Friday 18 November 2016

NHS needs more money - no surprise there then

On today's @BBCr4today Chris Hobson Chief executive at NHS Providers made the simple case that the #NHS needs more money.  Now I have been saying for sometime in my Twitter posts that the #NHS will consume every penny that its given and then still come back for more.

Hobson, in justifying the needs for more money admitted that the #NHS had underestimated the demand on it, the predictions having been made less than 2 years ago.  The implied threat being that services will be cut if the Government does not provide more cash.

Already spending £1,900 for every man, woman and child in England the burden falling on the already hard pressed taxpayer is likely to become ever greater as Government refuses to face the fact that we are going to be unable to meet the rising demand of the free-to-use service without fundamental reform.

I would congratulate the Government in facing down Junior Doctors, it now needs to do the same with Consultants whose own contracts are being negotiated on and ensure that those contract are written with patients in mind.

I would urge the Government to engage in a public debate to examine: -

  • Future of GP services
  • How services are organised - is the #NHS just too big
  • Funding
  • Charging for use
  • Cost of drugs that are used to prolong life for very short period
  • Democratic accountability
Whilst there is much to be proud of the concern must be that the service will be allowed to deteriorate rather than be reformed.

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