needed, the next 76 years will be shaped by the next government’s first actions.
The latest five-day junior doctor walkout alone led to nearly 70,000 appointments being postponed, with over 23,000 staff being absent at the peak of the industrial action. This takes the total number of inpatient and outpatients appointments that been rescheduled to almost 1.5 million.
While nothing has been decided, if the shadow cabinet is anything to go by, Wes Streeting will have the pleasure of overseeing the NHS and the whole health and social care sector’s future. He must start by rebuilding a fractured health service.
Follow National Health Executive for all the latest updates on the new government’s cabinet.
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