Following yesterday's One Million Claps, I've seen a lot of people espousing that having NHS charities is a gross way for the government to continue to underfund NHS services whilst forcing the general population to foot the bill, even though they already pay taxes for it.

I want to explain why that's not true, but first I will say this; yes, the government is underfunding NHS services, and unless something changes, I won't say otherwise. I've worked in several NHS services and seen firsthand how cuts have affected patients, staff, stock levels etc

I fully and totally agree that the government needs to step up and pay better wages for NHS staff, provide money for more/better equipment, provide money for more staff. The foundation of the NHS needs beefing up in that way, and I hope that once the dust settles on COVID-19...

...we as a country will use the feeling and energy behind the Thursday night claps to demand better wages and environments for NHS staff, and other key workers, from our government. But, don't let the thought that the government is letting the NHS down stop you from supporting...

...NHS charities (if you can, or want to). The easiest way to explain the difference between core NHS funds and NHS charitable funds to me, is cake. Core funds are the ingredients that you absolutely, categorically must have to bake something that can be called cake.

Eggs, flour, milk etc.; in NHS terms, buildings, staff, baseline equipment. (And like I said, the government should absolutely be spending more on this). Charitable funds are the decorative bits that turn the cake from a serviceable but bland sponge into a party in your mouth.

Buttercream, jam, fondant, those weird silver balls that kids love, or, if you're a Battenburg gal like me, marzipan etc. In NHS terms, this is stuff that isn't essential to deliver treatment, but enhances that treatment experience for patients, or makes treatment easier...

...for staff. To use examples from the charity I work for; we installed an adapted playground with adapted bicycles at the West Midlands Rehab Centre. It's not essential equipment for the Children's Amputee Service in the sense that without it, they would still have access to...

... clinicians, prosthetics and information about using/caring for a new limb, but it's impact on a child's confidence due to being able to practice using their new limb whilst playing? Priceless.

We also pay for entertainment for inpatients; music, magic, in house theatre. Without this, they'd still get the treatment they needed, but with it, they're less bored, often less anxious, and more often than not it spurs on lovely conversations between patients and staff.

I went out to visit our inpatient wards at West Heath Hospital when musicians were visiting, and I almost cried at the reactions from some patients. Clapping, singing along, beaming smiles. One woman followed the musicians down all the wards bays so she could hear the whole set.

There's a ton of other examples I could give, but you get the idea. In short; yes, the government should be giving more funds to the NHS, but please don't let that stop you from supporting NHS charities. They do truly amazing work and I couldn't be more proud to work for one.