WORKING FOR YOU NHS needs our support

Last week marked 70 years since the creation of the National Health Service.

On July 5, 1948, the post-war Labour government created the NHS – universal healthcare free at the point of use.

It is by far our greatest national treasure and regardless of your wealth, social status or what corner of the UK you come from, the right to healthcare exists for us all.

However, sadly, after eight years of the Conservatives and 11 of the SNP, our NHS is suffering like never before.

Severe under-funding has resulted in our NHS being run on overtime and agency work.

In University Hospital Monklands alone over £3 million was spent on agency staff – enough to pay for more than 100 NHS nurses for a year.

I have been out campaigning to celebrate the NHS and remind constituents that it was there when you needed it, so it’s time you’re there when the NHS needs you.

The case for public ownership doesn’t end with our NHS.

Just recently the East Coast mainline operated by Virgin and Stagecoach between London, Edinburgh and Inverness has been taken back under public ownership as the government have decided that they could no longer meet the agreements set under a £3.3 billion contract.

I believe that a public rail network must go beyond the East Coast mainline and I’m proud that Scottish Labour have bold plans to bring Scottish railways back into public ownership.

In the upcoming weeks parliament will break up for the summer recess and I intend to spend as much time as I can out with constituents seeing issues first-hand.

I have planned a series of special surgeries on topics such as the benefit system and state pension inequality, which I would encourage constituents who are affected to attend.

Details can be found on my social media accounts – @ HughGaffneyMP on Twitter or www.facebook.com/ HughGaffneyMP/

People can also get in touch with my office on 01236 434565 for further details.

The NHS was there when you needed it, so it’s time you were there when the NHS needs you

Strong support Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn addresses the crowd at a London rally celebrating 70 years of the NHS