"Treratment in A & E"

Thank you for the treatment you afforded me yesterday. It was given with skill, care and the most kind consideration I mentioned the time I spent serving in the Royal Air Force. In my view there is considerable similarity between that service and that provided by the NHS. For many people both appear to be an expensive luxury and, with the high costs involved, are open to easy media criticism and abuse. How things change when the need for help becomes closer and personal. I joined the RAF in 1940, at just such a time, just after the Battle of Britain. I was inspired by the example of “The Few” and the stirring speeches of Winston Churchill. My training then taught me about the importance of Service, Loyalty, Dedication and having an Aim to life. We faced a ruthless evil which had to be overcome. Sadly to do that involved unpleasant and abhorrent activity but there was no alternative. Similarly, the NHS is a large organisation which equally needs many loyal, skilled and dedicated people to fight the evils of ill health and the many perils to existence. But thankfully there is a great difference in the aims – yours is not to destroy but to heal and all of you do that in abundance. Our gratitude and thanks should be overwhelming; sadly it is often forgotten or overlooked. In publicity terms, the NHS suffers from the Shakespearian Caesar syndrome – “ The evil that men do lives after them ;the good is oft interred with their bones”. I wanted you to know that I am a great admirer of the NHS, am fully appreciated of the magnificent benefits we all enjoy and am deeply grateful to all of you serving with such loyalty, dedication and care.