The NHS's founding principle was to provide free healthcare at the point of access from "the cradle to the grave" when it was established 75 years ago this week.
Carter Love had his first encounter with the medical system at the Forth Valley Royal hospital in Larbert, where he was one of five infants delivered on the day we visited.
Avery, Carter's older sister, was already in love with him at the age of just two hours.
As she entered the maternity ward to meet her newborn brother for the first time, the connection was obvious.
Avery cuddled up to her mother Louise as she hesitantly made her way to the bed, looking at Carter and presenting him with a blue cuddly toy.
When Louise, 33, experienced decreased movement in the weeks before Carter's birth, she sought the comfort of her doctors. Louise, who underwent routine checkups throughout her pregnancy.
It's emotionally taxing, highly stressful, and the hormones are all over the place. So it's very comforting to come here and see a familiar face.
I can't find anything wrong with them from beginning to end here or with the community midwives.
Throughout the morning, family members who have come to the hospital to meet the new arrival join Louise and her husband Mark.
Julie Guest, a midwife and team leader who has more than 20 years of experience in the medical field, is responsible for their care.
Julie stated, "Since I started school, this is all I wanted to do.
Being a part of the beginning of a family and watching a unit come together is the most adorable part.
"Our NHS is excellent. We gather as midwives to ensure that we are caring for our mothers and newborns. The entire world is in awe of it. ".
Carter receives a thorough examination at the hospital within the first few hours of delivery. He is a healthy weight of 7lb 9oz, and as he takes a bottle while being cradled in his mother's arm, he already exhibits signs of a good appetite.
Louise, Mark, Avery, and Carter receive permission to leave for home and start their journey as a family of four by the end of the day.
I feel extremely fortunate in that regard because I haven't had much contact with the NHS outside of giving birth twice, said Louise. But I can't express my gratitude to the NHS enough for all that they did to assist me in bringing Avery and this little one into the world. ".
But over the course of our lives, some of us will need the NHS's care and assistance more than others.
When Karen Watson of Nairn received her initial cancer diagnosis, she was only 34 years old. She had no pain or symptoms and no history of the illness, but one day she felt a lump and went to see her doctor.
She underwent a biopsy within a week and was called back the following day to have the tumor removed.
The mother of two underwent several years of chemotherapy and radiation treatment before receiving the all-clear, at which point she completely altered her outlook on life.
When I reached my 40s, I was in better health than ever, and in 2008, at the age of 45, I enlisted in the police.
"I had a great time at that point in my life. We ran 10ks, and I ran a half marathon.
"I was watching my kids get older, and my husband and I used to ride our motorcycles across Europe once a year for about ten years. ".
2013 saw Karen out for a stroll when she started having breathing issues. She visited the doctor to have it examined, and was then told to get an x-ray. In both of her lungs, she was found to have secondary breast cancer.
When asked about that incident, Karen recalled: "Life changed almost instantly because of my breathing then. I was forced to leave the police. ".
Karen has been receiving treatment for her cancer, which has spread to her spine and skin, for ten years.
She now visits her doctor for monthly check-ups and injections and is undergoing a four-week treatment cycle at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
I'm grateful to still be alive, and I attribute a lot of that to the treatment that is available, said Karen.
Karen, a grandmother now, attends a weekly workshop at the city's Highland Hospice where she finds friendship and emotional support.
More than 650 referrals to the charity-run organization's services were made to it last year, which is partially funded by the NHS.
I responded, "Absolutely not, the hospice is where you go to die," when someone first suggested I visit. At the age of 53 or 54, I wasn't prepared to pass away.
"But now that I've been here and have lived it every week for six years, it's not about dying; it's about living. ".
The facility has a 12-bed impatient unit but also provides physiotherapy, workshops, and rehabilitation.
Being told that you have a terminal illness is frightening, but I am outliving the odds, Karen said. I am extremely fortunate to have a cancer that spreads slowly and allows me to still lead a fulfilling life.
The 60-year-old is currently awaiting the results of her most recent tests with her oncologist this month and hopes to continue traveling with her husband, Stuart, across more of Europe if doctors give the all-clear.
Karen reflected on the role the health system has played in her life and said, "It means everything to me. I am still present because of it. I really just want to express my gratitude for everything they've done for me, and I do think that it has kept me alive today.
"I've been able to watch my children and my granddaughter grow, and the NHS is largely responsible for that.
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