Free of charge but costly

We have had reason to attend two NHS Fife hospitals over the past few weeks, writes Bert Cargill of St Monans Gospel Hall, and we are so grateful for the treatment we received. Our needs were met with care and kindness, as well as with skill and professionalism. The system is complex, the staff numbers are huge, the running costs are staggering, but we found that individuals matter.

 

I’m told that NHS Fife is the largest employer in the county – I cannot think what the wages bill must be. The equipment costs are well into millions of pounds, from thousands of sterile syringes and hundreds of BP monitors up to large body scanners and X-ray machines. Then add in heating, cleaning, catering and servicing costs, and the admin office work to support each function. We benefit from it all, provided free of charge. However, I was quite horrified to find out that wasted medicines cost NHS Fife £2.1 million each year. Those of us who get the medicines free have a responsibility there.

 

There is something else I often think about and how costly it is, and it too is provided free of charge. We can have salvation from our sins, eternal life for our souls, and peace with God as a completely free gift. We could never pay for it, and we don’t need to, because Jesus Christ paid for it when He died on the cross. His precious blood was the necessary price to take away our sin and guilt. That was costly, it cost Him His life, everything He had. Now risen from the dead and alive today He offers this gift of salvation to all and any who will receive it by faith. Many people ignore the offer and waste the opportunity. Make sure you don’t do that but receive it now when you can.

 

All photos courtesy of Unsplash