Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, shone a light on his Local NHS Champions - Cumbria Health on Call - at a Number 10 Downing Street Reception to celebrate the NHS’ 75th anniversary.
Susan Blakemore is the Chief Executive of Cumbria Health on Call (CHoC) and attended on behalf of the not-for-profit organisation which has recently allowed a host of local GP Practices to remain open and providing for Cumbria’s rural population.
She was invited by Dr Hudson to attend a reception this week celebrating doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and all manner of local champions keeping the nation fit and healthy. Hosted by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay, the reception was attended by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and many other parliamentarians eager to celebrate this momentous anniversary for the NHS.
Dr Hudson has championed local services in rural areas where centralisation and transport challenges have left remote towns and villages with reduced access to healthcare, education or other public services.
Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, said:
“It was a pleasure to be able to shine a light on the incredible work being done on healthcare in our rural part of the world – particularly on such a momentous occasion as the NHS’ 75th Anniversary.
“I’ve spoken before about CHoC’s hugely successful primary care model that has allowed many rural GP practices to remain open amid national and regional staffing challenges. For allowing our more remote towns and villages to access world-class healthcare I must publicly reiterate my thanks to Susan Blakemore, Medical Director Dr Neil Margerison and the wider CHoC team.”
Susan Blakemore, CHoC Chief Executive, added:
“I was delighted to be nominated by our local MP Neil Hudson to attend No. 10 as part of the celebrations of the NHS 75th Birthday. It was a real honour to represent Cumbria and have the recognition for providing a range of primary care services across our vast geographical challenges."
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay said:
"The NHS has changed a lot over the last 75 years, Patients are 80% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease today than in 1948. Back then, the NHS had 144,000 members of staff – it now has 1.4 million. In 1948 it had a budget of £11 billion, it is now over £180 billion.
"But two things haven’t changed. The amazing staff who provide high quality care for patients, and that it is free to the point of use. Those are the principles that we are all here to celebrate today."
For more information of CHoC’s work locally, visit:
