Remember, your blood pressure may go up as well as down. Your kidneys may be at risk if you do not keep up the payments.

I suppose this comic is nothing new in places where there’s no free, national health service. But in the UK we used to have one, that all of us were proud of (excepting the present government, of course.)

And I don’t usually do political satire. But I did so much want to use the sentence “your illness is important to us.”

Transcript:

999 calling…
RING RING
Thank you for calling NHS Direct PLC Premium-Plus-Extra service…

… All of our customer representatives are busy, but we will answer your call as soon as our shareholders allow. Your illness is important to us. Please hold the line…

While you’re waiting, why not take a couple of aspirins?

Did you know that with NHS Direct PLC’s Extra-Super Service you pay for two illnesses and get the third absolutely free?

Get that heart bypass operation you’ve always wanted, on easy terms with NHS Direct PLC…

↓ Transcript
999 calling...
RING RING
Thank you for calling NHS Direct PLC Premium-Plus-Extra service...

... All of our customer representatives are busy, but we will answer your call as soon as our shareholders allow. Your illness is important to us. Please hold the line...

While you're waiting, why not take a couple of aspirins?

Did you know that with NHS Direct PLC's Extra-Super Service you pay for two illnesses and get the third absolutely free?

Get that heart bypass operation you've always wanted, on easy terms with NHS Direct PLC...