Forgive me, while I do not condone IBD's reference to Stephen Hawkins as an "example" and it was informative that he responded as he did, the following should not be overlooked - from his official website:
"...Up to 1974, I was able to feed myself, and get in and out of bed. Jane managed to help me, and bring up the children, without outside help. However, things were getting more difficult, so we took to having one of my research students living with us. In return for free accommodation, and a lot of my attention, they helped me get up and go to bed. In 1980, we changed to a system of community and private nurses, who came in for an hour or two in the morning and evening. This lasted until I caught pneumonia in 1985. I had to have a tracheotomy operation. After this, I had to have 24 hour nursing care. This was made possible by grants from several foundations...."
hawking.org.uk
In other words, he isn't exactly a good example of how the general population fares under NHS. |
