The Unsung Heroes of the NHS: Why We Must Fight for Its Future

There’s a lot of chatter these days about the NHS. You might have heard in Parliament, read debates in newspapers, een passionate speeches on TV. Amidst the noise, one thing remains crystal clear: the NHS deserves our respect, protection, and support.

A National Treasure on Life Support

The NHS, our beloved National Health Service, is facing a crucial moment. We need to rally behind it, ensure it remains free at the point of service. The alternative—privatisation or a shift to insurance-based healthcare—would be a disaster for the millions.

Personal Encounters with an Overworked System

Hospitals can sometimes feel like places where you’re more likely to catch something than be cured. Yet, despite these fears, I was reminded recently that the NHS is a very precious resource. I fell ill with a fever. After 36 hours of suffering, I finally decided to get help. I called NHS 111, and I was advised to see my GP within two hours. Despite my doubts about getting an appointment so late in the day, my GP surgery, Cradley Surgery, pulled through.

The Heroes Behind the Scenes

The doctors and staff at my Surgery are nothing short of amazing.  Dr.Spruce went above and beyond to ensure I received the care I needed, even after hours, quickly diagnosed suspected appendicitis and sent me to Hereford City A&E with a referral letter.

Here’s where the reality of the NHS hit hard: a packed A&E with long waits, overworked staff, and patients from all walks of life, some just there because they have no where else to go due to social care problems or mental health system failures. The Indian Sikh probably with no where else to go, Male middle class cycling ‘mamil’ with knee damage, Sophie, young mum 6 hours ‘MS Hugs’ pain for MRIs,  Chris with ankle tatoos and swelling, Young teenager blood everywhere from head injury, Young woman in pain enduring shallow breathing, young autistic Asian teen in wheelchair with Broken ankle,

older woman with chest pains, Big ol farmer type, Couple with middle aged neurodivergent adult son who’d banged head, these were a small sample of the hundreds and thousands visiting A&E today.

Despite the chaos, the dedication and care provided by staff were unwavering. From Angelina, the triage nurse, to Rebecca from Coventry, who monitored everyone’s vitals with a mix of empathy and authority, the staff displayed levels of truly inspiring commitment. The receptionists, Rochelle who took bloods in corridor, Dr Mohammed Ibrahim the medical expert, Sian, another nurse, the Italian male senior nurse and his Sri Lankan colleague steering beds in the corridor to CT scanning, team of 4 Asian nurses taking over shifts at 7.30am, Sodexocare contractors handling food and all cleaning services (I may have seen around 25 staff for them.  All privatised staff so that’s already happening). The medical team of 5, one a consultant, two surgeons and their two administrators, Roger a hospital porter of 25 years, three anaesthetists, the nurses that attended me and took blood pressure and checked my drip as I recovered from surgery, Holly, the Irish lead nurse responsible for admitting me to the ward. The nurses on the ward who were exceptional, friendly, kind, disciplined and busy. Molly who had self proclaimed “Baby Brain” on account of being pregnant, Rochore who me meds, Ryanne, who probably used to be know as Ryan, and was Philippino, (probably the best caring nurse I have ever encountered so kind, thoughtful, attentive, patient and understanding), They all kept going all through the nightshift relentlessly.  The next morning Prabitha, Muriel and a Portugese nurse (not sure of name) a totally global team.  I saw and came into contact with just a fraction of these people and my visit is just one of over a million contacts per day, every day! I estimate that the total bill for all my care if this was in the USA would have been approx £32,550! 

A Call for Sustainable Funding

As I navigated crowded corridors, witnessing tireless efforts of staff, experienced highs and lows of NHS, it became clear that this system, though flawed, is a lifeline for many. The NHS is on its own life support, desperately needing sustainable funding and protection form abuse.  The research from the British Medical Journal indicating that unnecessary trips to A&E are partly due to NHS 111’s risk-averse nature only underscores the need for more resources and better management and respect from patients.

The Bigger Picture

The general election is a crucial moment for the NHS. Whoever wins must prioritise the health service, alongside other critical areas like social care, mental health, education, obesity, diabetes, dependent drug and alcohol use, housing, youth work, and migration. Let’s keep this life-saving machine running, not just for us, but for future generations.

It’s a tall order, but necessary. Our leaders must resist the temptation to privatise or shift to an insurance-based model, which both major parties are currently discussing.

Think and Act

To the politicians: think carefully about your decisions. To the voters: remember the importance of the NHS when you cast your ballot. It’s not just a service; it’s a lifeline for millions, including the doctors, nurses, and support staff who work tirelessly to keep us healthy.

We heralded frontline workers during the pandemic, but their battle continues every day. Let’s ensure they have the resources to keep doing their incredible work. Fully fund the NHS, resist calls for privatisation, and keep it free at the point of access. It’s a national treasure worth fighting for, now and always.