Unfurl the flag

Last year's Royal Wedding was merely the warm up, the chance to practise the celebration of 'Britishness' before the competitive flag waving can begin in 2012. Coming up are the European Championships, Wimbledon, the Queen's Jubilee... oh yes and that small event you might have heard about called the Olympics. There will be street parades, parties, faces painted and Union Flags flying all around as the country's patriotism goes into overdrive.

This enthusiasm for the country exists in spite of the problems which we still face; taxation, crime, questionable politicians and so on. To cheer on Team GB will not be blind denial of the country's problems, but a sign that in spite of these people are proud of their nationality. In NHS dentistry there are many problems but even so there is much to be optimistic about and a great deal to look on with a sense of pride. Whilst payment plan providers don't hesitate in extolling the merits of their plans, often we fail to recognise the amount the NHS has to shout about, quality service at a fair price that is within the reach of the people as a whole. Dentists in the NHS are an active part of an organisation that is revered the world over for the healthcare it provides patients. If you can cheer on an athlete who happens to be born in the same country as you, surely you can wave the flag for the organisation you represent.