Wednesday 5th July is the 75th anniversary of the creation of the NHS. Founded under a Labour government in 1948, the NHS is now under immense pressure after 13 years of Conservative government.

New data from the NHS reveals that across East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust (which serves the Welwyn Hatfield constituency), a staggering 1 in 2 patients are now waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment on the National Health Service. In total, 61,738 people are now waiting for their treatment to start.

Andrew Lewin, the Labour Parliamentary candidate for Welwyn Hatfield was born at the old QE2 hospital in Welwyn Garden City. Commenting today, he said:

“When Labour created the NHS no one could have imagined the incredible modern health service it would become. We’ve all got memories of NHS doctors and nurses going above and beyond – and we all know what an incredible sacrifice they made during the pandemic to keep us safe. 

But on the NHS 75th birthday, the sad truth is that the Conservatives have run the NHS into the ground. As it stands, you only have a 50% chance of being seen within 18 weeks if you live in the Welwyn Hatfield constituency. It’s a terrifying prospect for people and we are in desperate need of change.

Labour has a plan to turnaround the NHS. We will create 7,500 more medical school places and 10,000 more nursing and midwifery clinical placements per year. Fully funded by scrapping the non-dom tax status, under a Labour government the NHS will have both the doctors and nurses it needs.”