The Mayor of Ealing, Councillor Hitesh Tailor has given his thanks to the NHS as residents across Ealing join in with others nationwide to celebrate the contribution and impact it has on lives since being established on 5 July 1948.
In Ealing, the Mayor attended a special event organised by West London NHS Trust at its Clayponds Hospital which offers both in patient as well as out patient care for people needing rehabilitation services as well as neurological therapy for people who have had strokes, have parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis or motor neurone disease.
Speaking to EALING.NEWS during his visit, the Mayor said: “It’s a very valued and cherished institution. We as the public look to it and to help improve our health especially at times of crisis. It’s something unique I think in the world compared to other health systems in that way.”
Councillor Tailor spoke highly of those who work at Clayponds and across the NHS. “What I’ve seen when I come and visit places is the dedication of staff is a lot. I’ve met people over the years and sometimes it’s taken for granted. But the very fact of caring when you think about nursing, for example, the staff that come along and tender for people is just incredible. I’ve seen that for friends and family. And that particularly hits home.”
Meeting the Mayor at Clayponds was Dr Claire Dillon, director of integrated community services. Dr Dillon was delighted to have the Mayor visit.
Speaking to EALING.NEWS, she said: “It’s wonderful. Everyone’s been so excited. It’s given us a real opportunity to think about all the great stuff that we do here and celebrate that.”
Dr Dillon explained how Clayponds is used across the community. “We’ve got the neuro rehab unit, which is a specialist unit that looks after people of all ages. It’s not a specific age that it catered for. And we’ve got a rapid response service as well that looks after people in the community. Where we are standing now is in the gym and people come here to recieve physiotherapy services as well.”
As well as meeting staff and patients at Clayponds, the Mayor also saw a pop up soup kitchen organised by OCS, the facilities management company for Clayponds.
Felicity, who came to the soup kitchen said it was very good for her and others to see how OCS was helping in the local community. “I also want to say Happy Birthday NHS,” she told EALING.NEWS.
