Our NHS at 75: A message from Amanda Pritchard, NHS Chief Executive

July 6, 2023

A message from Amanda Pritchard, NHS Chief Executive

On this day, 75 years ago, our country did something remarkable. In creating a comprehensive, universal and free National Health Service, we freed tens of millions of people from fear of the financial impact of getting ill, and gave them the hope of a healthier future for themselves and their families.

As we mark three quarters of a century, I wanted to share some personal reflections on how far we have come, where we are now, and the hope we can have for the future.

Proud of our shared history

Over the last 75 years we have continually innovated and adapted to meet the changing needs of our patients and communities, and in doing so ushered a string of major advances in care which have benefited people here and around the world – from the first full hip replacement to genome sequencing.

But we have also faced challenges from Day One. Windrush Day was a reminder that we have always not just welcomed talent from around the world, but relied on it.

I recently met Carol, a Matron at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, whose mum emigrated to England and also worked in the NHS. We talked about what our shared history means to her – you can watch our conversation.

Our NHS at 75

The story of the NHS has always been one of progress and resilience in the face of challenges, and that is true today. I know colleagues continue to work flat out to improve the quality and timeliness of care patients receive, often having to work around rota gaps, and often in facilities that make delivering care less efficient than it could be.

Whether on waiting lists for planned treatment, access to primary, community or mental health care, or the timeliness of urgent and emergency care, we still have a lot to do. But we are making progress – because of the work you are doing.

So while we all remain focused on delivering for patients, it is right that today is a moment to celebrate colleagues, past and present. Whether that’s the service at Westminster Abbey, the
NHS Parliamentary Awards, the NHS at 75 photography competition or the dozens of local events taking place across the country – all will put staff at the centre.

I’m also delighted to say that from Thursday, the George Cross – awarded last year to all NHS staff for their 74 years of service to the nation – will be on display at the Science Museum in London. Plans are also in place for the exhibit to move to regional museums over the coming years.

Ambitious for the future

Milestone anniversaries like today aren’t just about looking back, but also looking to the future. And building a stronger NHS for the future means more colleagues, working in new ways and with the support they need to do what they do best.

I recently returned to my old school, Durham Johnston Comprehensive, as part of the NHS75 Speakers for Schools partnership. I was blown away by the number of young people who were already interested in coming to join us.

The NHS can’t afford to let that enthusiasm and ambition go to waste – just as we must do everything within our power to retain the skills and experience of our existing staff. So I am delighted that we have been able to publish our Long Term Workforce Plan, which for the first time in our 75-year history sets out how we will train and retain more staff over the coming years, and reform how we learn and work.

If you haven’t yet had chance to take a look, the full version is here, and I attempt to summarise it in 30 seconds here.

The recent NHS@75 report from the NHS Assembly was another reminder of how ambitious our colleagues are about improving health and care – whether by boosting prevention, embracing innovation or shifting more care into the community and people’s homes. These are all ambitions I share, and I talked about them in my recent speech to the NHS ConfedExpo conference, which you can read, watch or listen to.

Thank you

I know today will be a busy day like any other Wednesday. NHS teams will deliver around 1.6 million patient contacts. Hundreds of new lives will be brought into the world, countless lives will be improved through care and treatment, and many will be saved. That’s what we do, every day.

Whatever part you have played to date in the ongoing mission of the NHS, and will play in its future, I want to thank you once again for your contribution. You make the NHS what it is today, and you will make sure it continues to be there for future generations.

With best wishes

Amanda Pritchard, NHS Chief Executive