I seriously doubt it, but the Guardian online has used part of my post on compassion in a round up of blogs as we approach the 60th Anniversary of the NHS. It is interesting, and this happens when I read papers I have written at work in the past as well as some of the academic essays I wrote for my masters, that sometimes you re-read a passage and feel pretty pleased with yourself.

My own organisation is celebrating the great diamond jubilee (I think 60 is diamond) by holding a family fun day. I hope it is successful, though have a good excuse for not going (really I do), because next weekend I will be in Spain. Those who work in the NHS, and my own trust in particular still struggle to feel valued, but I guess events like this one may help. The problem I have with the NHS right now, is wondering how much longer it will be fit for purpose and affordable. The trouble is that we are far more discerning than we were in 1948, we expect more from those who provide services for us, we know more about what we should be able to expect and it is much more expensive. We are often told through the media that there needs to be a public debate on a particular topic, but if there was ever an important subject to be informed about and to get talking to others about this is it. Meanwhile I and my colleagues, clinical people now working in management will continue to try to challenge services to prove to us that what they do is the best value and most appropriate for the needs of the patient. Free this treatment might be but quality and value are what are important. What is more, going back to the compassion debate, we need to value each other and be caring of everyone who comes into contact with us.