Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch during Euro 2020. The world watched in horror. Then came the defibrillator.
An implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) kicked into action, restarting his heart. He survived. For many of us, this is a familiar story: a miracle of modern medicine, a testament to our health system.
But for the rest of us, it’s a different story. A defibrillator costs the NHS around £30,000. Implantation, follow-up care: add thousands more.
Eriksen’s device was a life-saver, but it’s also a glaring example of the postcode lottery of care. In wealthier areas, faster access. In poorer ones, longer waits.
The footballer is back, but the wider question remains: how many people can afford to be saved? The answer is not comforting. The cost of staying alive is too high for many ordinary families.
Eriksen’s collapse was a break from the match, but for millions, it’s a daily struggle. We need to talk about the price of health, not just the price of bread. The defibrillator saved one man.
But the system fails too many.
