Since its introduction on Monday 5 July 1948, the NHS has been an extremely ambitious project and its success has rested upon the shoulders of those that work within it. With seven decades of care and treatment that remains free at the point of delivery, we have much to celebrate and staff should be immensely proud of their role within this.Measuring this success, in a relatively short period of time, numerous diseases such as polio, diphtheria and rubella (to name a few) have been virtually wiped out, life expectancy has risen by over ten years for both males and females and the number of skilled clinicians and medics has risen tenfold. The breakthroughs in medical science and treatment are too numerous to count and I believe both nationally and locally we have so much to be thankful for.
Taking a moment to reflect on my own personal experiences, my journey within the NHS started in the late 1980s. I trained as a nurse in Nottingham, spending many happy years caring for patients as a Cardiac Specialist Nurse. The Health Service not only gave me an education, but also a career and, in doing so, many wonderful experiences. Like so many of you, I am truly proud to count myself as an NHS employee.
As you may be aware, today we launch our book ‘Good Health – A Pictorial Celebration of Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals’. Charting over 200 years of local care, we have a proud tradition in Bassetlaw, Doncaster, Mexborough and Retford and I believe every member of Team DBTH is a fantastic continuation of this truly phenomenal legacy.
Our Health Service remains a leader worldwide and is truly a marvel of our times. Evidencing this, Richard Parker, Chief Executive, is currently holidaying with family in South Africa – however despite taking a much-deserved break, Richard has today been invited to Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town to speak with staff to share best practice within DBTH and the NHS as a whole.
Here’s to the NHS and here’s to many more years to come.
David Purdue,
Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust