Health Secretary encourages Scots to share their stories
Health Secretary Shona Robison is encouraging people across the Scotland to share their stories and memories of health care throughout the years at the launch of the celebrations to mark the run up to the 70th anniversary of the NHS.
At a visit to the Lothian Birth Centre yesterday Ms Robison heard the stories of two people touched by the NHS – Gavin Scott, born on the day the NHS was formed on 5 July 1948, and new mum Lisa Shoate, 36, who gave birth to her second baby yesterday.
National events to mark the anniversary include a civic reception for frontline NHSScotland staff, with local NHS board events including afternoon teas, photography exhibitions and services of celebration and thanksgiving.
Contributions from public, patients and staff will form part of the campaign leading up to the anniversary, with seven stories selected to feature in a short film of NHS memories across the decades.
Health Secretary @ShonaRobison has launched the celebrations to mark 70 years of our NHS with a visit to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where she met Gavin Scott, who was born on the day the NHS was founded in 1948, and baby Findlay who was born yesterday. https://t.co/zZOxvJQt1R pic.twitter.com/pB4P3HrtSw
— Scot Gov Health (@scotgovhealth) May 22, 2018
Ms Robison said: “The 70th anniversary of the NHS provides the perfect opportunity to pay tribute to the institution that has done so much for so many.
“At its heart are the thousands of employees whose skill, dedication and compassion make the NHS what it is, consistently striving for the highest possible standards in clinical excellence and patient care.
“The commitment to the founding principles of healthcare remains as strong today as it was in 1948, yet the service most take for granted has changed considerably over the 70 years, continually adapting and evolving to ensure people’s needs are met.
“Through investment, innovation and reform, this evolution in the way care is delivered will continue.
“I’d encourage people show their support for the NHS during its special year by joining the celebrations, and am looking forward to hearing people’s stories of what the NHS has meant to them over the coming weeks.”
Gavin Scott, 69, was born in the Elsie Inglis Maternity Hospital in Edinburgh at 0750 on 5 July 1948, the first son of May and Tommy Scott. Born and raised in Edinburgh, Gavin has lived in Dunblane for over 20 years and credits NHS Forth Valley with the quality of care he and his family have received through the years.
Gavin said: “I’ve been very proud in my life to say I was born on the day the NHS began. Over the years it’s looked after me and my family well, helping with whatever we’ve needed. I believe all went well with my birth, and my mum went on to have two other sons under its care.
“As a child, I had measles, whooping cough and the other ailments that were fairly common in children at that time. I didn’t get a BCG because my mother had tuberculosis when she was younger so I was immune. I remember getting a chest x-ray every year at my school in a mobile van, but that stopped in the 1960s.
“The NHS safely delivered our children into the world, and our four grandchildren, the most recent being our grandson who arrived a few months ago. Although it’s easy for people to criticise the NHS we have much to be grateful for.”
For further information on the NHS in Scotland at 70, visit www.ournhsscotland.com
People can share their memories of the NHS by emailing nhs70@smartscommunicate.com.
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