BBC viewers left 'so grateful for the NHS' as French man asks Liverpool paramedics how much ambulance will cost

Ewan Somerville10 July 2020

TV viewers were left bursting with pride for the NHS when a French tourist asked paramedics how much an ambulance costs.

The heartwarming moment on BBC One’s Ambulance programme led many social media users to speak about how much they value Britain’s healthcare system.

During the exchange on last night’s show, film crews followed NHS medics in Liverpool as they raced on blue lights to a French man, named only as Erdem, who had been violently mugged while visiting the city for a night out.

"The bigger one asked me, give me your money and your phone, or you're dead," he told medics.

"I just said, no I won't give you. So they pushed me to the chest... So he hits me in the face, like really bad."

He was left with a bloodied and swollen nose, and struggled to swallow following the assault but was conscious and cheerful.

As he was taken into the ambulance, he asked: “I’ve got a question, how much does it cost, the ambulance?”

It took the paramedics back, but they soon realised free universal healthcare is not a feature in most nations.

“We’re not charging you for using this ambulance,” one replied.

Erdem, from Strasbourg, could not believe it, saying: “Really? Wow. That’s so great. Thanks a lot to you two, first. I mean it. Thanks, that’s so sweet. For real.”

The trio quickly built up a bond and by the time they arrived at hospital, he was taking a selfie with the paramedics.

“From our perspective, I’m so sorry that you’ve been assaulted, but it’s been amazing to meet you,” one of the medics said. “Oh, thanks a lot,” he replied. “You’re lovely.”

Screenshots of the moment quickly hit Twitter. “This is so sad,” said user Philip Gamble.

Another replied: “It costs £250-300 every time an Ambulance is dispatched. We are lucky it is free at the point of use.

"We must never lose it & never abuse it or take it for granted.”

One gushed: “I honestly had no idea it was uncommon for riding an ambulance or even just receiving healthcare to be free.

"God I am so grateful for the NHS, and sympathetic to those who aren’t able to access free healthcare, which should be a human right.”

Another Twitter user wrote: “I lived in US for 6 years and had to enter hospital with a broken ankle in 2005.

"The first 3 questions were 1) name and address? 2) how will you paying for today's visit? 3) what seems to be the problem? In that order. We are so lucky.”

It comes as an iconic blue Spitfire PL983 'L' plane emblazoned with the words "Thank U NHS" will fly over hospitals while displaying the names of 80,000 people who helped during the pandemic.

Following from the NHS's 72nd birthday on July 5, members of the public can now nominate the names of people who offered essential support during the Covid-19 outbreak.

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