The first-ever baby born in the NHS has told the Mirror the offer is “a slur and an insult to our caregivers”.
Aneira Thomas was born 72 years ago at one minute past midnight on July 5, 1948 – the day Labour hero Aneurin Bevan launched the NHS.
Her mother Edna, in labour for 18 hours, held on until midnight so she and her husband no longer had to pay a shilling and sixpence to the midwife.
Edna gave her little girl the female version of Bevan’s first name to celebrate that she had become the first ever NHS baby.
Aneira said: “When Aneurin Bevan fought for a national health service in 1948, part of the overall plan was that nurses and health workers’ salaries would rise accordingly with inflation and would never be subject to exploitation.
“This pay decision backtracks on all this Government has continued to say during the pandemic about how ‘wonderful’ our NHS is. Praise alone isn’t going to pay the bills.
“They have wasted billions of pounds by their decision making with ongoing mistakes regarding Test and Trace and PPE equipment.
“All NHS front liners have sacrificed not only their own lives as well as losing so many of their own colleagues and witnessed their own personal heartbreak.”
Aneira is herself a retired mental health nurse and many of her family have also dedicated their lives working in the health service.
She continued: “I feel aggrieved and ashamed when I think of our caregivers talking about having to strike and march the streets once more to beg for what should be their rights to have a fair pay rise.
“They still carried on doing what they have always done for us, laying their lives on the line 24/7 even though they have families of their own, and risk taking the virus into their homes.
“The pandemic has also taken a devastating toll on their mental health. We owe them a debt and they must be seen to be appreciated by giving something back to them.”
Aneira's letter in full
For the attention of Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson......
This decision to give this menial payrise to our frontline NHS Health workers is a slur and an insult to our caregivers.
They are taking advantage of the profession of Health workers knowing that they will always put the health of the nation before their own health.
Again this is an uncaring and an undervalued decision by this Government. They have wasted billions of pounds on their decision making during and ongoing mistakes regards to Test and Trace and PPE equipment.
This decision is backtracking in all what this Government has continued to say during the pandemic about how ‘wonderful’ our NHS is. Well, praise alone isn’t going to pay the bills.
Nadine Dorries’ interview was so very patronising of the people working so diligently in our national treasure.
All NHS front liners have sacrificed not only their own lives as well as losing so many of their own colleagues and witnessed their own personal heartbreak.
They still carried on doing what they have always done for us, laying their lives on the line 24/7 even though they have families of their own, and risk taking the virus into their homes.
The team effort of our medical and non-medical staff within the walls of all hospitals are phenomenal and truly remarkable. It deserves a decent and acceptable pay rise.
When Aneurin Bevan fought for a national health service in 1948, part of the overall plan was that nurses and health workers’ salaries would rise accordingly with inflation and would never be subject to exploitation.
We must hold power to account over this wrongdoing for our best caregivers in our country otherwise we will lose them.
How do you expect to encourage people to enter the profession if you don’t do right by them. They should not be expected to carry on regardless.
I feel aggrieved and ashamed when I think of our caregivers talking about having to strike and march the streets once more to beg for what should be their rights to have a fair pay rise.
Please show them the respect they deserve in the name of justice and equality. These wonderful passionate people are the cog in the wheel that keep Great Britain moving and shaking.
How privileged are we that we can rely on these lifesavers to care for us in our hour of need.
