Britain’s National Health Service turns 70 this year, amid warnings of an existential crisis. At the end of last year, we interviewed several staff members to ask them what they hoped and feared for the system’s future. Now, readers tell us about their and their families’ experiences with the N.H.S.

Here are their stories, edited for length and clarity.

I believe they did all they could

In 2015 my husband died from cancer at 35. It was a short time between realizing something was wrong and him dying, most of which we spent in the hospital. The staff were all caring and professional. I believe they did all they could, and when it became clear that he would die, they were very supportive. I was 20 weeks pregnant at the time, and they went above and beyond to look after us both. One example: We had decided not to know the sex of the baby, but when we realized he wasn’t going to make it to the birth, the midwives in the hospital brought a mobile scanner up to the ward so that my husband could have a last look at the baby, and we could learn the sex together. That meant so much to us. And after he died I had extra appointments and scans (at no extra cost) to reassure me that the stress and emotions hadn’t affected the baby. Again, not everything was perfect, but I just can’t imagine going through all of that, and having to deal with insurance companies and money worries as well. — Kate Trouw, United Kingdom

I would not wish the U.S. medical system on anyone

I am an American living in Britain. I would not wish the U.S. medical system on anyone. When I had a baby in Britain, all was paid for. Suspected meningitis in my baby? Hospital stay and all tests paid for. Sexual health screenings? Free. Dermatologist check-up on my Southern Californian skin? Free. Possible cancerous mole removal? Free. Father-in-law treatment for cancer? Free. End-of-life care for my mother-in-law? Free. Lengthy hospital stay plus live-in rehab unit for an elderly grandparent? Free. If Britain reverts to a U.S.-style system, this country will truly lose what it means to be British: care and compassion for everyone. — Jennie Vian, United Kingdom

There’s been no help

We’re meant to lionize the N.H.S., here in the U.K. But it’s not always that great.

My youngest son has been on waiting lists for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services for four years. The process is so slow, I had to get my member of Parliament to intervene just to get an initial assessment. We wanted him to get some help for anxiety and autism-related problems before he moved on to senior school. There’s been no help, and he had to start senior school. It went very badly for him. We’ve since had to withdraw him from the school system.