ON July 5, 1948, the most fantastic and life-saving organisation this country has ever seen came into operation. I refer to the National Health Service (NHS).
A politician with fantastic insight into the effects that ill-health had on the population of this country, Aneurin Bevan, had painstakingly over a matter of years and much hard work created the NHS.
A National Health Service that is free at the point of use. I must ask the question: Free for how long under a Tory Government?
Theresa May, our Prime Minister, will have readers of The Press believe that she and her Tory party are admirers and friends of the NHS.
They most certainly are not. Bit by bit, they keep attempting to privatise the NHS.
She has just pledged an extra £20 billion a year in real terms for the health service by 2023/24. This statement is really double speak.
She even had the audacity to resurrect the words of the Leave campaign during the referendum in 2016 emblazoned on a big red bus.
The PM has intimated that the NHS should work increasingly hard to prevent and cut waste and fraud.
When we are living under austerity budgets created by her Government, which
have seen some budgets slashed by up to 40 per cent, it is hard to understand where these efficiencies will come from.
The big question now must be: Is the promised £20 billion extra a year enough? The answer must be definitely not.
Howard Perry,
St James Place,
Dringhouses, York
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