A councillor has revealed how two of her family owe their lives to the NHS.

Ann Napier, 42, speaking during the organisation's 70th anniversary month, has told of how both her baby son Hamish and husband Stuart were saved.

She spoke shortly before she and colleagues at Dover and Deal Labour Party handed an NHS birthday card to hospital workers.

She says: "The incredible staff in the NHS saved the lives of both my husband and son, and safely delivered my four children.

" I will always be indebted to them.

"Now my daughter plans to go to university next year to study nursing.

"We are very proud that she has chosen to follow in the footsteps of these incredibly selfless people."

Hamish spent a week, as a four-month-old baby, on life support at Ashford's William Harvey Hospital in 2004.

When he fell seriously ill at home an ambulance crew arrived and resusciated him.

In hospital he was diagnosed with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which infects the lungs and breathing passages.

He was treated and made a full recovery.

Stuart Napier, now 49, had acute pancreatitis in 2015, caused by a gallstone leading to the pancreas attacking itself.

From that he suffered multiple organ failure.

He spent two months on life support, during which time he was transported to the Royal London Hospital where he underwent several life-saving operations.

He was then brought to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford to recuperate.

Cllr Napier, ward district councillor for Dover's Maxton, Elms Vale and Priory, said: "It was a very traumatic for us as a family. But my husband is alive and kicking.

"The staff at the William Harvey were incredibly supportive and went beyond the call of duty to save him and to support us as a family. I will never forget them."

Cllr Ann Napier helped collect 200 residents' signatures for the card in Dover and Deal town centres and was at the its presentation.

Also delivering the card to Buckland Hospital in Dover was the area's ward district and town councillor Ian Palmer.

Cllr Palmer, now Dover deputy mayor, believes he also owes a great debt to the NHS after his treatment for life-changing injuries.

In 2009, while working as a prison officer at Dover Immigration Removal Centre, he fell as he rushed to deal with a violent incident.

He slipped on oil on a manhole cover and ended up in a pothole, rupturing two spinal discs.

He underwent surgery but his condition worsened until he needed a wheelchair.

Cllr Palmer says: He said:“From collecting signatures and messages on the giant card and sharing stories to listening to moving recollections from staff, it has been a rollercoaster of a journey to complete this task.

"Like so many people the NHS has been an integral part of my life, it has always been with me and I couldn't imagine being without it. I will be forever grateful too, the doctors and nurses have saved my life."

The card, plus chocolates and flowers, were presented to staff by Charlotte Cornell, Labour prospective Parliamentary candidate for the area.

This had been part of a nationwide week of celebrations for the National Health Service.

It had been created on July 5th 1948 by Labour Health minister Aneurin Bevan, to provide free healthcare at the point of need.

Mrs Cornell said: “It was an honour to deliver the cards signed by the community to the hard-working staff at the Buckland Hospital. Reading peoples' messages of thanks with the nurses was a very moving and humbling experience.”

One staff member, Elaine Morris, said: “We were so surprised and delighted.

"It’s lovely to be appreciated because it doesn’t normally happen.”

The birthday card, produced by the Labour Party, was chosen following a nationwide online competition.

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ANN NAPIER EXPERIENCE AND IAN PALMER - WHO ONLY RUSHED