KEIR: REWARD STAFF BY
KEIR Starmer today tells Boris Johnson to reward NHS workers for putting their lives on the line during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In this exclusive article for the Sunday Mirror, Labour leader Keir says the PM should make an immediate commitment to talks on hiking NHS pay, as the nation marks the 72nd birthday of the “incredible institution” founded by Labour in 1948.
He also outlines Labour’s demands for ministers to publish a “winter resilience plan”.
The Sunday Mirror has led the way in campaigning for extra wages for our courageous frontline health workers.
And the nation will show its gratitude for everything the
NHS has done with a final clap for carers at 5pm.
ICONIC landmarks across Britain are glowing blue as Britain today marks 72 years since the NHS was founded.
London’s Shard, the Eden Project in Cornwall and Windsor Castle were lit up in recent nights. Blackpool Tower, the Wembley Arch and No10 are also lighting up.
In a recorded tribute, Prince Charles said: “The NHS – and the entire country – has been through the most testing time in the service’s history.
“Nurses, doctors, paramedics and countless other staff have made costly sacrifices to provide treatment for more than 100,000 patients with coronavirus and thousands more who needed care.
“We have come together as a nation to thank them for their skill, professionalism and dedication.”
The Prince paid tribute to other key workers such as farmers, shop staff and volunteers “during this dark time”. A candle was lit at St Paul’s Cathedral last night in memory of those who died. Two Spitfires will fly over hospitals in the east of England today. A nationwide applause will take place at 5pm.
THE NHS is personal to all of us. Today, on its 72nd birthday, we have the chance not just to celebrate it but to reflect on what it means to us.
My mum was a nurse, but she was also very ill for much of her life.
The NHS she served and loved was also her lifeline.
When I remember the dedication and professionalism of the doctors and nurses who cared for her, I feel a deep sense of gratitude. It is what inspires me to fight for our health system, to ensure that kind of care will always be available to everyone. I know many others feel the same.
The NHS means so much to so many. But in the last few months, as we have battled the coronavirus, it has become even more important.
The impact of Covid-19 across our country has been devastating.
Friends and families have been kept apart and tens of thousands of lives have been taken too early, including hundreds of NHS workers.
At the centre of this storm, our NHS has been a rock. For every life tragically lost, many more have been saved by the actions of our NHS heroes.
I know it has been incredibly hard for those on the front line.
Day in, day out, they put themselves in harm’s way to save others. We must never forget who our key workers are. For them, it’s more than a job. Their deep sense of public service and desire to help people in need shine through. They are the best of us.
That’s why Labour supports those calling on the Government to make an immediate commitment to talks on a pay rise for NHS workers, and to agree this deal as soon as possible.
The numbers of deaths are, at last, coming down. But Covid-19 has not gone away. The threat from the virus is still very real.
Throughout this crisis, the Government has been too slow. Too slow into lockdown, too slow to ramp up testing, too slow to fix the test-andtrace system and much too slow to get PPE to the front line of the NHS.
The situation we saw in Leicester this week shows that the Government has still not got a grip on quickly identifying and containing local outbreaks.
We need to remain vigilant and do everything we can to protect and support our NHS.
That’s why Labour is calling on ministers to publish an NHS winter resilience plan, with free flu jabs for over-50s, weekly coronavirus testing for NHS and social care staff, and proper stockpiling of PPE.
The Government must learn from the mistakes made in their response to the virus so far and help the NHS prepare for winter.
That includes facing up to the scandal that allowed the virus to ravage our care homes.
We need to eliminate the virus from care homes before winter sets in.
The NHS is an incredible institution, one we are all proud of.
For 72 years, it has been by our side, ready to catch us when we need it most. So today, we say happy birthday to our NHS, and thank you to all those who have served in it.