NHS

I have a lot to thank the NHS for and will be forever grateful that we have access to such a service- they have saved my dad's life twice in the last 10 weeks and although things have changed a lot for him I am so glad for the NHS or today I would be telling a different story

If my parents had become ill just a year before they did, in 1949, (one needing emergency surgery, the other involved in a serious accident) they would not have lived and of course I would not be here. Any medical treatment would have been from the poor peoples hospital insurance schemes, limited scope, and far inferior to any private medical attention prior to the NHS. They had not had NHS in their youth, and people were afraid to be ill, as they could not afford the doctor, the dentist, or to have eye tests and hearing aids. Women could not have maternity care, and the midwife was often a local woman who had not had training, other than being present at the labour and births of neighbours.
I was born in an NHS hospital, as were my siblings, care free of charge. Since then, I have had ailments attended to, again free of charge. I have had five major surgical procedures, without which I would not still be alive. I have lost count of the minor surgeries. I gave birth to children with NHS care. I can see a GP without wondering how I will pay. I have had accidents and needed to travel by ambulance, again not worrying about how I would be able to pay. I have probably forgotten lots of the other benefits I have had from NHS. I did work for the NHS for a few years. Some members of my family still do.
Don't get me wrong. I have had cause to feel aggrieved by some of the people I have encountered. I have also sat with loved ones in A&E waiting for hours to be attended to, and wondering what the heck was going on, and despairing at the poor quality of the facilities. I have had issues with the way some NHS staff have behaved, spoken to me, or treated me. That is a minority, though. I have also seen, and been on the receiving end of some dreadful abuse by patients. The majority of staff work much harder and stay beyond shift end time later than they ought. Some of their patients are rude and belligerent.
What often strikes me when I am having negative thoughts about the NHS is that I haven't needed to treck barefoot through desert, for days on end, carrying a child on my back, to camp outside a ramshackle building waiting for the remote chance that someone with some scant medical knowledge will have the scarce resources to offer the chance of some relief of suffering.
The NHS is in need of rescue. It would be a travesty if it is allowed to wither and die. Already we have privatisation of some of the services, and a postcode lottery for some none emergency treatments. It does need a thorough overhaul. That costs money. I would be willing to be taxed more, as long as the revenue was ringfenced and used to fix the problems within the NHS. I wonder how many more would agree to being taxed more for this purpose? We have to keep it available for all in need. Sadly, I can't imagine any of the current politicians have the knowledge and courage to manage to sort it.

Well, funnily enough, I have spent today visiting a relative who is in hospital about 450 miles from his home (and quite a long way from mine, too, but that's neither here nor there). Aside from the food, ease of use of the wifi (free there, which it certainly isn't in my area), and the cost of his TV package, he had nothing but praise for the care he has received at a very traumatic time for him.

The hospital is fairly new, immaculate, in the areas I visited, and the staff helpful, once I was face to face.

As I have mentioned many times before, having been saved from an early demise several times during my life, and having witnessed the impact of a privately funded health care system, where people regularly have to resort to begging outside supermarkets, in an effort to fund vital surgery (not just the locals either!).

Even there, as Brits, we are very fortunate to be able to take a 40 minute flight, or sail a few hours to a French overseas territory to "enjoy" reciprocal medical services, under the EHIC system (even though Europe is a a looooong way from these places).

Just, how lucky are we? Yes, the NHS is significantly underfunded and in many places very tired indeed, but it is a fantastic resource. I'd be happy to pay an increase level of taxation to hang onto it, without a blink of an eye.

@connie104 - I really do hope your husband makes a quick and full recovery and can be at home with you asap.