Justin Tomlinson MP has wished happy birthday to the NHS as it celebrates its 70th birthday, marking 70 years of access to healthcare which is free at the point of use.
The NHS belongs to all of us. It’s a legacy we pass down from generation to generation and it’s a legacy this Government will protect.
That’s why the Government has announced that it will build on our record funding by increasing NHS funding by almost £400 million a week – more than £20 billion a year – by 2023/24 as part of a historic long-term funding plan for the NHS.
The NHS must be supported and protected so that it can continue delivering the best quality care for the next 70 years and beyond, which is why the NHS will also produce a new ten-year plan, setting out a long-term vision for the health service to ensure every penny is well spent and services are fit for the future.
Justin Tomlinson MP said: “I am delighted to wish the NHS a happy 70th birthday. Much has changed since the NHS was founded in 1948, but the fundamental principles are the same: a service which is universal, comprehensive, and free at the point of use. The NHS has been there for all of us over the past 70 years, and we must ensure it continues to be there for everyone in the future. Our historic funding announcement will guarantee this, and is a fitting birthday present for our world-renowned health service.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt MP said: “As we celebrate the 70th birthday of the NHS, this Conservative Government remains committed to its future with a historic long-term funding announcement. £394 million extra a week by 2023-24 will ensure the NHS can continue delivering valued services, and improve and adapt for the future. This year we have also announced a pay rise for nearly a million of the dedicated staff who make the NHS what it is, and over £200 million of funding for vital health research which will prepare the NHS for the next generation of health challenges.”
Conservatives: Backing the NHS for 70 Years & Beyond
- Conservatives have been committed to the fundamental principles of the NHS since it was founded. The 1945 Conservative manifesto proposing ‘a comprehensive health service’ in which ‘no one will be denied the attention, the treatment or the appliances they require because they cannot afford them’
- We are delivering an average NHS budget increase a 3.4 per cent each year in real terms. In 2023-24, the NHS will be receiving, in real terms, £20.5 billion more than it’s receiving today. This means the NHS will have £394 million more a week in real terms.
- Asking the NHS to develop a ten-year plan setting out a sustainable vision for the health service. The plan will be developed by the NHS itself and will ensure every penny of investment is well spent, reducing waste and inefficiencies
- We have announced £215 million for health research to tackle the next generation of health challenges. The package of funding for research that could transform the lives of millions of people who are living with a range of conditions, including life-long illnesses, mental health issues and obesity
- We are providing the NHS with the biggest capital investment in over a decade so services are fit for the 21st century. £760 million will modernise and transform the buildings and services of 39 NHS hospitals and community services across the country.
- We are undertaking an unprecedented program to train staff, so the NHS is able to continue to cope with increasing demand in the future. We are increasing doctor and nurses training places by a quarter, one of the biggest expansions in NHS history, and are training 15,000 GPs between 2015 and 2020
- We are delivering a pay rise of at least 6.5 per cent for nearly 1 million NHS staff. In March 2018 the Health Secretary announced £4.2 billion over three years to increase pay for our dedicated NHS workers. The lowest NHS starting salary will increase year on year from £15,404 to £18,005 in 2020-21
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