Your NHS
I owe my life to the NHS, as I had breast cancer in 1996. I think it is one of the greatest attributes to our country, regardless of how much money we have, everyone is treated the same and without it I think our country would suffer greatly. The NHS has been an institution and should remain so without it becoming a business.Allison W
I now work for a local council but I started life in the regular Army. I was injured during service and had to have my left knee reconstructed and was discharged because of this reason. Since then I have depended on the NHS to review my knee condition which I now have in both knees. The NHS is a show case for the world of what public health care should be, cuts in health are not the answer.
Willaim M
The NHS means to me a universal health 'safety-net' free at point of delivery. When my charity parachute jump on 19/3/1994 went wrong I ended up with a triple break to my left ankle. It was the local NHS at Horton General hospital in Banbury that immediately provided me with the medical care I needed. I would not have been able to afford the operation to insert two titanium pins in my ankle or the after-care rehabilitation I received at my local hospital. I'm really grateful that the NHS delivered wonderful care in my time of need. With the savage cuts to the NHS I believe that the provision of such a great service will be lost or severely curtailed. It's much easier to destroy a great service than create and sustain it.
Taiwo A
Cutting the NHS will be cutting people's lives.
Perry C
The NHS is one of the best things in this country. We all greatly rely on it. I pay for private dental care because I cannot find an NHS dentist near me. Governments should not be allowed to attack the NHS in this way any further. Governments cannot have it both ways - we all pay National Insurance, therefore we should be looked after.
Helen L
Born (1955) in the NHS, my healthcare has been publicly delivered throughout my life - when I needed it the NHS gave me great care. I am deeply concerned at the growing "marketisation" of the NHS, a service run for private profit will always put profits - not patients - first. Keep our NHS public!
Tim H
I work for NHS and I also have various medical problems which I need help with and the NHS have always provided with good support - I am worried that this won't happen anymore or at least it will take a lot longer to get the help I need or my family should they need it.
Kerry C
In the last ten years the NHS has saved my life twice. At the turn of the century I was given a double bypass to cure Angina and blocked arteries. This gave me my life back and I was able to get back to playing football and all the other energetic pastimes I enjoyed. Five years later I was diagnosed with a very severe form of lung cancer and because it was diagnosed early the NHS was able to aggressively attack and eventually stop the growth through a mixture of radio and chemotherapy. I would not be here today if it was not for the NHS.
Danny G
In the past week my elderly father has had life saving heart surgery at my local NHS hospital, and my two year old son was admitted to A&E with an illness my GP could not diagnose. In both cases the ability, skill and professionalism shown by staff now means both my father and son are recovering and well. Cuts to the NHS are not only avoidable- they are completely unforgiveable.
Amanda R
I am very concerned that the coalition intends to wash its hands of responsibility of NHS delivery by handing over £80bn to GPs. It is simply not acceptable to take these massive risks with our NHS, particularly after so much effort has gone into making the service as fair as possible through the creation of NIHCE and the PCT infrastructure. I am very concerned for the future of the NHS and its fair distribution of health care.
Michael S
My son had his life saved by the swift action of the NHS discovering a serious illness which plagued him from birth and he is now a happy four year old at school with his illness under control - with the cuts to the NHS will children go undiagnosed with serious illness.
Paul S
The money spent on the NHS in recent years has not been wasted as I keep on hearing. I remember the bad old years when if an MRI scan or an operation was needed there were 2 year+ waiting lists. Those waiting lists appear to have become mostly a thing of the past. I DO NOT want them back! My daughter is ill and needs regular and sometimes urgent consultations. The NHS needs even more money spending so that ALL waiting lists are cut, the public get the best most appropriate treatment.
Linda P
I have worked for the NHS for 14 years. I love my job and the invaluable services the NHS provides to patients and the community in general. I met my husband and have made many friends while working for the NHS. It is an amazing organisation and it would be devastating to see it placed in the hands of corporate profiteers.
Laura W
Access to free and local healthcare is essential to me and my family. From the birth of my 3 children to the frequent treatment of my son who has acute asthma and has been a regular visitor to the hospital children's ward. I had skin cancer earlier this year and it was treated quickly and effectively in a professional and friendly manner. As a single working mother of 3 sons I could not afford to pay for these services from my own earnings and very much rely on the NHS being available and free of charge. It is an excellent service full of very talented and friendly staff and to change it or dismantle it any way now would be extremely neglectful and very short-sighted. Save our NHS.
Kate T
I was treated for breast cancer and had the most amazing care. Within 10 days of being diagnosed I was operated on I had six months chemotherapy, and my after care has been tremendous. Ten years on I remain a testimony to the NHS. I am one of the hundreds of thousands of people who owe our lives to the NHS. I am a passionate advocate of it and will fight to save it. Keep up this campaign and enable people to live.
Carol R
The NHS is a well run organisation with an extremely dedicated and professional approach to patient care. I believe it is the public right to have access to a National Health Service. Clerical, administrative and secretarial staff together with nursing staff are imperative to the efficient running of the national health service. These present times are difficult enough without jeopardising the facility of a public service that is essential to the middle class people. Those fortunate enough to be able to afford private health care have this option already so leave joe public to be cared for by the professional NHS.
Jayne R
Only two months ago I had to spend a day in hospital. The staff was great, but already run off their feet. If there are cuts I feel they will not be able to cope, and the standard will drop.
Stephen H
I have always had excellent service from the NHS especially my local surgery where I have easy access to my doctor. I don't want private firms eager for profit to eat into the costs of running this superb service.
Derrick B
My daughter has a rare disability. In an 'economic' health system it would not be 'worth' researching her condition and we couldn't afford insurance as I was her carer when she was young. She may not be alive today if not for the NHS.
Carol W
I have ME and need support to help me manage my illness and keep me at work. If these services are taken away from me I am not sure how I can cope. It is only through their help and support that I have been able to get back to full time employment, but I am far from being whole. I have no life outside work as I have no energy. It takes very little to make me collapse and not be able to move. I am afraid that without the wonderful people supporting me, I would end up in bed and not able to get up. Please don't take these wonderful people away from the excellent work they do. I am not speaking just for myself. There are many ME sufferers - and many of them are in a worse situation than I am. There is already so little money put into researching the illness, that to leave us without support from the people who help us control the illness would be extremely cruel.
Susan G
Had an operation on my hand recently at the Newcastle RVI. The surgery was skilfully carried out and went well for me. Although it was obvious that the nursing staff were under pressure, nothing seemed to be too much trouble. I even got extra tea and toast when I requested it. I am very grateful to everyone concerned.
John W
We love the NHS. We never forget and we never forgive those who try to damage our countries most precious asset.
Neil W
I had appendicitis this may, and was treated in Newcastle's RVI; Within a couple of hours of entering the hospital I was having my appendix removed, and the next home I was discharged. The treatment couldn't have been better. I find the thought of living in a country where treatment like this might be limited, or is part of a profit-making enterprise, not only sickening but scary.
Nicholas M
When we really need it, there won't be enough staff to look after us as well as services.
Dipti S
Without the NHS, my father would have died ten years ago. Now, he is healthier than ever and living life to the full.
Glyn W
I am very worried about the return of the postcode lottery now that the government have scrapped l the targets and 'NICE'.
Kate B
- Add your story
- Working in health? Join UNISON
< Prev | Next >
