FORMER health minister and Ludlow MP Philip Dunne has said that there is much to celebrate as the NHS passes 70.

The MP has thanked local NHS staff and made clear his view that the NHS has a bright future, as the service celebrates its 70th birthday.

Founded in 1948, the NHS was the culmination of a plan to give good healthcare to all. Mr Dunne paid tribute to the staff across the health service for their hard work.

“On the NHS 70th birthday, all of us in Shropshire should be grateful for the handwork and dedication of staff who make the service what it is,” he said.

“This has been a good year for the NHS in Shropshire, securing £312m allocation of capital funding for the Future Fit programme. The NHS nationally will receive an extra £20bn per year, announced by the government, of which Shropshire will get its share. So, I am convinced the NHS has a bright future.

“I was pleased to nominate three great stalwarts of the NHS in South Shropshire for recognition in the NHS70 Parliamentary Awards, and recently presented them with their certificates – a small token of recognition for the huge impact they have each had on many lives in south Shropshire.”

Mr Dunne served as Minister of State in the Department for Health.