While most of the world was scratching its head about the London Olympics’ opening ceremony, Danny Boyle managed to do something that successive UK Governments have failed to do for over sixty years. The world watched as he promoted the NHS as a Global Brand. For five years we’ve had debates about what the lasting legacy of the London Olympics would be, a lot of which has concentrated on what to do with the buildings. The rest has been about whether it will persuade more people to become more active. Whilst I’m not belittling the positive effects that it may have in reintroducing people to sports and providing renewed support for sporting facilities, I’d like to put forward a much more important legacy – we should follow on from Danny Boyle’s tribute and start making the NHS a Global Health Service.
Readers of this blog will know I’ve been espousing the need to turn the NHS into a Global Brand for many years. But with the Olympic coverage disappearing from the front pages of our papers, that idea seems to be catching on. Recently the Independent ran the headline that the Government was considering a Global NHS. We now have the best opportunity to make that a reality – quite possibly a once in a lifetime chance to transform healthcare in theUK, and improve access to it around the world.
So Jeremy Hunt, here’s a challenge for you. If you want to go down in history, here’s you chance. Take this opportunity to show the world that the UK is great at healthcare as well as sport by making the NHS a truly global brand.