How I’d bring a quick fix to our vital NHS

I BELIEVE in the NHS. I’m approaching the big 80 and I have good cause to sing their praises.

Most of my NHS needs have been about replacement parts. This may be because I try to stay fit. I don’t want to ask for help to stay mobile/alive; but when parts fail the NHS are there to keep me going.

I’m aiming to break the 100-year tape and to keep going.

I have seen the inside workings of the NHS. When I was in business I sold my products to the NHS, so I feel I can comment on what’s needed to sort things out.

First and foremost, take it away from government interference. Successive governments have imposed their separate doctrines and their uninformed experience on how the NHS should be funded/run – all have cost millions over the last 50 years; money that could have been put to better use.

Did they consult the people who worked in the NHS? NO! That’s why it’s in the mess it’s in.

A quick fix for the current malaise would be to stop pouring money directly into the NHS and spend it on social services, mainly on intermediate state-run nursing homes that would take bed blockers.

Many private nursing homes are losing money, so buy them and empty the beds to other private nursing homes (nicely) and use these for bed blockers.

The effect on accident and emergency would be immediate.

Ron Gretton

Carlton