EDM 1606: 200 year anniversary of the North Devon Infirmary

That this House celebrates 200 years since the construction of the North Devon Infirmary, North Devon's first public hospital, famously Supported by Voluntary Contributions and the predecessor of North Devon District Hospital; recognises that the latter has now been in place since 1978, supports over 160,000 people across Devon and Cornwall, and is itself long overdue for investment to modernise its surgical and critical care infrastructure; and reaffirms the founding principle of the National Health Service, of public healthcare available to everyone, supported by taxpayers and free at the point of use, which will relieve one's money worries in time of illness.