JENNY ADAMS: Our new arrivals enhance Moray's caring outlook
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This week the National Health Service is 75 years old. Happy birthday!
The year 1948 brought a commitment to provide universal healthcare, free at the point of delivery.
In addition, the National Assistance Act 1948 offered some a social safety net.
While neither was perfect, with issues and limitations then and now, they recognise the responsibility of the whole of society to care for each other.
In the 75 years since, our health and social care services have evolved enormously.
Medical advances have been incredible, knowledge is continually developing, and our hopes and expectations for health and wellbeing keep expanding.
Yet health and social care are still grounded in the desire for everyone to be cared for, whoever we are, whatever challenges we face. That’s brilliant, and something to celebrate.
These systems are built upon people – staff and volunteers, patients, friends and families – who care. Whatever concerns we have about provision, we are grateful for the hard work and commitment of all involved in health and social care.
Thank you to everyone who plays any part in these crucial and hard-pressed services. You are amazing!
Care is shown in word and action, beyond contracted hours and roles, in formal and informal relationships. Such mutual love and respect help us grow and flourish.
Two weeks before the NHS came into being, HMT Empire Windrush arrived in the UK, carrying over 1000 passengers from the West Indies. These were early arrivals responding to a post-war invitation to Commonwealth citizens, and they and many others brought their skills to the new health service.
While they worked hard caring for others, they faced racism and discrimination. Some of those people are still bearing the brunt of the UK’s “hostile environment.”
There is lots of mutual love and respect, but there’s always room for improvement.
We are still welcoming new arrivals into our communities and our health and social care services. Many new Scots use their talents to care, helping meet the needs of us all.
I was delighted to see mutual care and respect in action on Saturday at “You and Me and a Cup of Tea” in Elgin, organised by a partnership of local bodies. Some of our neighbours from Ukraine showed care in welcome, food and song. Our newest neighbours, those seeking asylum, brought smiles and friendly engagement, helping where they can. There was a great buzz of new friendships being made.
The gathering grew out of a desire to show how much we want to care for each other, no matter where we come from, what language we speak, what colour our skin is, what faith we have, or what hostility some policies show.
The NHS’s birthday reminds us how crucial mutual care is for the flourishing of everyone. However, mutual love and respect are never limited to health and social services, crucial though they are. We all have a part to play, locally and globally, caring beyond any barriers.
So, as we celebrate the NHS, as we campaign for improvements in health and social care, as we welcome new Scots as neighbours, how can we grow mutual love and respect so we all flourish?
n Jenny Adams is Minister of Hopeman, Spynie and Pluscarden Church of Scotland.
