NHS 70 Birthday Celebrations - Message from DoH Permanent Secretary Richard Pengelly

To all our HSC staff:

This is a proud day for everyone who works for our health and social care service.

As we celebrate its birthday, we should reflect with pride on all the ways it has helped people in times of need over the last 70 years.

We have great pride too in our colleagues, past and present, for their unwavering commitment and service.

I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to each and every one of you for everything you have done, and keep doing, day in and day out.

We should also today celebrate all the improvements in care and treatment that have been achieved – the amazing technological advances, the new drugs, the breakthroughs, the modern facilities beyond the dreams of our grandparents.

Progress in health can be measured through significantly increased life expectancy since 1948, and improved outcomes when serious conditions strike.

However, the story of the last 70 years is about so much more than statistics. It’s about a service where the dedication of staff is matched by the appreciation of the public and by support that spans party political allegiances.

It’s about people knowing they’ll be looked after when medical emergencies hit, that they won’t have to worry about the cost.

Of course, health and social care services are currently facing serious pressures. You don’t need me to tell you that.

But they have weathered tough times in the past too.

I remain confident about the future, despite all the problems - with the transformation agenda, we have a clear way forward with widespread support.

That will mean providing more care in or close to people’s homes - building up services at GP and community level.

It will also involve pushing ahead with hospital reforms like the development of elective care centres – new stand-alone day surgery units.
Transformation is not the answer to all our problems.

But without it, those problems will get much much worse.

Let’s take heart too from the difficult beginnings faced by the NHS, established as it was amid the rubble of a world war.

Today’s challenges, however difficult, are not beyond us. Certainly not with the wonderful staff, past and present, on which the service is built.

So let’s look to the future positively, knowing that through transformation we can put strong foundations in place for decades to come.

Happy birthday

RICHARD PENGELLY