An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

One of the most treasured of all institutions in the UK and the crowning achievement and legacy of the post-WWII period known as “the post-war consensus”:

To some extent the Second World War changed peoples attitudes. The need to treat large numbers of civilian casualties from bombing raids gave people access to health care they had never experienced before. The state had also controlled almost every aspect of people’s lives during the conflict, so the idea of government looking after citizens’ health did not seem strange. Government ministers noticed that as a result of rationing, the health of the poor had actually improved.

Post-war consensus
In the years immediately after the Second World War there was a period in British politics now known as the ‘post-war consensus’. Historians use this term because for the most part, the major political parties agreed on the country’s main priorities and generally co-operated in trying to achieve them. Top of the list was post-war recovery, but another priority was the welfare of the people, directly involving the National Health Service (NHS).

Origins of the NHS ~ The National Archives

For readers in the UK, you may look at the idea of “consensus” government in these times of polarisation and politics over ethics and the greater good of society and wish we could recapture that.

For readers in the USA, you may look at the possibilities inherent in a universal health care system such as the NHS and wonder what it could be like to have that. A note on the USA, I believe the greatest legacy of President Obama will be the Affordable Care Act. Please build on that, don’t tear it down.

Now, with the NHS being a universal health care system, one of the elements of this is that they provide preventative health care in many areas. As the old saying goes: “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. It is ironic that an American, Benjamin Franklin said that, yet in today’s America many millions will not get preventative procedures done as they simply can’t afford it.

I’ve been the beneficiary of this recently, as males in the UK are contacted when they hit 56 to be offered to take part in a national Bowel Cancer Screening programme. As part of this, last month I had a CT Scan colonography done, and then this week I just had a Colonoscopy with Polyps removed. The idea of this is that all men by their mid-50s or early 60 have polyps, with the vast majority benign, but these also create the future possibility of developing bowel cancer, the 4th most common cancer.

The endoscopy centre at the hospital I was sent to was truly impressive. A production line with many patients each day coming to have this proactive and preventive procedure. Oh, and for my American and Caymanian friends, remember, nothing to pay, not even any paperwork, patients just get debriefed and discharged and happily go on their way.

Why post today? Simply to express my gratitude for the NHS and the politics of consensus that created the welfare state and the NHS. May the UK once again move towards such consensus and rebuild the gradual depletion of both that has happened over the last decade of government.

Oh, and one other reason. If you are over 55, contact your Doctor, get screened. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.