The NHS. It is both the sacred cow and bête noire of this country, the NHS was 63 this year. 63 years of making sure that those who needed medical attention received it. I don’t know if you have watched Michael Moore’s Sicko where he paints it as a halcyon world, where it is nothing but rainbows and cures, which it might not be, but it is certainly something to be proud of.

We may think to ourselves that it is awful, and home to doctors or nurses who don’t care, run by bureaucrats who care for nothing but money, but I don’t think that is true. Various members of my family have been in hospital numerous times, for operations, procedures, care, the works, and I have never been anything but astounded by their care and attention. Also, I could never do their job, so all credit to them.

My dad is here, alive, and being a grandfather to my nephew because of the NHS. Not many people thought he would get to see that, especially himself, and yet he is. I remember the relationship he had with his old heart consultant. He had been with my father pretty much from the start in the 70s, and his name was Dr Grey.  When my sister got into Cambridge, he was as proud as my dad I think, and every year they would exchange cards.

I remember the day Dr Grey passed away, my father was visibly shaken. Ironically for a heart consultant, he had a heart attack whilst skiing. My father, who had been shepherded, who got his operation after Dr Grey wrote personally to Harefield hospital demanding it, was gone, and it was understandable why my dad took it to heart. This was the NHS, a wholly utilitarian enterprise ensuring the best it could for its patients.

I am not saying it doesn’t make mistakes, and isn't run badly. But to knock it, to say that all of it would be better in Private hands is ridiculous. All you have to do is look to the United States where health care is in the top 5 businesses in the country. Private medical  insurance companies generate huge amounts of money, billions of dollars, from people to make sure they get care when sick. And even when they are sick, they are made to jump through hoops to get the money. The fact is that if you don’t have medical insurance, if you develop a chronic disease, it will destroy you. Either through financial ruin, or bodily destruction. Again, I point you to the film Sicko. 

Can you imagine a NHS where you are not seen because you can’t afford to pay. I know the US is home of people who hate socialism. But you can’t blanket cover areas of political doctrine just because it is from a political ideal you dislike. To anyone who argues and lobbies for these insurance companies, my simple response is this: You would rather poor people who can’t afford insurance die?

Oh no, I don’t mean that, I think they should get health care through schemes etc…

Is that fair on those who can afford health care? Why can’t they get stuff through those schemes?

That kind of argument could go on for ages, and in circles. Basically health care should be universal, and call me a hippy for it. My dad would be destitute if he lived in the states with his condition. So thank god we live in the UK.

Andrew Lansley is bringing in reforms to the NHS, to open it up to the private sector, who would be paid by central government. What impact will this have? It would be quite easy for these private care trusts to take on simple problems and health care issues and leave the epilepsy and diabetes care to state run trusts. That way their numbers will always look good because they deal in sprained ankles and not post-stroke rehabilitation. They then get more money, and the Tories get to prove that private run health care is the future.

For more from people who work within the NHS, and who know what they are talking about,  follow the link below.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/video/2011/jul/05/nhs-staff-andrew-lansley-reforms-video

- Anand