Ludlow residents give views on NHS

A man who was born with a rare genetic condition was in Ludlow on Wednesday to gather people’s opinion on the future of the NHS as part of a nationwide tour.

Joshua Oliver, an artist who goes under the name of Red Jay, is the founder of Hive Mind Speaks, which aims to bring critical social and political issues into the public consciousness.

Starting at Whittington Hospital in London, where Mr Oliver was born, the NHS65 tour is visiting 65 locations across the UK, with 65 being the amount of years since Aneurin Bevan, who is widely considered to have founded the NHS, died. It will culminate in a ‘Citizen’s Jury’ at South Bank University this Saturday (April 12) where key figures will respond to the public’s views.

Mr Oliver will also hand deliver the responses to Health Secretary, Wes Streeting.

“It’s for the public to get their voice heard in the future shaping of the NHS,” said Mr Oliver, who went to school in Ludlow and was born with a very rare musculoskeletal condition called Larsen’s Syndrome.

“We’re touring the country with a video on a van. I started making this video about two years ago and it’s a direct response to concerns about privatisation.

“But it’s much more about worrying about the future of the NHS and I’ve evolved a lot in understanding there it’s such a bigger issue.

“We’re canvassing public opinion, and grabbing all the feedback and feed it into the Government’s own NHS change initiative and their 10-year plan.”

Mr Oliver added that his mum still lives in Ludlow and he can tell that the local NHS services are overstretched.

“What we are hearing from talking from people is they’re really concerned about efficiency and lack of  streamlining,” he said.

What people in Ludlow had to say about the NHS

Maggie Hughes, who works at Ludlow College

“It’s working fine, except they need to stop messing with it. We’ve got the Community Hospital, there is no need to move it.

“There are too many routine procedures, for example cateracs are being done in private which is costing the NHS money. And they’re pushing them through because the private providers are charging the NHS loads of money when they’re not life-threatening problems.”

John Weyham, from Nash – a village between Clee Hill and Tenbury Wells

“The doctors and nurses are excellent, I can’t fault them, but a lot of the main problems are in adminstration.

“The so called executives are paid a quarter million pounds a year, which is ridiculous when the doctors are nurses are struggling. We should be a first world country.”

Julie Ridgway, from near Blackpool, who was in Ludlow as part of a a 150 mile walk from Wrexham to Cardiff

“I’m not really a NHS user, but I do value the services they provide. There are certainly individuals in the world that need that medical support, and to have it available for us freely as a public service is a gift.

“What I do worry about is how much it is being stretched. I worry about the staff, not in terms of working for the NHS, but their own self care and the pressure.”