THE first baby born in the NHS has today called for children to be taught about the “national treasure” as she worries for its future on her birthday.

At a minute past midnight on July 5 1948, Aneira “Nye” Thomas became the first baby born in the NHS at Amman Valley Hospital in Wales.

Ms Thomas, who was named after the service’s founder Aneurin Bevan, said: “The NHS touches all our lives and we’re all guilty of taking it for granted.

“In Wales, we don’t pay for prescriptions and sometimes I’m standing in a chemist and people are complaining about a wait, and I feel like screaming: ‘do you realise how lucky we are’?”

Ms Thomas spoke about her mother’s pride in having the first baby born in the NHS and remembered “hiding behind her skirt when she would say: ‘This is Nye, my national health baby’.”

She also said that young people need more education so that they do not take the NHS for granted and should start from an early age, in primary school.

“The NHS is our national treasure. It was there for me the day I was born and will be there for me when I leave this world. It is our safety net.”

Health minister Elunid Morgan wished the NHS a happy anniversary and thanked health and care staff for their hard work and dedication.

She told the Senedd that Aneurin Bevan would be astounded to see how the service he started 75 years ago has evolved into a 21st century NHS.

“Between 1948 and 2021 over two-and-three-quarter million babies were born in Wales. The average UK life expectancy for a female has increased from 70 years in 1948 to nearly 83 today.

“A baby girl born in 2020 can expect to live on average to the age of 90.”

Ms Morgan quoted Bevan when he said “the NHS will last as long as there are folk left with faith to fight for it” and pledged to “continue to fight for the health and care services we need and want for the future.”