The wedge's end

Today I had the last appointment of the year with a nice nurse at our GP practice - and now I can hear! I've spent the festive season in a cloud of unhearing because of wax in my right ear. It's been a good experience, in a way, in increasing my empathy with the many who are "hard of hearing". It's extraordinary how stereophonic hearing enables one to pick out conversation against background chatter. It was hard for our guests, however, as Jane tells me my speech was more garbled than normal! (Correction: it was affected.)

So I'm very grateful to Holly and my practice who still provide this service. It's not complicated of course. Just a matter of lubricating the lughole with olive oil for a week and then a visit to the professional to flush it out in five minutes. All free on the NHS. Apparently, however, in many places this simple procedure is not funded anymore. I'm told that to get your ears syringed in Oxford would cost you £70-80 - unless of course you go to A&E and have three-month wait.... And what about that other common condition, varicose veins? Oh no, you can't get them dealt with on the NHS anymore. Wait until they're open and weeping, and then we'll do them. Otherwise go private and pay £1000.

So much for the £ billions for the NHS the government trumpets so loudly! (By the way, have you noticed that their stock response to any awkward question is not to answer it but to spout some large monetary figure which is meant to impress us? And naturally it sounds impressive to us ordinary tax-paying mortals, not being among the 1,826 billionaires in the world [i.e. with wealth of over $1000 million].)

So much for the founding principle of giving treatment free at the point of use! Yes, I know it's already been eroded at the edges, with prescription charges, dental charges, road accident charges and so on. And we already see the negative effects, with people self-medicating and neglecting their dental care until it's too late. But it is clear that, whether by intention or not, the effect of government policies is to shrink further free NHS treatment.

Which leaves one perplexing question to answer. What is happening to the £ billions allegedly being poured into our National Health Service? Is it being spent on hugely expensive experimental operations, or drug regimes with hugely costly pharmaceuticals? Or on paying the interest on the legacy of foolish public/private partnership initiatives? Or on administrators called in to sort out yet more doctrinaire reorganisation? Or prodigally buying in agency staff because we don't pay those we have the wage they deserve? Or is it simply because cantankerous old crocks like me are surviving too long and costing too much?

Thank you from the choir

One encouraging piece of news on Christmas Eve concerned the number one selling song in the Christmas charts. Here's what two of the Greenwich and Lewisham NHS choir had to say about the news that they had topped the charts; they're a physio and a doctor: Thank you from the choir. I think they're right, that their popularity reflected how much the NHS and NHS staff are appreciated and loved. The NHS is one of the best things about this country.

The NHS Choir sings "A Bridge over you"

And here's the song itself - which even cantankerous old crocks can enjoy: The NHS Choir sings "A Bridge over you".  The choir's aim was to support the hard work done by doctors, nurses, midwives and many others in the NHS, with proceeds set to be donated to a selection of charities including Carers UK and mental health charity Mind. 

At the end of 2015, I'm going to say a huge thank you to everyone in the NHS. I know you're in it for the last of those three initials - and you ought to know that 99.9% of us appreciate the long hours you work and the awesome skill and care you show us. 

Finally, looking forward to 2016, I hope and trust that the wedge will not be pushed in any further, and that the government will give you the recognition and reward you totally deserve. Happy New Year.