Two local doctors were invited to a special NHS Local Champion reception at 10 Downing Street last week.

The reception, hosted by the Secretary of State for Health & Social Care Steve Barclay, was to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NHS.

At the reception, local NHS champions from across the country come together to thank them for all their work over the past year.

Dr Alan Dow and Dr Heidrun Loose were the guests of Robert Largan MP.

Dr Dow is a former Chair of Tameside & Glossop NHS Clinical Commissioning Group but he is best known as the GP lead at Cottage Lane Surgery in Gamesley, where he serves one of the most deprived communities in the country.

Dr Loose is longest serving anaesthetist at Tameside Hospital.

Between the two High Peak based doctors, they have 67 years of combined service in the local health service.

Robert Largan MP said:

“I was delighted to be able to invite Dr Dow and Dr Loose to No. 10 Downing Street, to recognise their amazing contribution over many decades of public service.

“The NHS has saved my life twice. I will always defend it and fight to improve local services!”

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay said:

“The NHS has changed a lot over the last 75 years, Patients are 80% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease today than in 1948. Back then, the NHS had 144,000 members of staff – it now has 1.4 million. In 1948 it had a budget of £11 billion, it is now over £180 billion.

But two things haven’t changed. The amazing staff who provide high quality care for patients, and that it is free to the point of use. Those are the principles that we are all here to celebrate today.”