NHS 60th anniversary celebration in Westminster Abbey

A cathedral celebration for the NHS?
Ann Keen, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health, has written to us about the planned celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the NHS, including a “national service of celebration” for NHS staff, patients and stakeholders to be held in Westminster Abbey on 2 July. We’ve written back to ask why a national institution is being celebrated with a religious event that will exclude many people involved with and committed to the NHS. (This BHA e-bulletin was dated 11 April)

How to object to the venue for this celebration

If you count yourself amongst “NHS staff, patients and stakeholders”, you can write to Ann Keen MP at the Department of Health, Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, London SW1A 2NS or email her at annkeenmp@parliament.uk.

Here is a typical letter that was sent to Ann Keen. You could base your own email on this letter.

Dear Ann Keen

I am astonished to find that the 60th anniversary celebration for the NHS is to be held at Westminster Abbey. Why is it taking place in a church? Is the NHS a religious institution, more specifically a christian one? Does it exist to benefit only christians? Does it only treat christians?

This is absurd and I am appalled at the proposal. It should be changed forthwith to a neutral place where everybody of any and no faith can
feel at home.

I would like to know how this decision was made, who suggested it and how many people were consulted.

The actively religious are a minority in the UK today, and there is no reason to allow this important national institution to be hijacked by the religious as if they could claim it for themselves. It belongs to all of us, and there should be no religious element to a national ommemoration
of its inauguration. It is a health service and religion plays nopart in its service commitments or delivery. It is entirely inappropriate to introduce religion for this occasion and indeed is offensive to the many non-religious as well as non-christian users of the NHS.

Was any consideration given to the offence that your decision may cause? I look forward to a proper answers to my questions.

Yours in protest