The NHS In England

In the UK, and in particular England, there is a lot of criticism at the moment for how the National Health Service works, or as some would say how it doesn't work. We have threatened partial strikes by doctors, cut backs by government in some areas of the service, and in general there is a widespread notion that the service is failing and not as good as it should be.

I am here to tell you 'they are wrong'. Just my opinion, but one based on various incidents in recent years and the latest one this morning.

My dear wife had a stroke some years ago. Since then she has had TIAs and a mini stroke. Overall her recovery has been good and full, but obviously it is something we are both conscious of and keep an eye open for any symptoms.

This morning a neighbour who was sat drinking tea with my wife, called upstairs to where I was fiddling with something on the computer. I rushed downstairs and found her slumped in an armchair. Her colour was not good, she was breathing very shallowly and her eyes were closed or flickering open when I took her hand or spoke to her. I telephoned for an ambulance and within four minutes a paramedic was knocking at our front door. 

He gave her a thorough examination. ECG, temperature, blood levels, blood pressuer etc. After about thirty minutes my wife's condition had significantly improved. Her colour was back, her eyes open and she was speaking without slurring her words. She felt a lot better and looked better sa well. We breathed a sigh of relief.

Up to that point the paramedic had been saying that she should go to hospital, but we both thought that was now not necessary as her condition had improved. He accepted what we said but telephoned a doctor attached to the ambulance service and related what had happened. The doctor agreed with us but said she had to make an appointment with her own doctor to be checked over in a day or so.

The paramedic (Peter) was a great guy. He was well trained, competent and confident in what he was doing. The equipment he carried was first class as was his overall treatment of my wife. She, and I, live to fight another day.

So, for those knockers of the NHS, and for those who say that service is yet another left wing commie system, I would simply say. If you haven't tried it, don't know it. The service in the UK has it's faults from time to time, but in general my feeling is very much the same as that of my wife. She lived for 23 years in South Africa and had a young child who had from time to time go to hospital, once with a snake bite. If she had not had private medical insurance the boy would have died. 

The UK NHS is a world class service. If you doubt that your country should have one, come and have a look at ours. It cannot easily be beaten.