Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
NHS cannot be taken for granted says MP Gaffney
Hugh Gaffney told how“we cannot take our NHS, its workers or its mission for granted”as he took part in a debate marking the 70th anniversary of the health service.
The Coatbridge MP spoke highly of its staff as he wished the NHS a“happy birthday”– but warned against underinvestment and the involvement of private firms.
Speaking at Westminster Hall, he called the NHS“world-leading, history-making and much loved”, and said:“The NHS is comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery; millions of lives have been saved, millions of people restored to good health.
“It has tens of thousands of decent, hard-working and much-loved public sector workers – to them I say thank you for your compassion and sacrifices, for always going the extra mile.”
He spoke of“busy” University Hospital Monklands, saying:“Just a few months ago there were reports that it needed more than £30 million of repairs.
“There are leaks, and wards are closing. We will look at Monklands hospital.
“More than £3m was spent on agency staff – that would have paid for more than 100 nurses; across Lanarkshire in 2016-2017, more than £10m was spent on agency staff in [the] three [acute] hospitals. To quote Scottish leader Richard Leonard, we need to stop these private companies ‘sucking money out of the NHS’.
“I am proud of the NHS and its workers. I will work with anyone and everyone who wants to see it funded, supported, protected, defended and enhanced.”
Mr Gaffney added after the debate: “Nobody could be prouder of our NHS than me but this system, which remains the envy of the world, will only last as long as there are folk left with the faith to fight for it.
“I am still a believer in universal healthcare funded by general taxation and I know the majority of people in Scotland and across the UK still believe too; but it’s astonishing to think that as the system creaks under the strain of chronic underfunding, some £10m was spent last year on agency staff alone in the three Lanarkshire hospitals.”