The national health service’s 70th birthday last year was the perfect opportunity to reflect on this unique institution. From a commemorative service at Westminster Abbey to milestone parkruns across the country, everyone seemed keen to join the party. It was yet another reminder of the special place it holds in the nation’s heart, as poignant as the NHS segment in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. Who can forget the rollerskating nurses and child ‘patients’ bouncing on hospital beds?
