Event to celebrate NHS 60th Birthday
by Kate Ramsden
The STUC congratulated NHS Scotland
on its 60th birthday and threw its weight
behind UNISON's call for a special event to celebrate
this anniversary.
Lilian Macer, UNISON Scotland's Vice-convenor
and Health Executive Chair told congress that the
NHS is the UK's greatest and most prized institution.
"The principles of the NHS were to provide a
comprehensive service funded by taxation, available
to all and free at the time of need," she said,
adding that record investment and service modernisation
have delivered real improvements in health care.
"The NHS Together demonstration
in London in November last year was a joyous celebration
of the NHS, and the world saw how much our NHS, created
by the trade union and the labour movement, means
to the people and voters of the UK."
She warned, however, that the introduction
of competition and the increasing involvement of the
private sector is putting the NHS at risk. "We
know there are still huge challenges and privatisation
remains a virus in the NHS. We must continue to fight
for the survival of the NHS that our movement created
60 years ago."
Lillian welcomed the Scottish Government's
stated opposition to using public money to help the
private sector compete with the NHS, and told Congress
that this is in line with UNISON Scotland's aims,
to see the delivery of healthcare on the basis of
collaboration and co-operation rather than division
and competition.
She called on Congress to give its support
for the Scottish public service model as the strategy
for delivering co-ordinated health services in Scotland
and to continue to defend its principles as outlined
by Nye Bevan when he said, "The essence of a
satisfactory health service is that the rich and the
poor are treated alike, that poverty is not a disability,
and wealth not an advantage."
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