Your NHS: Seymour Fortescue, Chief Executive Health Education Authority

Chief Executive Health Education Authority
Congratulations to the NHS on 50 years of achievement. We at the Health Education Authority are proud to be part of it.

Since 1948 the NHS has been responsible for dramatic advances in many areas. Of particular interest to us, as health promoters rather than providers of care, have been the tremendous improvements we have seen in mother and child health, in the control of infectious diseases through immunisation, in reducing the incidence of smoking, and in the understanding, treatment and prevention of coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease.

By working more closely together, the many parts of the NHS will continue to build on the achievements of the whole. The internet has so much to offer health professionals everywhere in achieving better communications, with each other and with the public. May the NHS 50 website help pave the way, and may the next 50 years of the NHS be as full of technical advance, professionalism, reforming zeal, passion and compassion, as have been the past 50. Plus, we hope, an ever increasing emphasis on creating positive opportunities for health, alongside the prevention of disease.