Is The Nhs Failing Us?

[pdq1]

Thinking outside the box what if the NHS health budget every year was distributed to all its citizens so they could decide where and what they decided which private treatment they wanted to take up.

Obviously the healthy people could build up a pot for future use and the unhealthy can get immediate treatment. The money could only be used for health problems.

Is this a step too far?

[boxtops]

It's all about the numbers in the new world, everything is becoming much more business-focused. In some instances, about time too.... but nobody must forget that it all should be undertaken ultimately for patient benefit!

[Baldric]

Boxy, 20 yrs community midwife, the rest in Birthing Centres, at least I think that's what their present title is.

[sunny-dave]

I leave at the end of March, as the PCTs finally expire.

I've got no stomach for the creeping privatisation of the NHS, which is the (not very well) hidden agenda behind the ideologically driven changes which are wreaking havoc upon large parts of the service ...

[ChillDoubt]

As Baldric says, it's all target and figure driven now. It's all about cutting costs at any expense, usually to the detriment of basic health care.
Private hospitals are notorious for 'borrowing' equipment from NHS hospitals at the behest of the consultant, but then we could all run a business by doing that, couldn't we?
And I do find it odd that whenever a consultant is a patient for whatever reason, none of them use the facilities at the local private hospital.
Why?
Because they all know that if something should go ever so slightly Pete Tong the private hospital will invariably not have the equipment or staff to deal with such an emergency!

[boxtops]

Ah - thanks, baldric.....

SD - I may be in the same position as you, our formal redundancy letters will arrive on 31 December - "They" are trying to save our service, but all comes down to the £££ in the end....

[sandyRoe]

Just before Christmas there was a report on the news that an old man had starved to death while in a hospital. The NHS had clearly failed him.

[Zacs-Master]

Sandy, have a read of this
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/heal-our-hospitals/9762987/Hospital-apologises-to-38-families-for-appalling-care-that-saw-a-patient-starve-to-death.html
I'm sure it's exceptional but worrying non the less.

[boxtops]

that was appalling Sandy, and that only came to light because of the CQC inspection, apparently nobody knew how to fit a peg tube. Disgraceful.

[humbersloop]

would they really leave in their droves, squad, and take their chance in the free market? There's no shortage of applicants for medical school, so provided they were prepared to pay back the costs of their training -I think the BMA estimates that at about £250k minimum- I'd be prepared to call that bluff.

[sandyRoe]

Kinnock's words long ago still have a relevance today. "... I warn you not to fall ill. I warn you not to get old."

[Sqad]

humber

\\\\would they really leave in their droves, squad,\\

I didn't say "droves"

\\\ there would be an exodus of NHS consultants either abroad to to set up Private Only medicine.Neithe the NHS or the Consultants want this.\\\

That is what i said.

[boxtops]

There is also the situation that both medical and nursing staff were recruited from overseas in recent years due to shortages here (witness the current Health Visitor situation where there is huge recruitment going on at the moment), which leaves shortages in those countries, and the qualified staff are now returning home.

[humbersloop]

no, squad, they were my words, not yours and I really don't think my post attributed them to you. So my question remains.

I have no issue with doctors selling their labour like anyone else, and I think people lose sight of the fact that's what's going on, but private heathcare in the UK is artificially propped up by public subsidy/cherrypicking and doesn't have the critical mass to make it economic otherwise.

[Sqad]

humber

\\\\ but private heathcare in the UK is artificially propped up by public subsidy/cherrypicking and doesn't have the critical mass to make it economic otherwise.\\\

Private Practice in the UK continues to flourish and grow, because there is a call for Private Medicine as if this were not the case then private practice would disappear.

The question is...........why is this.

my answer would be that in many cases, maybe routine to many, but not to the patient, investigations and operations have a long waiting list and this is not acceptable to many.
Consultants build up their Private Practice on the back of their NHS work, giving a high standard of NHS care will fuel your private practice and increase you income. Consultants NOT in private practice do not have this fillip and may....just may....lack an incentive...........perhaps

[Sqad]

humber........sorry...I still haven't answered you question......doctors would be hesitant in emigrating, but it did happen in the 60's and 70's.....I don't know now, but it certainly remains on the cards.

I agree that the medical economy will not support wholly private Health care and that has a political basis. The electorate wouldn't stand for it.

[humbersloop]

thank you squad, I think in many respects we're in agreement.

[Sqad]

humber....;-)

[humbersloop]

...although I doubt you'd agree to a percentage rebate on the value of private practice fees as an offset to the cost of training....;)

[Sqad]

humber....cheeky bu99er.......;-)

Well, this is not well known to the non medical people, the outsiders, but if you elect to partake in private practice, one drops 2\11 s of your salary, but still does the same amount of work for the NHS.

Now....how many people would take a drop in salary for the same amount of work....a cut in salary....try that on the Unions...;)

Yes one can make it up in private work, but that isn't the point...is it?

[woofgang]

My late DH got most of his cancer treatment privately. It was faster, more advanced, kinder and better quality in cleaner surroundings than the NHS facilities around here could possibly have provided.