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The birth of a baby and the NHS | The birth of a baby and the NHS |
(20 minutes later) | |
When Aneira Thomas's mother went into labour, the nurses pleaded with her to wait until the clock struck midnight. | When Aneira Thomas's mother went into labour, the nurses pleaded with her to wait until the clock struck midnight. |
Both mother and child obliged - and a minute past the hour, on 5 July 1948, the first NHS baby was born at Amman Valley Hospital, Carmarthenshire. | Both mother and child obliged - and a minute past the hour, on 5 July 1948, the first NHS baby was born at Amman Valley Hospital, Carmarthenshire. |
Naming the newborn was straightforward, the inspiration was the founding father of the NHS, Aneurin Bevan. | Naming the newborn was straightforward, the inspiration was the founding father of the NHS, Aneurin Bevan. |
Sixty-years later, Mrs Thomas has kicked off celebrations to mark the foundation of Britain's health service. | Sixty-years later, Mrs Thomas has kicked off celebrations to mark the foundation of Britain's health service. |
I just kept saying I was the first national health baby and didn't understand what it meant Aneira Thomas | I just kept saying I was the first national health baby and didn't understand what it meant Aneira Thomas |
Visiting the modern maternity unit at Singleton Hospital in Swansea, she proudly handed out "Born in Wales" bibs to new mothers. | Visiting the modern maternity unit at Singleton Hospital in Swansea, she proudly handed out "Born in Wales" bibs to new mothers. |
"As a child I never understood what the significance of it was," admitted Mrs Thomas, who now lives in Loughour, near Swansea. | "As a child I never understood what the significance of it was," admitted Mrs Thomas, who now lives in Loughour, near Swansea. |
"I just kept saying I was the first national health baby and didn't understand what it meant." | "I just kept saying I was the first national health baby and didn't understand what it meant." |
For her mother Edna, who spent 18 hours in labour before giving birth, it meant no longer having to shell out the one shilling and sixpence in midwifery fees. | For her mother Edna, who spent 18 hours in labour before giving birth, it meant no longer having to shell out the one shilling and sixpence in midwifery fees. |
For Edna's husband Willie, that would have made a serious dent in the £2 a week wages he earned as a miner down the Great Mountain pit in Tumble. | For Edna's husband Willie, that would have made a serious dent in the £2 a week wages he earned as a miner down the Great Mountain pit in Tumble. |
Just like Aneurin Bevan, Mrs Thomas is known to friends as Nye. | Just like Aneurin Bevan, Mrs Thomas is known to friends as Nye. |
She said she was proud to be named after the "great man" who brought about the birth of the NHS while he was a Labour government minister and MP for Ebbw Vale. | She said she was proud to be named after the "great man" who brought about the birth of the NHS while he was a Labour government minister and MP for Ebbw Vale. |
She also said she wished she had been given the chance to meet him herself, because of "what he did for the country and working-class people." | She also said she wished she had been given the chance to meet him herself, because of "what he did for the country and working-class people." |
Mrs Thomas forged life-long links with the NHS, becoming a nurse herself | Mrs Thomas forged life-long links with the NHS, becoming a nurse herself |
Mrs Thomas forged a life-long link with the health service becoming a mental health nurse, along with her three sisters, and her daughter is now a ambulance technician. | Mrs Thomas forged a life-long link with the health service becoming a mental health nurse, along with her three sisters, and her daughter is now a ambulance technician. |
Her own life has been saved on two occasions when she had to be revived after suffering severe allergic reactions. | Her own life has been saved on two occasions when she had to be revived after suffering severe allergic reactions. |
"The last one was near fatal," she said. | "The last one was near fatal," she said. |
Sixty-years on, Mrs Thomas remains fiercely proud of the NHS, even as she admitted herself that there was always room for improvement. | Sixty-years on, Mrs Thomas remains fiercely proud of the NHS, even as she admitted herself that there was always room for improvement. |
"There are lots of issues that should be addressed," she stated. | "There are lots of issues that should be addressed," she stated. |
"There are lots of carers at home looking after their families, some things there should be addressed. | "There are lots of carers at home looking after their families, some things there should be addressed. |
FIND OUT MORE As the NHS turns 60, BBC News is giving it a health check. Watch out for reports, features and analysis on TV, radio and the web. | |
"When I was nursing, some of the training was called 'tender, loving care'. That would make the patient feel a bit better and put them on the road to recovery because some patients didn't have relatives. | "When I was nursing, some of the training was called 'tender, loving care'. That would make the patient feel a bit better and put them on the road to recovery because some patients didn't have relatives. |
"But on the whole I think we are very, very, fortunate." | "But on the whole I think we are very, very, fortunate." |
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