Sunderland MP backs NHS as service marks 70th birthday

Sunderland MP Sharon Hodgson has hailed the NHS after making a special visit to mark the healthcare system's 70th birthday.
From left to right, midwife Michelle, new mum Alex, baby Hayden and Sharon Hodgson MP.From left to right, midwife Michelle, new mum Alex, baby Hayden and Sharon Hodgson MP.
From left to right, midwife Michelle, new mum Alex, baby Hayden and Sharon Hodgson MP.

Mrs Hodgson, the MP for Washington and Sunderland West and shadow minister for public health, visited Sunderland Royal Hospital to mark the milestone.

She was given a tour of the hospital, and attended both the new emergency department and the maternity department to meet some of the newest arrivals.

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Among those she met was new mum Alex and baby Hayden, who was wearing an NHS 70 babygrow.

Mrs Hodgson sad: "It was great to visit Sunderland Royal Hospital to mark the 70th birthday of our NHS and see the amazing work the staff do here every single day, despite the huge pressures on them with funding cuts and increasing demand.

“The NHS was established by a Labour government, and it is only a Labour government that will properly fund our NHS to ensure that it can continue for many more years to come.

“It was lovely to meet Hayden and see him in his NHS 70 baby grow.

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"I will continue to campaign for our NHS to be free at the point of use for everyone, so that when Hayden grows up, he can benefit from it too.”

Mrs Hodgson was given the tour by City Hospitals Sunderland Foundation Trust deputy chief executive and director of corporate affairs Carol Harries and deputy head of corporate affairs Andrea Hetherington.