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'I am proud to have been an NHS employee'
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| Dr Hilary Jones |
THIS week we should all celebrate the 60th anniversary of the NHS.
When Aneurin Bevan introduced it in 1948, it was the greatest-ever achievement of a socialist government and probably remains so to this day.
The people of this country had come through the war and suffered so much together, so now it was time to benefit together from a medical service that would be available to all, free at the point of delivery and which would protect people from the cradle to the grave.
It functioned brilliantly and countless millions of people have remained in good health over the years as a result of medical intervention which, in the past, they would never have been able to afford or have had made available.
But 60 years ago, medicine was so much simpler. Today, the NHS has an annual budget of £100billion and is one of the world's largest employers with 1.3 million staff. I've been very proud to have been one of them.
Today, someone having a heart attack can have their coronary artery opened up by a special balloon within 30 minutes of arriving in casualty.
Bone marrow cancers that were formerly incurable can be treated with total body irradiation and stem cell transfusion.
The vast majority of cancers are now curable, keyhole surgery has made operations quicker and less painful. With the promise of gene therapy in the future for inherited diseases, who knows what might be achieved.
Of course, there are problems. Superbug infections, postcode lotteries, mixed-sex wards, political interference and an ageing population to name but a few.
But we must never take for granted the enormous strides that have been made over the last 60 years, and we must strive to make it better still.
One thing is for certain. Here, in Basingstoke, we are blessed with a fantastic local hospital with dedicated and skilled staff, and the additional support from The Hampshire Clinic should people wish to avail themselves of it.
- Dr Hilary Jones.
Do you have a view on 60 years of the NHS? Have your say below.
10:20am Thursday 3rd July 2008
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CommentPosted by: Picket Dewfury, Basingstoke on 1:25pm Thu 3 Jul 08
I'm sure Mr 'TV' is proud of the NHS. Those long hours of applying makeup and cutting a crust with his 'whats up doc' business. All those trips to the TV Studios.
There are plenty of Doctors that make the NHS something to be proud of - this man is not one of them.
I'm sure Mr 'TV' is proud of the NHS. Those long hours of applying makeup and cutting a crust with his 'whats up doc' business. All those trips to the TV Studios.
There are plenty of Doctors that make the NHS something to be proud of - this man is not one of them.
Posted by: pib, Basingstoke on 6:45pm Fri 4 Jul 08
What a completely unbalanced point of view.All doctors are medically trained to the highest standards and always have their patients interests best interests at heart.It doesn't matter if they are in theatres all day performing operations, in local surgeries helping with minor injuries or general advice or appearing on television raising the profile of essential medical matters.
If you are involved in an accident and Dr Hillary is in attendance, will you refuse his potentially life saving treatment just because he appears in the media?
Have you ever thought about how much good his media work has done for those who may not be able to get out much?
Try thinking before you post.
What a completely unbalanced point of view.All doctors are medically trained to the highest standards and always have their patients interests best interests at heart.It doesn't matter if they are in theatres all day performing operations, in local surgeries helping with minor injuries or general advice or appearing on television raising the profile of essential medical matters.
If you are involved in an accident and Dr Hillary is in attendance, will you refuse his potentially life saving treatment just because he appears in the media?
Have you ever thought about how much good his media work has done for those who may not be able to get out much?
Try thinking before you post.
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