I ADMIT I'm no expert in American politics.

But I cannot get my head round basically closing an entire country because two political parties can't agree on what is, in my opinion anyway, a totally common-sense policy — free health care for all.

Not only has this had a devastating impact on the country's fragile economy it also left more than 800,000 staff, who have nothing to do with the ridiculous stand-off, without pay.

I'm very proud of the NHS. Fine, it has its faults, but not a day goes by when I don't think how lucky we are to have access, for free, to doctors, nurses and a raft of other health specialists.

It's hard enough being ill, and to be told you don't have sufficient health insurance to be cared for, whether your seriously ill or have a simple bug, just seems inhumane.

Sort it out America.