John Launer: A generation betrayed

As you can see from my photo in the print edition, I’m the oldest columnist in The BMJ. I’m past retirement age, although I’m still employed by the NHS for part of the week. I’m certainly old enough (and have enough medical conditions) to be thinking about ageing, decline, frailty, and from time to time even death.I’ve never had the illusion that any of these things would be easy. I’ve accompanied too many people—friends, relatives, and patients—on the gruelling journey from health to headstone. I’ve tried not to kid myself that my route would be any more pleasant than most of theirs. But at least I’ve had one consolation: that the NHS would be there for me each step of the way.We grew up together, the NHS and me. My GP when I was a child worked on his own, from one room in his house. He seemed perpetually overburdened….
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