Dad Shares Heartbreaking Photo Of Premature Son In Support Of NHS “Miracle Workers” After Jeremy Hunt Criticism

Warning: Some viewers may find the following image upsetting.

A touching image of a three-hour-old premature baby has been shared by a father, in support of all of the work the NHS do. Michael Simpson, from Boston in Lincolnshire, posted the image of his son on his Facebook page with a message directed at Jeremy Hunt.

The health secretary verbally attacked NHS staff over the weekend, which angered Simpson into telling his story in support of all of the medical professionals who have, and are still, looking after his baby.

Simpson’s son JJ was born 16 weeks early and weighed just 1lb 90z. Thanks to the NHS staff at Nottingham City Hospital’s neonatal unit, who Simpson has dubbed “miracle workers”, his son beat the odds and survived – but is still continuing to fight for his life three months later.

“Where are you today Jeremy Hunt (health secretary)?,” Simpson captioned the image, which he uploaded on July 19.  

“Bet you’re not at work! Well there are numerous amazing NHS staff, consultants, doctors and nurses amongst others that are looking after my son and millions of others at weekends and out of hours. Get a grip and support them rather than moaning that they don’t work weekends. Please like and share this post if you support our amazing NHS staff.”

His partner, Carla Walker, also showed her support for the NHS. “NHS are overworked and underpaid they are miracle workers - that prat needs to give them a break!,” she commented on Simpson’s post.

The photo has been shared over 4,500 times and received attention all over the UK, shocking Simpson and Walker. “Didn’t realise how much of an impact this would have,” Simpson wrote on his Facebook wall yesterday, July 20.

“Thank you to everyone who is sharing this, without the doctors and nurses who have worked tirelessly around the clock seven days a week, our precious son wouldn’t even be here. NHS staff, you will always hold a special place in our hearts.”

The new parents travel 120 miles a day to see their son in hospital, who is battling chronic lung disease. Despite how much the situation “hurts” Simpson, he says he was “just so angry reading about Jeremy Hunt’s comments that he had to do something.”

“On a weekend, he is probably sitting at home, enjoying time with his family,” the dad told the Mirror. “And he’s just been given a £7,000 pay rise – it disgusts me. NHS staff have saved my son’s life that many times over the last 12 weeks I’ve lost count.”

Hunt’s threat to enforce a seven day contract have, unsurprisingly, led to an outrage on social media. NHS staff has been taking to Twitter using the hashtag #ImInWorkJeremy to post images of themselves on wards throughout the weekend to prove how wrong the health secretary is.

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