Helensburgh and Lomond's MSP has thanked local NHS staff for their dedication as the NHS marks 75 years.

July 5, 1948 saw the creation of the National Health Service and Jackie Baillie MSP said it was arguably "Labour's finest achievement".

But the Dumbarton constituency MSP said the state of the health service remained a concern after years of underfunding from London and Edinburgh.

She praised primary and secondary health services in Helensburgh and Lomond, the Vale of Leven Hospital and beyond, for their care of others.

Ms Baillie said: “The National Health Service is our nation’s proudest and most important achievements and was born from the rubble and ruin of the Second World War.

GET INVOLVED: NHS 75th anniversary - Have you got a story to tell?

“Our NHS, which Labour delivered, has supported the people of Britain for 75 years and, with it, has brought longer life expectancy, greater health security and equality. This is vitally important in the local area throughout West Dunbartonshire, in particular, where many people are living in poverty.

“When the pandemic struck in 2020, the whole country was caught off guard and while Scottish and UK government ministers scrambled about in panic our gallant NHS workers stepped into the breach.

“For months, NHS nurses, doctors and porters, across our communities in Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven, Balloch, Helensburgh and Lomond including at the Vale of Leven Hospital put their lives on the line to keep people safe in the face of a terrifying and dangerous pandemic.

“While being failed on PPE, testing and tracing, these workers worked tirelessly to care for those in need. There were so many local people contacting my office worried about the impact on their families as they went about their frontline jobs.

“The heroes we relied on in our darkest of times are now being failed by two out of touch governments who are threatening the very existence of our NHS which should be free at the point of use."

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She continued: “In Scotland, one in seven people are on an NHS waiting list, cancer wait times are spiralling out of control, our A&E departments are overwhelmed and delayed discharge is at a record high.

"Our junior doctors are considering industrial action to get the fair pay they deserve yet the SNP Government is blowing £8.5 million on spin doctors focusing on health.

“On this important anniversary I want to thank the hard-working NHS staff for all they do to look after us under extremely trying circumstances.

"The staff at the Vale of Leven Hospital are worth their weight in gold and I often receive emails, phone calls and letters from people singing their praises. The health workers across the communities work tirelessly to care for us and, for that, they deserve our heartfelt gratitude.

“Myself and my Labour colleagues are committed to saving and renewing our NHS so that it’s fit for the future.”

Helensburgh's former MP John McFall - now Baron McFall of Alcluith, and Speaker of the House of Lords - added: “The NHS is a marvellous institution which for three-quarters of a century has served the people of Scotland well.

"On this auspicious birthday, I’d like to offer my thanks to all those who have worked in the NHS over the past 75 years for their dedication, their skills, their compassion and their unstinting efforts to make the country a healthier place.”