This a picture of me in my hospital bed about six weeks ago taken by Wendy. She threatens to print it and post it on the fridge as a reminder to me!

My first thought on seeing it is how well everyone at Wytheville Community Hospital looked after me. I think the folk who looked after me, like people in those kinds of occupations all over the world, only have one motivation – –

Of course I compare the US health system and the Scottish NHS and the difference is pretty stark! Not the quality of care, but how it’s paid for – –

I live in a very rural part of America where there is still something of the ‘frontier spirit’ – I look after me and my family and don’t look after anyone else unless I choose to. Scotland is different – everything is free for everyone and paid for through taxation. Maybe some memory of the clan system, maybe the longstanding left wing attitude or maybe just a small country where almost everyone has a connection with someone else.

When Margaret Thatcher was at the height of her popularity in England, but much less so in Scotland, she famously said “There is no such thing as society, only the individual and the family”. Like the vast majority of Scots I believe she was wrong and the Scottish National Health Service is a fine example.

Different cultures – different attitudes – –