Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Anniversary, Attitude & Aptitude, Comment, Confidence, Culture, Death, Emotion, Empathy, England, Happiness, Health, History, Insight, NHS, Otis, Parents, Paul, Social Divide
The NHS is 70 years old this year.
While that is a remarkable age, it blows my mind there was a time when it didn’t exist.
The story of its foundation is a remarkable one … one filled with foresight, fight and a governments desire to raise the standards, dreams and potential of an entire nation.
Whether we will ever see something of such audacious good from a government anywhere in the World is debatable.
Obamacare may have come close, but thanks to America’s blinkered fear of socialism [despite having one FBI for example], it means its potential has been destroyed by that criminal, also known as The President of the United States of America.
And all the Republican sheep.
But back to the NHS.
Despite having not lived in England for 24+ years, it’s been a quiet partner throughout my life.
Helping me deal with some of the best and worst times of my life.
And even though there was a time I grew to despise walking along the corridors of the QMC hospital in Nottingham, I was always grateful for it … because it ensured the people I loved weren’t allowed to fall through the cracks at their greatest hour of need.
The NHS has saved my parents life, saved my sight, looked after my dear Paul when he’s undertaken acts of complete stupidity, taken care of my son when he came down with an illness [despite not yet having a British passport] and ensured my parents were given dignity in their final days … it is the single most important and valuable institution the UK has.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have lived all around the World and while there have been a number of occasions where I have needed the urgent and serious attention of Nurses and Doctors, I’ve paid heavily for that service.
Of course I’m grateful for all they did for me – they were excellent – but I was also in a privileged position where I could afford to pay for it which is why the NHS is so important because the reality is, everyone deserves the right to being looked after, not just those with a healthy bank balance.
Countless UK governments have tried to undermine or strip away the NHS … seemingly ignorant to the fact it’s one of the few things that is the envy of the World and should be treasured, not pillaged.
So to everyone who has ever worked for or fought for the NHS, thank you.
You deserve so much more than just a nations gratitude.
13 Comments
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One of the greatest institutions ever created. Even in its underfunded state it continues to impress.
Comment by George August 7, 2018 @ 6:24 amYep. I totally agree … but it shouldn’t be underfunded and that drives me mad.
Comment by Rob August 7, 2018 @ 9:02 ambest fucking thing a government has ever done.
Comment by andy@cynic August 7, 2018 @ 6:33 amYep. Well, that and democracy … though democracy is arguably in a worst state than the NHS.
Comment by Rob August 7, 2018 @ 9:02 amwhen fuckers slag off the nhs, i want to fucking smash them in the face. to be that good despite all the shit it faces is better than anyone else could pull off. it deserves a fuckload more but the fucking minimum is respect.
Comment by andy@cynic August 7, 2018 @ 6:35 amObamacare may have had its problems but it was still better than the alternative. Rich white guys deciding it needs killing is everything wrong with modern government.
Comment by DH August 7, 2018 @ 6:55 amAlso, unless you have top tier medical insurance, American healthcare is still not as efficient as the NHS.
Comment by DH August 7, 2018 @ 6:55 amThe NHS is a phenomenal institution. Well said Robert.
Comment by Lee Hill August 7, 2018 @ 7:24 amThe NHS is one of the reasons I felt confident to move to the UK in the early 2000s. It was my first foreign move and I didn’t know what I was doing and knowing the NHS was there if anything went wrong with my health was a major plus.
Comment by Pete August 7, 2018 @ 7:41 amHaving had to pay a huge amount of money for health insurance in the countries I’ve lived outside of the UK, I totally get what you mean. I was fortunate I could cover the cost but for many others, they were left to fend for themselves and that is a bloody crime as far as I’m concerned.
Comment by Rob August 7, 2018 @ 9:03 amif wei didnt have great health insurance, my daughter would have died. that fucking simple. money should never be the fucking deciding factor between life or death and yet those republican fucks are fine with it. wankers.
Comment by andy@cynic August 7, 2018 @ 9:27 amBrilliantly said.
Comment by Rob August 7, 2018 @ 1:33 pmSadly the British don’t deserve or appreciate it. There’s a big difference between what they say in surveys and how they behave.
Comment by John August 7, 2018 @ 10:28 am