[Venom123]

It's not about NHS now, it's the struggle of how the NHS eventually came about in the past, it was highly opposed in Britian during its proposa,l by doctors.

It was and still is a huge achievement.

[vedderfan94]

To make other countries jelly.

[nickbob00]

Not sure it was right to specifically glorify the NHS in our ceremony, as great as it is. It could easily be seen as political especially in the USA. In my opinion, the Olympics should aim to avoid any political colour, no matter how many people support it. At least AFAIK (I haven't seen them), the ceremonies in the USSR didn't explicitly glorify their political system.

I have no problem with the GOSH being represented and individuals from within its ranks (or from any other body: the armed forces; the police or even inland revenue), but to specifically mention the NHS, essentially an arm of the government, seems a little biassed.

Regardless, the NHS is among the best healthcare systems in the world, even if it is a bit lacking in a few areas (mental health in particular). If anyone here has ever had BUPA or AXA PPP private healthcare cover, they will know that it doesn't buy much better care and that the system of excesses and which consultancies are covered and when means you still have to pay a lot yourself. All you get is a shorter waiting time, more convenient appointments and a more comfortable (though less equipped in terms of intensive care) hospital should you need it.

[Lady Maleficent]

(Original post by Venom123)
It's not about NHS now, it's the struggle of how the NHS eventually came about in the past, it was highly opposed in Britian during its proposa,l by doctors.

It was and still is a huge achievement.

The history of the police force and the fire service is also interesting and an achievement.

I just can't accept this subjective argument that the NHS is somehow more worthy of a place in the Opening Ceremony compared to the police force or the fire service.

Disregarding historical influences and subjective opinions - all three emergency services provide the same practical public good.

They are all a key component of our culture. The segment should have been dedicated to the emergency services as a whole.

[Venom123]

(Original post by Lady Maleficent)
The history of the police force and the fire service is also interesting and an achievement.

I just can't accept this subjective argument that the NHS is somehow more worthy of a place in the Opening Ceremony compared to the police force or the fire service.

Disregarding historical influences and subjective opinions - all three emergency services provide the same practical public good.

They are all a key component of our culture. The segment should have been dedicated to the emergency services as a whole.

I don't really truly understand your argument, the idea of police Law enforcement has been around for centuries and is not a British thing?!

Whilst the British were the first to provide such a health system...

It also shows the nation in a very liberal and humanitralistic light, so will always be defended.

[hannah60000]

(Original post by Democracy)
No one's saying the fire brigade or whatever aren't equally important in what they do, of course they are, but the NHS as a concept was groundbreaking both historically and currently in terms of what it seeks to do. It's influenced other public healthcare systems throughout the world, and it's a very British institution which is why most people will vigorously defend it (except politicians).

Also, I think they picked it to go hand in hand with the other theme which was the influence of Britain on children's literature hence the connection with GOSH. It wasn't just about the NHS afaik

That is a sweeping statement when the crunch Politics do defend it especially against international criticism.

[Lady Maleficent]

(Original post by Venom123)
I don't really truly understand your argument, the idea of police Law enforcement has been around for centuries and is not a British thing?!

Whilst the British were the first to provide such a health system...

Hospitals and healthcare have also been around for centuries.

The NHS may have had some uniqueness in its creation - but so did the creation of the Peelers.

The Opening Ceremony was supposed to be about our culture, history and way of life - not a list of things we invented first.

[Observatory]

(Original post by Lady Maleficent)
The Opening Ceremony was supposed to be about our culture, history and way of life - not a list of things we invented first.

I disagree. In fact the NHS would not even be on my list of top 10 best things Britain invented.

How about calculus? Free market capitalism? Representative democracy? The Bill of Rights? The steam engine? Penicillin? Without Britain there would not be any civilisation anywhere in the world. Life would be nasty, brutish and short. Beijing had more money, but no matter how many thousands of people they can make dance in step, and no matter how many CGI fireworks they can photoshop, we did it first; they owe all their success to copying us, and no matter what they accomplish from here on they will know that they are only standing on our shoulders, looking a bit further perhaps, but knowing that on their own they would be nothing. Hopefully the rest of the world would go home after the ceremony and off themselves after downing a few bottles of scotch (another invention of ours), overwhelmed by the knowledge of their own inferiority next to our greatness.

After all, isn't that what the Olympics are all about?

[ChloeElizabeth]

I think we need to remember it's not just about our generation's opinion. Also it is very easy to criticise the NHS from a middle class background (I'm not assuming your social background here) Myself, I have older relatives who were very poor, and remember when the NHS was first introduced. They assure me life without it was full of fears and I'm not sure we (in our fairly pampered lives) could imagine it.

So in my opinion it is these generations who influence this view of the NHS, maybe not for what it is but in light of the alternative.


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[Dukeofwembley]

(Original post by Lady Maleficent)
I appreciate that the NHS should be praised and respected for its strong points, but it appears that a lot of people treat like a sacred cow which is above criticism.

Of course, we all saw it represented quite vividly in the Opening Ceremony tonight. But I think it is unfair that the NHS was so deliberately represented - but not other public services, such as the Police or the Fire Service.

Firefighters put themselves in danger on a daily basis to save lives. Why were they not represented at all in the Opening Ceremony? Is it because they do not have the status that the NHS enjoys?

I think it is scandalous that we gave doctors and nurses such limelight tonight (in a performance representing Britain), but failed to recognise the other public services such as the Police and the Fire Service.

we shoulda had the bin men on