Privatisation of the NHS

[Anorthernsoul 1221]

It has begun.

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/virgin-care-contract-approved-social-care-nhs-privatisation-a7411386.html

[Rayvin 5223]

I don't want to bitch on about Neoliberalism again but ffs.

 

They'll go in to much fanfare and start making it more efficient, which is good, but will then look to maximise profit further by cutting costs, which will lead to less focus on patient care, the cutting of corners, and very likely eventual and overt prioritisation of profits over the wellbeing of the individuals they should be looking after.

[Anorthernsoul 1221]

I don't want to bitch on about Neoliberalism again but ffs.

 

They'll go in to much fanfare and start making it more efficient, which is good, but will then look to maximise profit further by cutting costs, which will lead to less focus on patient care, the cutting of corners, and very likely eventual and overt prioritisation of profits over the wellbeing of the individuals they should be looking after.

 

 

I very much doubt Branson will be going into it to save lives, he'll have his eye on another Island.

[Gemmill 44872]

Branson's tache looks like rusty iron filings in that article.

[Happy Face 29]

Branson is the sort of arsehole who bangs on about saving the environment then launches an airline ffs

[Kid Dynamite 7027]

Social services are an absolute disaster atm. The amount of times I've made a referral and it's just ended up 'lost' is beyond a joke. I also rang up last week to tell them I had some information on a child that used to be on the at risk register that I wanted to share. I was told they don't have the facility to add to a child's records unless I ask them to open up a new safeguarding referral again. How fucking backwards a system can you get that you can't type a note onto someone's records?

[Rayvin 5223]

Social services are an absolute disaster atm. The amount of times I've made a referral and it's just ended up 'lost' is beyond a joke. I also rang up last week to tell them I had some information on a child that used to be on the at risk register that I wanted to share. I was told they don't have the facility to add to a child's records unless I ask them to open up a new safeguarding referral again. How fucking backwards a system can you get that you can't type a note onto someone's records?

 

As someone in the know, do you think privatisation would help?

[Kid Dynamite 7027]

Well if some billionaire philanthropist wants to double the staff numbers, then yes. You would imagine that the current contracts have gone to the lowest bidders though so if anything the staff numbers will be getting cut even further

[Rayvin 5223]

Well if some billionaire philanthropist wants to double the staff numbers, then yes. You would imagine that the current contracts have gone to the lowest bidders though so if anything the staff numbers will be getting cut even further

 

Fair points. It's Branson though so he could be in it for PR as much as profits. Hopefully the scenario will be the former option.

[Kid Dynamite 7027]

No chance, he's been sniffing around NHS contracts for years. He's in it to make money

[Rayvin 5223]

Depressing and predictable.

[NJS 4384]

No chance, he's been sniffing around NHS contracts for years. He's in it to make money

I dom't understand why he's so admired - he's a disgusting capitalist vulture who feeds on subsidies while claiming his own enterprise.

[Renton 21623]

I dom't understand why he's so admired - he's a disgusting capitalist vulture who feeds on subsidies while claiming his own enterprise.

I think he's still regarded as some anti-establishment hippy. Like Trump it's bullshit of course. His products and services have generally been quite good as well though which helps.

[Tooj 17]

He employs Gemmill so you know that he's a wrong 'un.

[Alex 35079]

Even if this is done in the correct way it's the thin end of the wedge.

[Monkeys Fist 42440]

Surely the "correct way" to privatise the NHS is "fucking don't."?

[Howmanheyman 33196]

It's a pity we don't have anyone on here who works for the NHS to give us a better picture.

[Alex 35079]

Surely the "correct way" to privatise the NHS is "fucking don't."?

Well yeah but what I meant was that even if this was purely about increasing efficiencies and improving the service rather than about profit it would still almost certainly lead to a situation where each time the contract was renewed there's more pressure to make more efficiencies and save money. This would probably lead to it going to the lowest bidder with patients ultimately getting a poorer level of care. It'll also spread to other areas if and when this is deemed a 'success'.

[ChezGiven 0]

I think its possible to reform the NHS, improve the funding models and still retain the principle of equity at its heart that is valued politically and socially by the British people. 

[Rayvin 5223]

The NHS sorely needs private sector thinking from the albeit limited discussions I've had with friends who work in it. One of my mates heads up a radiology department in his hospital, and the number of inefficiencies he has to deal with day to day are staggering. He was telling me about how consultant radiographers are supposed to audio record their report on each case they look at so that a machine can type it up for them later. Instead though, most of them refuse, and insist on dictating the notes to a typist. While this is latter option is about 25% quicker at the time of processing the report, it requires the consultant to re-read each report at a later date, before it is issued. So in reality it takes up more of the consultant's time (despite looking quicker initially), causes up to two weeks of delay in the report being issued to the patient (versus 1-3 days) and costs more (for the typist).

 

That kind of thinking can only happen because the management structures aren't strong enough to exert control over the consultants in this case and force them into line. This is just one hospital but I can't imagine the experience is unique.

 

You would hope that we could reform it without privatising it through the use of consultants, except that they seem to be more interested in buttering their bread in the long run - and so their solutions are not often the best ones.

[ChezGiven 0]

People go to work at private companies, they pay tax and that tax gets spent on the NHS. So its funded by private companies already. 

[Rayvin 5223]

People go to work at private companies, they pay tax and that tax gets spent on the NHS. So its funded by private companies already. 

 

But the state acts as a go between which theoretically protects it from the private interests of a select number of shareholders.

[Leon 13]

Where can I place a bet that the next step will be making those working for companies offering health insurance or over a household income of 50k before tax (the same as child credit?) will need to pay to see a GP or use A&E for non medical emergencies.

Edited November 16, 2016 by MiddleAgeCool

[ChezGiven 0]

Sure but if you talk about insurance people shit themselves which is essentially the same thing. The money comes from Tax its ok. The money comes from state run insurance 'mutuals' and people think its an issue. I'm not saying thats the solution but there is an aversion to private elements in the funding model which is not coherent with where taxes come from. 

 

There are options is what i want to say. 

[Rayvin 5223]

Where can I place a bet that the next step will be making those working for companies offering health insurance or over a household income of 50k before tax (the same as child credit?) will need to pay to see a GP or use A&E for non medical emergencies.

 

If that happens there'd be hell on. Although it does have a socialist flavour to it which leaves me rather conflicted.