THE NHS IS SEVENTY (weekly poem)

THE NHS IS SEVENTY

The National Health Service was born on the 5/7/1948.

The NHS is Seventy,

It has survived this long;

Despite the Government's attempt,

To run it ‘for a song’.

To those believing that reforms,

Can't be put in reverse;

The NHS appears to have,

An everlasting curse.

All Governments have screwed it for,

A slice of extra cash; (1)

A policy that's been described,

As one of burn and slash.

It's the cash cow of all cash cows,

To be robbed every year; (2)

As this free service for the plebs,

Will always be too dear.

The private health firms hover now,

Like vultures on the prey;

Abetted by the Government,

And others in their pay.

Perhaps it's time to swallow now,

The present bitter pill; (3)

That there are folks who can't afford,

The cost of being ill.

(1) 23/4/1951. Health Minister, Aneurin Bevan,

resigned when his own Labour Government

reduced the NHS budget to fund re-armament.

(2) Following the Labour Government’s defeat, the Tories

introduced prescription charges at one shilling in 1952

when 60 shillings (£3) was the average weekly wage.

(3) In 2007, 800,000 people could not afford the charges.

© Richard Layton