On July 7th Wyre Forest Constituency Labour Party celebrated  70 years of the NHS.

It is Labour’s proudest achievement providing universal healthcare for all and free at the point of use.

At a street stall outside Kidderminster Town Hall local people enthusiastically signed a giant birthday card to say ‘Thank You’ to the NHS. The card will be presented to NHS staff later this week.

A sample of some of the many messages demonstrate Wyre Forest people’s gratitude to this brilliant service.

‘You have saved my grandson’s life – Thank you!’

‘Here’s to another 70th! I’ve been blessed by wonderful care and am alive today for it.’

‘My grandfather signed up as a GP for the NHS on 5th July 1948. Happy Birthday NHS!’

‘Thank you for saving my husband’s life.’

‘Proud to give my heartfelt thanks and congratulations to the NHS. A mark of civilisation.’

These messages demonstrate how vital it is to for us all to keep on fighting against the fragmentation and privatisation of the NHS.

Stephen Brown, Labour Press Officer, congratulated everyone involved in the successful street stall and said: “The NHS has been starved of money since 2010 by the Tories, and that’s why it’s in crisis. Nevertheless, NHS staff just get on with it doing their best for patients, keeping it going, and it’s why we applaud them. They are the bedrock of the NHS. However, recent Tory NHS funding announcements designed to buy votes just won’t cut it. The money won’t cover the damage done since 2010 and doesn’t keep pace with either historic or future inflationary demands placed on the NHS. What we need is NHS renewal, an end to privatisation, and proper funding. It’s what the next Labour Government will do, and we have also committed 5% extra per year to the NHS to save it. Labour will ensure the NHS is future fit and will last the next 70 years, and beyond. It’s our greatest achievement as a country and the hundreds of signatures on the NHS birthday card show that, and our pride in wanting to keep it as our national treasure.”