MJA Chair Shaun Lintern used his opening comments at the 2025 MJA awards to share his very personal insights into the NHS and importance role that journalists play in advocating for patients.
This time last year, my mum was fit and healthy. She was out walking the dog, and we’d just been for a steak dinner in the pub — my treat, so of course she had chosen the most expensive thing on the menu.
Since then, like a thief in the night, motor neurone disease has come and robbed my mum of her independence and her dignity. Bit by bit, MND is taking her away from me.
Compassion
For the first time, I’ve seen the NHS not as a reporter but as a son.We’ve seen extraordinary compassion — from clinical nurse specialists, OTs, physios, GPs, neurologists, speech therapists, dietitians — the list goes on.
They have helped my mum stay as independent as possible while dealing with the cruellest disease I’ve ever come across.
But I’ve also seen the other side. In our house, we dread the word “referral.” It means delays, endless emails, and a mountain of admin that feels like a second job. I’ve seen professionals frustrated because they want to do something and the system won’t let them.
At one point, my mum was medically fit for discharge for over a week, but she couldn’t leave hospital because the system was stuck in its own processes. I told the discharge manager: you’re not just stealing days in hospital, you’re stealing days from my mum.
Decision to deny
There are around 5,000 people in the UK living with MND. They touch almost every corner of the NHS. I’ve fought battles for my mum — just this week I overturned a decision to deny her continuing healthcare. But I keep thinking about the people who don’t have someone to fight for them. Who is holding the NHS to account for them?
Health matters
The answer is: you. All of you in this room. That’s what health journalism is about. It’s why this beat matters. It’s why these awards matter. And it’s why, as we face a new Labour government promising a 10-year plan to save the NHS, our role is clearer than ever.
Ten-year plans sound great in Whitehall. In practice, they often last about ten months. We will hold them to account every step of the way.
Because if we don’t, who will? “
Watch some of Shaun’s speech