Birthdays are special. This year the NHS is 70 years old and we think that’s something worth celebrating. We are celebrating the anniversary of the creation of the NHS, the single most loved organisation in the UK and the envy of nations around the world.
We are also celebrating the staff who work for the NHS – the dedicated staff who are saving lives and caring for us today. UNISON Northern is proud to represent the whole team of staff who work in the NHS in the Region and we believe that everyone, whatever their job, plays a vital role in patient care. These amazing staff are worth celebrating alongside the NHS itself.
But, as the largest union in the NHS, we also know that there has never been a more important time for us to stand together and defend our Health Service against the policies of this government. That’s why we are asking members, their families and their friends to join us at 1pm on Thursday, 5 July at Baltic Square, Gateshead for a rally in support of our NHS. Guest speakers will include: Gordon McKay, UNISON President, Ian Lavery, Chair of the Labour Party, Clare Williams, Regional Secretary and Linda Hobson, Deputy Regional Convenor.
Let’s celebrate of course. But let’s also show our support for the NHS at a time when it is threatened like never before. A decade of under-funding, unnecessary reform and the opening up of the NHS to private companies has left our Health Service with overstretched staff who are struggling to meet the demands facing them.
This is set to be a great event so we need to ensure a great turn out which will only last around 45 minutes. It’s our NHS, let’s stand together to make sure that the next 70 years are worth celebrating too.