<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/mark-thomasapr19.jpg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5557" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/mark-thomasapr19-200x129.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="129" /></a><a href="https://markthomasinfo.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mark Thomas</a> is a comedian and political activist. I've been to his shows three times before - <a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/158" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2011</a>; <a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/1319" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2013</a> and <a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/4477" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2017</a>. The first two with Jane and on my own for the 2017 event. On this occasion I had Mary with me, a mental health social worker, who works very closely with the NHS. Each of his shows raises serious issues in a very humorous way. His delivery is fast and often furious.

This performance concerned the NHS at the age of 70 and although we as a nation believe it to be the best in the world the facts indicate this is a misconception and we are in fact a long way down the list when compared with other western nations. He has taken two years, which included a month in residency at the Imperial College Healthcare Trust, to develop this show; he had less than two hours to get across all the stories and facts he has collected during that time hence everything comes at you at a machine gun pace.

It is shocking, funny and, at times, very sad. His timing is perfect. I left feeling energised that the NHS and all its workers need our support. We need a political body that is prepared to put dogma and ideology to one side and think of us, the patients. Our nation seriously needs to consider how to prevent illness through better housing and better education so that people eat well. Until that time the best we as individuals can do is eat sensibly, exercise often and hope we stay healthy.

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