Moneo writes: Are we ready and willing?

Like a lot of others reading this column I have been watching this year’s version of the Great British Menu. For those who do not watch this I should explain briefly that each year the judges choose a worthy cause to celebrate by organising a banquet in honour of the chosen organisation. This year they have chosen to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the NHS and especially to thank those who work in the NHS. It has been interesting therefore to see just who those chefs competing think work in the NHS.

Unsurprisingly chef after chef seems anxious to celebrate, in the main, the doctors, and nurses. I say unsurprisingly because so often we hear the NHS referred to as the doctors, nurses and hospitals, as if this is all that it consists of. We all know how wrong that is but the problem is that this is also how the Department of Health seems to view things. Time after time when referring to the NHS the Secretary of State for Health of the day can be heard making just this reference.