"What utter bliss to live in a country which provides such excellent care"

I want to express my pride and joy in the NHS. I have been the beneficary of quite superlative care at my local James Cook hospital, following a stroke and repair to my cateroid artery - the latter very risky.

Thanks to the care I received including my GP and my loving and caring family, I am back to something like normal. During this stressful time I was not asked how much money I had or whether we had insurance. I was asked how I was, and if they could help me feel better.

What utter bliss to live in a country which provides such excellent care, no matter what your station in life. Others in my family have received similar levels of care, woe betide us all if we return to pre NHS levels of care which were often accompanied by fear.

Of course some in the service fall below our expectations - I could give a two page essay on that issue. So, whilst I cannot and should not influence you in telling it as it is, we should be careful to not throw the baby out with the bath water. We should always bear in mind that we have a right wing Government and a largely right wing press, who see it as their role in life to undermine the service. God help us if they succeed. There are lots of good stories out there, which need massive exposure. Please do your best.

Many thanks and god bless.