THE National Health Service’s 70th birthday is turning into an extravaganza. The government has given the service a £25bn ($33bn) present to mark the anniversary, which falls on July 5th. The BBC broadcasts daily encomiums to the wonders of free health care. Jeremy Corbyn, Labour’s leader, wore a large badge celebrating the NHS’s birthday at prime minister’s question time.
The NHS is the most popular institution in the country. In a survey by Ipsos MORI last year, 77% of respondents believed that it should be maintained in its current form and 91% supported its founding principles, that health care should be free at the point of delivery and funded by general taxation.
It is so popular because it is more than just a public service. It is also an embodiment of British values at their best: compassion and decency; waiting in line rather than barging ahead; being part of a national community rather than a collection of self-seeking atoms. These values were central to Britain’s...Continue reading
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