“Did I look after everyone?”
Aneurin Bevan’s last words in Tim Price’s Nye — a powerful reminder of why the NHS matters.
I recently watched Nye — an incredibly moving and inspiring depiction of how the NHS was founded. It tells the story of how one man, Aneurin Bevan, fought for free medical care for all, at the point of need — regardless of wealth.
Michael Sheen’s portrayal of Bevan, drifting between key moments of his life through a morphine-induced delirium, was both insightful and unforgettable. Dressed in pyjamas and hospital-bound, he moved through a series of vivid scenes, set amongst hospital beds and curtains that were cleverly transformed throughout. The use of projected chest X-rays and the haunting sound of his father’s strained breathing — a result of years spent working in the coal mines — added powerful emotional depth.
As a GP working in the NHS, this was a timely and powerful reminder of why we do what we do. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the daily pressures and the administrative workload, so that we can lose sight of why we signed up for this in the first place. But this play reconnected me with the heart of our profession — the care. The simple yet profound impact we can have on someone’s life, whether in a moment of reassurance or in life-saving treatment.
It also made me reflect on our health service and what it offers. Having worked in countries where healthcare is not free, I feel immense gratitude for a service that does aim to “look after everyone”. As we stood out on the theatre terrace looking out over London on a beautiful summer’s evening, I overheard a lady say to a couple of people - “if it wasn’t for the NHS, none of us would be here”. She went on to explain how she had been born prematurely and how the others had also received life-saving treatment on the NHS. It brought tears to my eyes as I also reflected on how my father would not be alive today if it wasn’t for the outstanding care he had received in various NHS hospitals. We will always be so grateful.
For anyone experiencing burnout, it helps to reconnect with the aspects of the job that you love. Whether this be the clinical aspect of diagnosing and treating patients, or like me you love the connection experienced when you are able to offer a space for someone to share, cry or feel heard.
Try listing the parts of your role that bring you joy. Visualise them. Put reminders up in your room. Sometimes, it’s the smallest moments that help reawaken the sense of meaning we first felt when we chose this path.
Because even on the hardest days — you are making a difference to someone.
