National Health Service

Note the first word - National.  What does that signify?  Well surely, that it covers the country.  Wherever you are in the Kingdom, you can get the same service.  Well, maybe, maybe not.  Hearken to the story of a pensioner who went to a local health centre for blood tests.  On the way out he lost his footing and fell awkwardly, and banged his head and grazed his arms and knee.  A member of staff helped him back inside.  So far, so good.  What he really needed was someone to give him a quick once-over, a cup of tea and maybe a couple of plasters - and this is where it becomes somewhat unbelievable.  He was refused any further help on the grounds that he was not a patient of this particular health centre.  Although he had been sent there for blood tests, he was registered with another surgery nearby.  So just how National is our NHS?