A retired nurse who was born on the same day the NHS started, has spoken of her love for the service that gave her a career and saved her life.
Madeline Brockett, from Uddingston, was born on July 5, 1948, in Robroyston Hospital, Scotland, the same day the NHS came to be, 75 years ago today.
Madeline, who retired as a nurse in 2007 after a lifetime of service, also had her life saved by the Health Service when she had a near-fatal heart attack three years ago.
Today she celebrates her own birthday, and on the 75th anniversary of the NHS, Madeline has called on politicians of all parties to come together and save the service.
She told the Daily Record: “It is a hard job.
“They have got to increase the numbers of doctors and nurses, there are not enough to cope, we definitely need more people."
She added that junior doctors work very hard with barely any sleep on call, and then work into the next morning to do their ward rounds and receive orders.
When Madeline’s parents, Nancy and Peter Harris, welcomed their baby daughter into the world, they were among the first to do so under a free health service.
Now a grandmother and wife, Madeline was the Harris’ first-born child. But, unlike babies born before her, there was no charge for her parents.
Madeline said it was hard for her family before the NHS because they had to pay to see a doctor.
She added: “My grandmother was very good at trying her own remedies before going to the doctor and she was quite well known for her remedies and stories.”
Madeline said her grandmother, who made her own home remedies, thought the NHS was “fantastic”.
She was first an auxiliary nurse, then after 13 years became a nurse clerk, working in both the medical and stroke units at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
She married her husband David and kept herself in good health until she was in her 50s, when Madeline became ill.
She said: “I had a heart attack and I was at the resuscitation stage, but the doctors were absolutely fantastic.
“I could have died quite easily, it was only them working on me and keeping going that I am still here.
“I have a lot to thank the NHS for. I knew a lot of the senior doctors from when they were junior doctors.”
Madeline’s younger sister, Betty Marshall, lives in the United States with her husband Roger and her experience of health care has made Madeline appreciate the NHS even more.
She said that her sister’s husband Rodger, a former soldier, was stabbed through a kidney in an Oklahoma airport when trying to assist in a situation with an armed man.
Her sister Betty had to get a bank order before he was allowed treatment because they hadn't yet sorted out medical insurance.
Madeline said: “They had to pay for everything in hospital, right down to paper towels.’’
Madeline’s sister had to pay thousands of dollars but it would have been much worse if she had not been able to look after him at home after a few days.
She said: “The whole situation was very frightening for her, and when you know things like that it makes you appreciate our health service.”
Madeline said the staff in NHS hospitals work extremely hard and they have a lot to put up with.
