Former St Ives MP Andrew George and the Save Our NHS group went on a tour of West Cornwall hospitals and clinics to give a big thanks to staff on the 70th birthday of the NHS.

Andrew George, Lesley Brooke and Jennifer Paling visited Bolitho House, Bellair Clinic, West Cornwall Hospital and Edward Hain hospital.

The group met Edward Hain Hospital League of Friends Secretary Lynne Isaacs and hospital supporters Shirley Beck and Harry Isaacs but found the hospital closed.

The hospital's inpatient beds have been temporarily closed for over 2 years, but outpatient clinics have continued, but it seems the number of these has declined.

The National Health Service was launched on July 5, 1948 by then minister of health, Aneurin Bevan, with the ideal that good healthcare should be available to all, regardless of wealth.

To this day it works around three core principles: that it meet the needs of everyone, that it be free at the point of delivery, and that it be based on clinical need, not ability to pay.