The real reason I hate this mixture of self-congratulation, sentimentality, and knee-jerk defensiveness, though, is that it’s really unhelpful. It allows us to overlook the NHS’s failings and pat ourselves on the back. It demonises those who dare to criticise, shuts down debate and ensures that every trivial change becomes an emotionally and politically charged hot potato. It gets in the way of making the NHS better. This is something we desperately need to do. Because, let’s face it, healthcare costs are only going in one direction and, much as we Brits love our precious NHS, we display a notable aversion to paying the taxes that fund it.