A SPECIAL birthday has been celebrated across the district this week – the 69th year of the NHS.
Those battling to save the service locally have spread the birthday spirit at stalls in Leamington and at Warwick Hospital.
South Warwickshire Keep Our NHS Public (SWKONP) used the birthday as a chance to hand out cakes and encourage people to sign a petition opposing health service cuts.
Chief executive of South Warwickshire Foundation Trust Glen Burley stopped off to enjoy some birthday cake and used a hospital meeting to celebrate the service as it enters its 70th year.
Warwick and Leamington MP Matt Western also praised local free healthcare when he visited one of the stalls.
SWKONP chairwoman Anna Pollert said: “It’s great our local MP has taken the trouble to visit our celebration of the NHS as it enters its 70th year. Matt is a passionate supporter of the NHS as a comprehensive health service accountable to and owned by the public.
“Lots of passers by stopped to enjoy the party, eat our cakes and sign our petition to our local Coventry and Warwickshire Sustainability and Transformation Plans, saying we oppose all cuts to our health services. These plans include the cuts to acute stroke beds at Warwick and George Eliot hospitals.”
The STP is a plan being devised to save £267million across Coventry and Warwickshire health services in the next five years.
Visit swkonp.wordpress.com to find out more.
