Following on from last month’s ‘Local Business Champion’ reception, I was invited by the Secretary of State for Health the Rt. Hon. Steve Barclay MP to nominate a local “NHS Champion” to attend a reception at Number 10 Downing Street, to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the NHS and to thank NHS staff for their steadfast efforts in caring for patients.
I nominated Dr John Trenfield, who is a consultant in Emergency Medicine in the A&E Department at Northampton General Hospital. He was formerly the Head of Service there.
Dr Trenfield also volunteers with the East Midlands Ambulance Service to attend the scenes of major medical emergencies and serious incidents in Northamptonshire. This service is called BASICS (British Association for Immediate Care) and as a voluntary service and charity is always grateful for charitable donations, like those the Air Ambulance often receives. Please see the following website for more information if you can support: https://www.basics.org.uk/
During the reception at No10 Dr Trenfield met the Health Secretary and we discussed means by which the NHS can be made more efficient and effective, as well as the implementation of the Government’s recent NHS Workforce Plan. I welcome the recent announcement of an extra £2.4 billion towards recruiting thousands of new staff and helping improve the quality of care given to patients and reduce waiting times.
I remember marking the 60th Anniversary of the NHS in 2008 and I was delighted to have the opportunity to mark the 75th anniversary of our National Health Service and nominate someone who has dedicated decades to the health service in Northampton, as the NHS Champion for Northampton North.
I will be sure to continue to support NGH in any way I can, and continue to lobby for increased funding and more advanced medical equipment whenever possible.
(Photo: Sir Michael Ellis MP with Dr John Trenfield from Northampton General Hospital outside Number 10 Downing Street)