The passing of Professor Stephen Hawking was met with outpourings of condolences. Professor Hawking had amassed huge support; he was one of the greatest thinkers the world has ever seen, he undertook a quest for curiosity throughout his life and he challenged assumptions that were often made about disability. His life was also a remarkable tribute to the NHS.
Professor Hawking campaigned for the NHS, but regardless of his high profile, his existence alone was testament enough to our health service. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, and it can see the body become gradually weaker. Many people with ALS lose the ability to walk, and some lose the ability to communicate. Often, people die within several years of being diagnosed – Professor Hawking was a notable exception to the general trend of the disease. Sadly, however, his longer-than-expected life has drawn comments that his death means that he is now “free” from his wheelchair. This is a poor way to pay tribute to such a remarkable man.
Professor Hawking’s death should not be seen as an unburdening. He achieved great things, was proud of who he was and managed his life well. A big part of why this was possible was because of the NHS and the support that was provided. Professor Hawking’s wheelchair wasn’t a trap; it was his wheelchair that set him free. With support and appropriate aids, disabled people are able to take control of their lives and manage their conditions. Professor Hawking was able to travel the world and continue his relentless pursuit of knowledge because of the medical support he received.
The life of Professor Stephen Hawking showed that we should support disabled people wherever possible. Not everyone may be a genius, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that everyone should be able to have the chance to manage their own lives and pursue their own dreams.
Undoubtedly, his high-profile life helped to raise huge awareness of ALS, a condition that more people will die from than Huntington’s Disease. Professor Hawking’s own words explained life with ALS poignantly:
“I have lived with the prospect of an early death for the last 49 years. I’m not afraid of death, but I’m in no hurry to die. I have so much I want to do first.”
It is through medical support and intervention that Professor Hawking was able to achieve so much. There are often narratives around disability that people can overcome any obstacle if they simply desire it enough. We hear such comments sometimes when our Paralympians compete – the idea that the human body doesn’t have any limits when it comes down to our willpower. Yet, often that is rarely the case. Our champions with MS, our relatives with dementia, the ground-breaking professor with MS all have one strand in common – the NHS. Our health service helps people to manage their conditions, and without it we would be far worse off.
For those with a primary health need, such as mobility issues or cognitive impairment to describe a few, NHS Continuing Healthcare is a financial lifeline as it covers care costs and it is not means-tested. Otherwise the cost of their care would be extremely expensive. People who need support and are found to be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding don’t have to worry about paying for care. This is just one of the ways that our NHS tries to support people who may have a long-term health need and we thank Professor Stephen Hawking for championing this cause. For more information about NHS Continuing Healthcare, call Just Caring Legal today on 0191 556 1078 or email us at [email protected].