After the toughest year in NHS history, ministers should do more than merely clap for carers

Editorial: Boris Johnson made progress on health at December’s election, but will forfeit the trust of voters if he allows ‘whatever it needs’ to become another empty promise

The health service is celebrating its 72nd anniversary (Getty)

Normally, a 72nd birthday would not be ringed in the diary as a special one, like the 70th or 75th. But the anniversary of the National Health Service is an important moment after the toughest year in its history.

Whatever the failings in the UK’s response to coronavirus exposed by the eventual public inquiry, the NHS will surely emerge with credit. It rose to the unprecedented challenge, and its staff worked heroically, tirelessly and flexibly. It built seven Nightingale hospitals in weeks rather than years.

There were, inevitably, some mistakes. The understandable rush to protect hospitals from being overrun by coronavirus patients, led to people being discharged to care homes without being tested for the virus.