The NHS are responsible for The Belmers *
As some of you know, I am one half** of The Belmers. The NHS have saved the use of my left hand (I'm a guitarist - a very bad one but a guitarist nevertheless) on several occasions.

First time was when I was stabbed in the left forearm - loads of internal stitching of tendons, blood vessels etc hand stapled to a heavy ball to stop any contraction of tendons and a year of physiotherapy with a full recovery of dexterity (should that be dexterity on the left hand? Surely that shold be sinisterexity or something like that, but I digress).
Second time was a nasty longitudinal fracture of the left radius. too close to blood vessels and nerves to be plated - good thing too as it would have severely limited the movement of my left hand - so it was treated conservatively with a pressure splint. Once again a full recovery.
Third time was far more complex. I'd started to get phantom pains in my hand and occasional loss of control of my left pinkie. Once reported to my GP - a great bloke who took me seriously because I'd only taken up his time when actually ill or injured. He referred me to 'a mate of his' who sent me for an MRI scan THAT DAY - no waiting about and scheduled me for a 2 level ACDF - two intervertebral discs removed, replaced with bone harvested from my hip and three vertebrae bolted together while the bone fused in.
I recieved nothing but the best treatment, the best aftercare and again made a full(ish) recovery.
None of this great treatment cost me a penny and has, in fact, allowed me to carry on abusing the public with my feeble guitar skills - dammit I even get paid to do so!
My point is this - had I been in a country that directly charges for medical treatment I'd be in a metric fuckload of debt. If I'd been in a country with less advanced diagnosis and treatment I'd probably have lost the use of my left arm long ago, lost my job/house etc.
The NHS ain't perfect but sometimes, when I think of all I could have lost/cost I raise a glass to them - left handed of course because thanks to them I still can.

*Laziest, second-least*** talented band in Christendom.
**Only numerically - talent wise I'm about one quarter, weight wise I'm about two thirds.
*** Jedward beat us to the top spot.
(Captain Placid 24/7 ball gags, brownie mix and clown porn, Wed 17 Mar 2010, 16:18, 3 replies)

one of my biggest fears is damaging one of my hands so much that I can't play guitar any more
pleased to hear that you haven't been denied it, and the world hasn't been denied the Belmers!
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 17 Mar 2010, 16:24, closed)

Thanks for the sentiment
But you've never heard us! A complete amputation could have been a good thing.
(Captain Placid 24/7 ball gags, brownie mix and clown porn, Wed 17 Mar 2010, 16:26, closed)

I know what you and pooflake are like
so I can imagine your music

I think I'd like to keep it that way.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 17 Mar 2010, 16:28, closed)