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. 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.

In response to the above item in the BHA Bulletin I have sent the following reply and suggest you send her your views.

Dear Ms. Keen,

As a user of the NHS and a former social worker in a Devon hospital, I am writing to express my dismay at the idea of celebrating a secular organisation in a religious setting.

I am an atheist and member of the British Humanist Association. As such I feel excluded from any ceremony which has a religious component or takes place in a specifically religious setting. This applies not only to Atheists but to people of all faiths other than Christianity. Even within that faith there are religious people who do not feel comfortable in an anglican setting.

The Albert Hall would be a less controversial setting though why all national celebrations have to be held in London I don't understand. For those of us, the majority of the population, who live outside London it would make more sense to choose somewhere like Birmingham in the centre of England. Alternately why not have regional celebrations which could involve people in a far more meaningful way.

The NHS doesn't need pomp and circumstance or religious ceremonies in order to pay tribute to an organisation which is appreciated and used by everyone in this country whatever their belief.

Yours faithfully,
Hazel Fuller