The BBC had a news article called "'The NHS turned its back on mum- and it cost us £250,000'". The title of the news article is a quote, meaning that it can be excused for being biased and emotional. By having the title as a quote, it allows for the heading to directly attack an organisation (in this case the NHS) without repercussions. The title has a very accusing tone, and garners sympathy from the readers. It also sets readers against the NHS from the beginning of the story, creating a sense of us versus them. Also, the fact that nowadays many people have had problems with the NHS due to budget cuts, the title is relatable on an emotional level, if not also a financial level.
The picture used for the news article is of the the family in question. The photo seems to have been taken at some sort of party, perhaps a birthday party, and all who appear in the photo seem happy and content. The photo is very ordinary- the kind of photo most people have probably taken with their families. This then garners further sympathy as it sets in people's minds the idea that this could be anyone. It serves as a reminder that they are average people and that what is happening does not target specific people, but can affect any of us.
The article then goes on to give a brief synopsis of the lives of Maureen Byfield, the woman whose care was not funded by the NHS, and her husband, who had to spend much of his early retirement caring for her. This humanises them in our mind. It moves them from faceless statistics to real people. It explains that Maureen was diagnosed with dementia in her early 70s and that her husband suffered health consequences as a result of the stress of caring for her. It then talks about how the husband had to move into a bungalow and Maureen went to live in a home and that the council and the NHS both refused to fund it. This plays into the audience's fears, as this is a worst case scenario in many people's heads. The idea of being left high and dry in a time of need is terrifying, and this news article only confirms that our fears are not as unfounded as we may have previously thought.
Despite the story being set against the council and the NHS, the family are later quoted as saying, "I'm not angry with the council. It is the system that is wrong" This shows that, despite the story revolving around this family so far, there is a bigger picture. As the BBC is run by the government, it tries to remain as unbiased on the whole thing, but there is a notable lack of blame being put on the government and more putting it on "the system". It also at no point acknowledges that the system is being upheld by the government and that they are the ones in the position to break it down and improve life for people in Britain.
The article then goes on the show the facts of the situation in the form of graphs. While a lot of the story so far has been opinion based, this adds the necessary statistics to let us know this is not a stand alone incident. The bar chart clearly shows that there is an immense lack of aid offered and that England is suffering the worst of the budget cuts. The article then briefly talks about councils being at breaking point. The news article directly puts the blame of the system on the councils, and none of it on the government.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-46378353
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/may/24/nhs-faces-staggering-increase-in-cost-of-elderly-care-academics-warn-dementia
https://www.nursingtimes.net/roles/older-people-nurses/care-homes-struggle-to-meet-residents-needs/5042716.article
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