Normally the NHS can’t do anything right. Health and politics is always a volatile mix, but couple that with the British predilection for a good moan and it understandable why it’s the perfect gear-grinding subject over an afternoon tea.

That also makes it the perfect election topic. The Conservatives were on quite a roll with their NHS-bashing “we’ll just rip it all out because it smells of Labour” manifesto. Until now.

Turns out there’s something we Brits do better than moan: we look after our own. As soon as the  Americans  started bashing the NHS, all our hitherto grumbles were forgotten and replaced with big fat NATIONAL PRIDE. Akin to our kids and parents, we can say what we want but everyone else can just keep their big mouths shut.

All thoughts over over-investment; under-delivery; waiting lists and postcode lotteries were cast aside as a distant memory. Instead we started joining Twitter groups to talk about the beautiful institution that is our wonderful National Health Service  – check out the #welovethenhs stream .

In fact, it’s been so successful at resurrecting some NHS love that I’m getting a little suspicious that there may have been some underhand PR wizardy at play… Thoughts on a postcard please ;o)