“The NHS will last as long as there are folk left with the faith to fight for it.”
The words of Aneurin Bevan on founding the National Health Service in 1948 and ensuring, for the first time, universal healthcare free at the point of need.
Decades later and that sentiment remains a rallying call to all those here in Inverclyde who are taking action to defend local health services.
As reported in the Tele, Anas Sarwar MSP recently visited Greenock to support the fight to protect services at Inverclyde Royal Hospital.
Over 7,000 signatures have been collected by campaigners fighting for the future of the Birthing Unit.
A decision about whether the closure of the unit goes ahead is expected soon — a decision that could see the centralisation of services out of Inverclyde, despite assurances from the First Minister that it wouldn’t happen.
As Tele readers will know, Labour’s parliamentary candidate, Martin McCluskey, is challenging the health board over the future of the Intensive Treatment Unit. While Inverclyde’s MP has stayed silent, concern for the future of the ITU has grown.
The community deserve an answer. Is there a future for the ITU or not?
Anyone watching BBC Scotland’s Leaders’ Debate will have seen a nurse challenge Nicola Sturgeon on pay and conditions for NHS staff.
The people who work in the NHS sustain Bevan’s vision, making it real every day. Yet pressure on the workforce is mounting and nurses have endured a £3,400 real terms pay cut after years of pay restraint.
It can’t be right that we live in a society where the rich get richer while nurses, the backbone of our health service, struggle to get by.
That’s why I voted to scrap the one per cent NHS pay cap. I’m disappointed that the other main parties — the SNP and the Tories — didn’t back the move.
Soon people here will face a choice in a General Election — a clear political choice.
They can choose those who stayed silent when the people of Inverclyde needed someone to speak up for local health services.
Or they can choose Labour MPs with the faith to fight for our NHS.
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