75 years serving the community, here's to the next 75 Happy Birthday NHS
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The face of our NHS are the nurses and doctors we encounter every day. Wednesday, July 5 saw the NHS celebrate 75 years serving the public.
While our health care practices, medicines and technologies may have changed, one thing has remained steadfast and that is the dedication of the staff who are the backbone of our health service.
Since 1948 these incredible doctors and nurses have been providing care services in a variety of different settings, whether that be in our surgeries, hospitals or at home, to name a few.
This week the Health Service released a series of videos to celebrate the milestone. Julie Dudgeon - a 27 year veteran - was one of those featured. Julie is currently working as a health care assistant in Craigavon A&E department.
Julie recalls: “A positive thing I remember was a patient giving me a thank you card and a wee figure of a willow tree with a thank-you heart on it. In the card was the most simple, basic thing. The lady thanked me for making her mum tea and toast. I could nearly cry thinking about it”. Julie recalls how the patient said it was “just what her mummy needed at the time”.
“I was overwhelmed I still have it in the house. It was a lovely positive thing and there are so many like that in our place”: said Julie.
It’s all too easy to forget that these doctors and nurses, porters and auxiliary, surgeons and consultants are people like you and I - doing a job - against immeasurable pressure and emotional toil. A thank you goes a long way.
Yes, we all know the NHS has its problems. We see and read about them every day. The budget cuts, the staff shortages, the endless calls for people to consider what an emergency is before attending our already overwhelmed A&E departments.
On a personal note, I am on the right side of 40... but can touch it and I cannot remember a time when I didn’t have access to free healthcare. Very few of us will. Sometimes the grass is greener on the other side, but before we join the privatisation brigade, maybe consider what we have to lose rather than gain.
Let us hear your thoughts? Have you a story to share with us? Email us at news@armaghi.com
Headlines
Co Armagh GAA club disgusted after ‘depraved’ vandal steals defibrillator battery
Man appears in court on child sexual offence charges
Deborah’s Annual Towpath Walk raises £8,752 for Hospice
WATCH: Road closed after wall collapses during renovation work at Foresters in Lurgan
DCI John Caldwell shooting: Terrorism accused trio bring total charged with murder bid to 10
Southern Trust chief outlines plans for ‘future of Daisy Hill Hospital’
Southern Area Hospice launch new Out of Hours nursing service
Appeals body slammed over ‘shocking’ decision to overturn Gosford housing refusal
49 dogs kept in squalor seized from illegal puppy farm in Armagh
Keady GP surgery moves to larger state-of-the-art premises after £1.5m investment
Residents ‘badly shaken’ after shots fired at house in Armagh
Brand new state-of-the-art multi-sensory space opens in Armagh
Plans for 18 new homes in Co Armagh village
Men armed with crowbar and knife assault victim in his home before giving chase in car
Controversial housing plans next to Gosford Castle to go-ahead after developer wins appeal
Giveaways
First up is our GetactiveABC giveaway - congratulations Emma Burns! You are the lucky winner of a family pass for 5 people to Craigavon Golf and Ski Centre! Contact our office on 028 37443 043 to arrange your pass.
Next up - our ever popular cinema ticket giveaway! Maureen Freeburn you are off to the cinema compliments of Omniplex Cinemas. Contact us to arrange collection of your tickets.
Look back
In February 1987, The Lurgan Examiner reported on the possibility of a home care service for the terminally ill.
Stating that “home care for the terminally ill may become a reality but only if the people from the area prove their commitment” was the challenge laid bare by the then Chairman of the Northern Ireland Hospice Mr William Olding-Smee at the AGM of the Craigavon Hospice Group.
Speaking at the meeting Mr Olding-Smee affirmed that most terminally ill patients preferred to spend what time they had left with their family in familiar surroundings.
The meeting was told that a home care team would provide relief for relatives as well as support and advice but considerable costs had to be taken into consideration".
The costs estimated at the time for such a vital service were in the region of £45,000 for a team of two full-time nurses and administrative personnel.
The meeting concluded with the Craigavon Support Group pledging support to raising the much needed funds for the service.