Happy birthday NHS

#NHS70 is the day for everyone to come together to celebrate the incredible institution that is the NHS, and to give thanks for the millions of lives begun, improved and saved in the hospitals, surgeries and clinics we're all so fortunate to have access to.

Personally, I hope each and every staff member - from surgeons, doctors, nurses, researchers and paramedics to the support staff who clean, cook, drive, handle the mountains of paperwork and so much more - feels valued beyond words, especially given the difficulties they face and the conditions in which they work.

Today is a day of celebration for sure, and that is very important, but could it also be a day for the media to promote a slightly different angle?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could use days like this and the recent #armedforcesday to encourage some of the next generation to visualise their future in a new light? For people to realise that the real heroes and heroines aren’t the stars of shows such as Love Island, but those who dedicate their working lives to helping others.

Whether it’s a career in the medical profession, the fire service, the police force or one of the other invaluable services, wouldn’t the world be a better place if those brave enough to commit crimes changed direction and got their buzzes from enriching lives rather than ruining them? If respect was gained by being kind and having morals, rather than physically, emotionally or mentally hurting vulnerable people?

But where do we start? How do we persuade youngsters to look up to people like 21-year-old Tasha Starkey - one of the paramedics featured on BBC1’s Ambulance, and the youngest on the scene of the Belgrave Middleway crash?

Happy birthday NHS. You may not be perfect, but so many loved ones wouldn’t be here today without you. You’ve got a lot to be proud of, and we've got a lot to be grateful for 🐾

Heinz in a hoo-ha

Traditional and instantly recognisable, Salad Cream has been a staple in households up and down the country since the 1920s, but now Heinz find themselves in the middle of a media storm without their wellies following an announcement that they are considering changing the name of this much-loved product.

Just 19 years after campaigners rallied to save Salad Cream from withdrawal, the American giants are considering ‘Sandwich Cream’ as the new name to appeal to younger shoppers and more accurately reflect how people use it; with research showing that just 14% of buyers use it as a salad dressing.

Commentators on social media are begging Heinz to do a u-turn and keep the name, with some stating that it is an example of ‘Americanism’ and several others pointing out that they don’t use the product on sandwiches, so it would (in theory) render it inappropriate to them after years of loyalty to the product.

The hoo-ha it has created has overshadowed the essential fact that the recipe will remain unchanged. Perhaps Heinz are hoping that once everything calms down the name change will sneak in virtually unnoticed between now and September (the month by which the decision will be taken) as it will still taste the same.

My thoughts

Personally, I can never see myself remembering to write Sandwich Cream rather than Salad Cream on my shopping list, but as long as they don’t alter the taste or look of it I think Heinz will eventually be forgiven. It just seems odd to me that something with such a wide range of uses will be given a new name which suggests it should only be consumed in one way. I have it with salad, chips, tuna and boiled eggs in place of mayo, plus I know people who mix it with ketchup to make a seafood sauce.

It has got me wondering whether there are any other everyday items we could rename to sound more sensible. As a starting point I’ll put a bid in to change air conditioning to brrrrr fan, letterbox to bill feed and wine to merry juice.

Has the bubble burst for Lush?

Lush Cosmetics have today announced that they are suspending their controversial ‘Spy Cops’ campaign, which has caused uproar this week, for the safety of their staff.

The initiative featured window displays with images claiming Police were ‘paid to lie,’ mock Police tape stating ‘Police have crossed the line’ and a hard-hitting video which begins with a seemingly happy couple having dinner and looking very much in love, before the scene switches to the couple sitting across a table at a Police station where the man is revealed as working undercover.

To a huge number of people, this appeared to be criticising the Police rather than highlighting the issue of women being tricked into relationships by undercover officers, as was Lush’s intention.

The campaign certainly put the issue firmly in the public eye, but largely (and sadly) for the wrong reasons; with people demanding a boycott of Lush stores and the company receiving a slating on social media.

Thousands of people made their feelings clear by leaving heartfelt 1* reviews on the company’s Facebook page, and others took to Twitter to encourage the disposal of Lush products using the hashtag #FlushLush.

The Police Federations representing England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland joined forces to write an open letter to the Advertising Standards Authority, asking them to take action. News items on the England and Wales Police Federation website call the campaign ‘damaging and distasteful’ with Chair Calum McLeod saying: “The Lush advertising campaign is offensive, disgusting and an insult to the hard work, professionalism and dedication of police officers throughout the UK.’”

I had a little poke around some of their competitor’s websites and social media channels and not many have tried to gain from Lush’s misfortune, but this post from Poundland was a clever and brave dig:

My thoughts

There have always been plenty of reasons for people to admire and shop at Lush. Their environmentally friendly values and the way they aren't afraid to tackle issues really strike a chord with people who share similar beliefs - but have they gone a step too far, and what will they do to recover? Call me old-fashioned, I’m sure an apology for any offence caused would be a good starting point to win back the support of their customers.