The future of the NHS
 

Are we about to see the end of the NHS as we know it?

What do you think are the chances that the NHS ends up becoming completely privatized?

The security of the NHS is a big reason for me wanting to move back to the UK, I'd hate to think that the UK health system is going to go the way of the American health system, where the almighty dollar is king.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...n-plan-1729681

Re: The future of the NHS
 

I hope not, it's certainly a factor for us as one of many reasons to return.

Re: The future of the NHS
 

HMG just gave the Scotland Independence supporters a huge boost.

Re: The future of the NHS
 

It's political suicide for the Tories if true. Look at the 'quality' contracted-out' cleaning services.

Re: The future of the NHS
 

It would never happen in our lifetimes. Means-testing, co-pays, or similar, maybe, but completely privatised? Never.

(BTW, Holly, what is HMG?)

[Edit ... Her Majesty's Government, maybe?]

[Second edit ... OK I get it ... "privatisation" rather than "private health care" ... different things ... then maybe, yes, I could see it. But it would always be under control of HMG regulation]

Re: The future of the NHS
 

Very interesting, Thanks for heating up the discussion!

Re: The future of the NHS
 

I will openly admit that I don't know all the ins and outs of how the NHS works but I don't understand how private companies who operate on a cost + profit basis could provide the same level of care as the NHS which operates on a cost only basis at a cheaper cost. Surely we're going to see a decline in care.

Re: The future of the NHS
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiLhJrZOkAU

NHS Reforms - what they mean for you

Re: The future of the NHS
 

Growing divergence between NHS in Scotland and NHS in RestUK.

Re: The future of the NHS
 

This recent case highlights some of the 'privatisation' problems. Wrong on so many fronts.

http://www.inquisitr.com/510201/elde...-by-caregiver/

Re: The future of the NHS
 

With the unnecessary but increasing burden on the National Health System, I strongly feel there will come a point when UK residents will have to pay out of their salaries for health care. Perhaps it won't be as much as in the USA but I see it coming.

The positive side to the UK, though, is that it is about 10-15 years (IMHO) behind the USA as regards "becoming Americanized" and that's reason enough for me to want to go home.

Re: The future of the NHS
 

I cant see it happening for many many years, there will always be some aspects that will be contracted out and it usually makes sense to do that. No British Government would abolish the NHS.

Re: The future of the NHS
 

I see nothing wrong with the concept of the private provision of public services. This is the way most healthcare is delivered in The Netherlands and Switzerland, for example, countries which also manage to achieve near-universality of healthcare access. That universality is the important point, imo, not who actually provides those services.

Re: The future of the NHS
 

from Unite? Not sure that's a quality source of information.

Re: The future of the NHS
 

If you went to Unite to ask them to produce a video regarding the future of British Airways you might get an interesting point of view there too. Of course, under their point of view there would actually be NO future as the airline would be simply unsustainable and uncompetitive as a business. See if they care!

Seems competition is a dirty word.

Ironically, further to Giantaxe, that is, along with proper regulation, the virtually whole point of the success of the Dutch system, the best healthcare system in the world* in terms of both cost control and quality of outcome.

*In spite of the fact that the US seemed to bend over backwards to denigrate it in every way possible :rolleyes: Maybe they think The Netherlands is just some little pin-prick nation so not worthy of being used as an example.

Re: The future of the NHS
 

Actually, Unite (the Union) is fairly new, a little over five years if memory serves, but their roots go back through 1922 when the TGWU was founded to the Labour Protection League in 1871.

Thus Unite has a good deal more respectable history than the NHS itself which dates only from 4 July 1948 and has had, for well over a century, a track record of representing the interests of worker peoples over those of the contemporary and modern-day "privateers" such as the present NHS revisionists.

Re: The future of the NHS
 

What is HMG?

Re: The future of the NHS
 

Her Majesty's Government (see post #5)

Re: The future of the NHS
 

Thanks, Dunroving. I thought so but wasn't sure.

Re: The future of the NHS
 

Silly me, in trying to understand all these changes, I had failed to realise that NHS England and National Health Service (England) are not the same thing. Not even close, though both are parts of the same government.

Wikipedia to the rescue. :fingerscrossed:

But just in case you are not confused yet there is a detailed document at
http://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/con.../pssmanual.pdf
Title:NHS Commissioning Board Manual for prescribed specialised services
It has a publication date of November 2013.
Yep, November 2013 (sic).

Re: The future of the NHS
 

Yes I think people are panicking about the NHS 'going private' which is not actually what the article is about.

Re: The future of the NHS
 

To me, the biggest change, seems to be the determination, at the highest levels, to be rid of the so-called postcode lottery.

This means change and NHS clinicians reflexively abhor material change (since they are so paternalistic "doctor knows best" in outlook) and so they fight it. They prefer "change the name and continue the game much the same".

The NHS conference is presently under way in Liverpool.
There are some very interesting sessions especially as to how the NHS is embracing modern technology.
http://conference.nhsconfed.org/programme/#6th_june