Unison delivers NHS birthday card to Government

Unison General Secretary, Dave Prentis, delivered a giant birthday card to the Department of Health this week, to mark 63 years since the NHS was founded.

The chief of the UK’s largest union joined other union heads and health workers to warn the Government that the NHS would not make its 64th birthday if plans set out in the Heath and Social Care Bill go ahead.

The plans will lead to the break-up of the NHS and private companies grabbing huge chunks of the NHS birthday cake.

Across the UK, health workers and members of the public are also hosting birthday events and campaigning against the reforms.

Dave Prentis said:

“For 63 years doctors, nurses and other health workers have made the NHS the national treasure it is.

“Now the Government is trying to destroy the health service and open it up to private companies, who will put profits before patients.

“The Bill should be binned and started from scratch, as it is a recipe for disaster.

“The NHS must be safeguarded, so it can celebrate its 64th birthday.”

The card, which was signed by the TUC General Council and senior union officials, along with many members, said:

“We need to safeguard the future of the health service for generations to come.

The greeting inside the card reads: ‘The Health and Social Care Bill sets out hugely damaging changes to the NHS. We are worried that they could mean taxpayers’ money for the NHS diverted to big business, and competition instead of the increased collaboration patients need. We want to safeguard our NHS and make sure that there is a 64th birthday to celebrate too.”