Scrapping the NHS.

[Leicesterbaggie]

I am not a Labour supporter but have to agree with Starmer on this. The problem with the NHS is not so much the funding but how it is used. There are far too many administrators on huge salaries and not enough clinicans. The administration is appalling with far too many individuals doing jobs that could be done by one. You are passed from one to another like a yo-yo, often not receiving the information required. Basically, it needs to be completely reorganised in a more efficient manner. Let us hope that it does not take for ever to achieve this.

[baggiematt]

I worked for nearly 15 years in the NHS, leaving a few years ago but I still work closely. Firstly, i wouldn?t conflate the administrative staff in hospitals with the national bureaucratic lot in NHSE. They do a sterling job of keeping needless tasks away from clinical staff and there isn?t enough of them, hence the poor experience.

The NHSE and ICB lot are a different kettle of fish and their roles are becoming less and less needed when they have merged CCG?s and other corporate functions with NHSE. However make no bones about it, this isn?t massive change. About 3,000 corporate jobs to go in a workforce of ?1.5 million. It?s not even going to be noticed by the tax payer or improve your experience when you receive care.

What the NHS has needed for years is well spend invest to save schemes. Like buying pharmaceutical companies instead of paying through the nose for medicines. Creating IT infrastructure instead of paying millions to buy it in. Sadly whenever there is investment into the NHS, it is being spent to help it cope or survive rather than reform. A standard pay increase in the NHS costs billions so when you hear of multi billion pound investment, it?s actually just to keep it running. It needs incredible amounts of money to reform.

[Omegstrat6]

I've been of the opinion for many years now that the NHS needs far more than simply having more money thrown at it. The whole service needs a complete re-think.

Things have changed hugely since it's inception in1948-the population it services is now massively larger with a far higher percentage of them living much longer (with all the inherent health issues this brings) and the range of both medicines and operational procedures now available is far greater. Despite being exceedingly expensive, these latter are expected. The costs are simply unsustainable given current funding.

It is very true that the NHS has become bloated with too many levels of unproductive management over the years whilst struggling to find enough front line staff and I totally agree that this urgently needs addressing. Many of the current problems also stem from Blair and the introduction of Trusts and the farming out of services to private companies. But even if these issues were to be resolved, IMHO it still would not be enough. The crux of the matter is that the NHS was initially designed to help provide free health care for the poorest -not for everyone. It's level of funding is simply not sufficient to do so.

Aside from restructuring in order to improve productivity across the service I reluctantly believe that the only way to raise sufficient funding is to introduce means tested payments. This cannot be a simple "cliff-edge"/ pay or not pay method however but a graduated one to ensure that those who can afford it, pay something towards the cost of their treatment whilst allowing access to health care for those who do not. It might not be a very palatable idea to many who argue that they pay enough in taxes or NI as it is but unless we go the way of the US and other countries with private medical insurances I can't see much of an alternative.

There is also surely a lot of money to be found in prescription payments. Having free blanket prescriptions for those over 60 for example is ridiculous when many are well able to afford the costs and sticking a minimum charge of just £1 on the majority of prescriptions currently given free would also raise a not inconsiderable revenue.

I just think that it is time some-one in government grasped this particular nettle to ensure we have a functioning NHS for future generations.

[Leicesterbaggie]

I do not deny that there are certain members of the NHS, who are not clinical staff, who work very hard. However, talking to friends regarding their experiences does not fill you full of confidence. My wife had problems getting through to the department that she required. It was not a major medical concern but after trying to get to the right department was very difficult and when she finally got the number required she kept ringing but no reply. This was after being passed from one department to another. Surely, in this day and age this should not be the case.

[greyhound]

I consider myself to be reasonably "tech savvy"..but I currently have 3 apps on my phone,NHS,Airmid and Anima....which are,quite frankly,a joke...when trying to order my repeat prescriptions,I usually end up having to visit my health centre to speak to the totally disinterested clown sat behind several layers of bullet proof plexiglass

[9goals2hattricks3pen]

A friend of my wife who has serious health problems had to attend A & E 3 times in a week. On each occasion she had to fill in the same form which took around 20 minutes to complete. When she asked why she was told because her previous bits of paper wouldn't be filed yet. Still never mind the NHS now presumably has her health record beautifully filed in triplicate. Which is OK unless of course she pitches up at a different hospital as they won't have access to the filing cabinet.