Dear NHS

A hundred celebrities and household names have come together to each write a story for a new book called Dear NHS, sharing their stories of our incredible national health service to say thank you in what has been one of the most challenging years in its history. This week I thought I'd write my own Dear NHS letter.

Dear NHS, 

I've been lucky so far in my life that I haven't needed you to save my life. Although of course, without you I probably wouldn't even be here. The majority of people born in the UK are helped into this world by the NHS and some need more help than others. I was awkward in the womb (not much has changed) and managed to get tangled up in my own umbilical cord- I was clumsy even before I was born. Had the NHS not been there with the right equipment and the right people then my story would have been over so quickly. 

Whilst I haven't had much call on the NHS in my lifetime, I recognise the wonders it's made to my family. My younger brother constantly needed minor operations when he was little and you were there. My Mum had pneumonia and when she went completely delirious you sent a doctor round who could provide the medication she badly needed. I've twice seen how amazing your paramedics are in person from my grandad suddenly having chest pain to my brother having a seizure- on both occasions, they calmly dealt with the problem and still managed to have time to speak to me to inform and reassure. When my grandad had cancer you calmly dealt with him once again, prolonging his life and happily going the extra mile to ensure an old man understood what was happening. Whenever someone I love has needed help you've been there to provide it. 


You've not needed to save my life but there are times when I have called upon you. The most absurd came when I was at university. I left my room in student accommodation when two of my housemates jumped out at me giving me a shock. I jumped back a bit, knocking a fire extinguisher off its hook onto the wall and onto my foot. By the next morning my foot was still in significant pain and I feared there may be damage to the bones. I hobbled down to the hospital, fortunately, a very short walk, and explained the situation. The nurse had a bemused look on her face and I have no doubt disapproved of the injury which she thought was alcohol-related- it wasn't but I could see why you'd think that. Nonetheless I was treated fairly and efficiently and my foot was X-rayed to show no major damage. 

That's the best thing about the NHS, the reassurance it brings. In many other countries in the world there would be a background worry of who is going to look after me if I get sick or injured and how the hell am I going to pay for it. It's so reassuring to have you there to deal with whatever medical issues I have in my life. 

There's one more thing I should thank you for and that's my voice. For most of my childhood, it was you who gave me speech therapy and helped me to talk properly so that I could actually be understood. What state would I be in now if you hadn't been there to provide that vital service for me? School was difficult enough but how much more challenging would it have been if I was still there struggling to say my 'S's and 'L's etc. I may have reached adulthood with speech difficulties and I can only begin to imagine how much harder life would be. 

Thank you NHS, for safely bringing me into this world, for looking after the ones I love and for giving me my voice.

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