Free for All, by Dr Gavin Francis

Like most citizens of the UK, I am both proud of and thankful for the National Health Service, while also being frustrated with the general state of it. The principles of free healthcare for all are so sound and incontrovertible that we are willing to forgive a great deal of slowness, inefficiency and eccentricity. But there’s only so much slack we can give it before we should start to worry – is it breaking?

All is not well in the NHS. Waiting lists extend. Junior doctors strike. There n...