Aneurin Bevan established the National Health Service in 1948 on three core principles: that it meets the needs of everyone, that it be free at the point of delivery, and that it be based on clinical need, not ability to pay. 72 years later it continues to carry out that promise, day in, day out. But how many more storms of austerity cuts can it endure?

Blaine meets paediatric doctor and Sunday Times best-selling author Dr Rachel Clarke, to hear how her sleepover protest outside the Department of Health ignited the Junior Doctor strikes in 2016. Rachel also shares her experiences of working in end-of-life care during the pandemic.

This week’s opening thought comes from Captain Sir Tom Moore, the centenarian who’s world-famous fundraising efforts during the UK Lockdown in April raised over 33 million pounds for NHS Charities together.

At the end of this episode, you will hear ‘Hospital Radio’ from Mystery Jets’ critically-acclaimed new album ‘A Billion Heartbeats’. You can buy and stream the album here.

This episode of ‘Things Worth Fighting For’ was brought to you by Acast and produced by Matthew Twaites. Thanks to CourtneyAiesha Mortimer and Kate Jones at UROK for production assistance and coordination. 

Read ‘Tomorow Will Be a Good Day’ by Captain Sir Tom Moore (Waterstones)

Donate to the Captain Tom Foundation to fight Loneliness 

Dr Rachel Clarke TEDx Talk: Love and Loss at the end of Life (Youtube)

Follow Dr Rachel Clarke on Twitter

Jeremy Hunt and the Junior Doctor Strikes (opendemocracy.net)

Dr Rachel Clarke’s dispatches from the frontline during COVID (Guardian)

Buy Rachel’s books ‘Dear Life’ and ‘Your Life in My Hands’ (from her website)

Danny Boyle’s Tribute to the NHS at the London 2012 Olympics (Youtube)

Shorts Banger.com

The Covid Letters: Sportsbanger at the Foundling Museum

Thank you NHS: Rainbows for Key workers in pictures (bbc.co.uk)

Buy limited edition Mystery Jets merch and collectables on the Jetstore 

How the NHS inspired our song ‘Hospital Radio’ (bbc.co.uk)

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