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So the NHS is 60 years old this weekend.
Apparently, in the summer of 1948 every household received a leaflet explaining the new NHS. It said: “Your new National Health Service begins on 5th July. What is it? How do you get it? It will provide you with all medical, dental, and nursing care. Everyone, rich or poor, man, woman or child—can use it. There are no charges except for a few special items. There are no insurance qualifications. But it is not a charity You are all paying for it, mainly as taxpayers, and it will relieve your money worries in time of illness.”
What an amazing national achievement is the NHS. Of course there’s stuff wrong with it – but none of it is terminal. I hear staff are demoralised, but people have always complained like that. What is amazing is the commitment of so many to the enterprise – doctors, nurses, researchers, admin staff and ancillary staff.