Something needs examining

I hope that what I’m about to say won’t be misunderstood, though I may anger some who read this. That is not my intention.

Does anyone agree with me that our National Health Service has become a kind of religion?

During lockdown we were encouraged to worship it at the weekly clapping ritual.

And at the slightest criticism, you can guarantee that someone will leap to its defence.

Of course, they’re perfectly entitled to do so, but so often there’s an added layer of disgust and disbelief at anyone’s temerity in daring to criticise and challenge the NHS.

Like most people, I’m very thankful that we have such a service, and I’ve benefited from it personally many times, especially when I was diagnosed with cancer nearly five years ago.

And of course, unlike me, who was born before the NHS came into existence, my daughters have had all the benefits of the NHS from birth.

I recognise how vital the NHS was – and still is – during the pandemic, and how challenging, exhausting and stressful the work was, and always is, for many of the staff.

I’m sure that most NHS workers are dedicated and hardworking, but, in my opinion, they’re working for a load of managers, at all levels, who seem incapable of running this giant and complicated service effectively.

This was all brought to mind recently, when the Ockenden report was published, with its shocking revelations about the maternity services at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.

Whilst practically everyone can quote benefits they’ve received from the NHS, many can also give reasons for dissatisfaction.

I Googled how much compensation was paid by the NHS in 2020.

Here’s one mind boggling answer. “According to the BBC, the NHS receives 10,000 new claims for compensation every year. The total cost of outstanding compensation claims is estimated at £83billion. (January 24, 2020)”.

You have every right to challenge me, asking who am I to criticise, with no medical qualifications or business exper tise?

But I would guess that many people have encountered inexplicable anomalies in the way the NHS machine works.

About 10 years ago I had a minor knee operation, and was given a metal crutch to take home.

When I had no need for it, I tried to return it, but was told the policy was not to accept them back!

I believe that this has now changed, but only fairly recently.

I would also suggest that all of us need more education and direction about the NHS’ purpose and function.

There’s an old saying that ‘the more you get, the more you want’ and this, in my opinion, applies to some people’s perception of the NHS.

Someone I know considers it their

‘right’ to get absolutely everything they demand, from medication to handmade shoes, on the grounds that they are ‘paying for it’.

The fact is, with expensive treatments apparently costing £19billion per year, there surely has to be careful and strict budgeting which will entail some tricky choices regarding expenditure.

And indeed, even trickier ones for the Government and its decisions about National Insurance.

Isn’t it time for the entire administration to undergo a challenging and forensic investigation?

I have no doubt that this would be a massive and daunting task, and should not be a political party issue.

We need unbiased and independent experts, perhaps from the business world, not looking to make a profit, but definitely focusing on how to reorganise the service and make its structure crystal clear, more efficient and affordable.