Getting old - the NHS!

Being of a certain age now (born in 1939) I am beginning to need to make use of the National Health Service a bit more often than in the past but I do feel guilty that I'm taking a place away from someone else who needs it more.

Then I think back to 1947/48, just after the austerity of the second world war, when a free health service was announced.  I can remember my parents being excited and, I guess, relieved at the time at the thought that all the health needs of a diminished nation, who had been on a depleted diet for 6 or 7 years would be taken care of for an individual's lifetime.

 

There wasn't a thought that we should protect ourselves for the future by taking out health insurance in addition to paying a tax via our national insurance contributions to cover our future health needs. That was how things were at the time so I must stop feeling guilty if I am concerned about a health issue and just use the facility that was given to me, aged 8/9.

 

Things have changed so much since 1948.  With a hugely increased population in the country and the NHS struggling to cope with the changing health issues of that population, health insurance will become the norm for the younger generation. 

 

I was probably about 5 or 6 in this photo .... and, yes, I did have blonde curls!

 

 

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