Our NHS is no longer fit for purpose

ANOTHER week, another crisis though it could be another scandal, the NHS lurches from one to another and one must question how those at the coalface manage, morale must be at an all time low, or are they now inured to it?

For years it’s been paraded as the envy of the world when it is no such thing.

If it was defined by the efforts of the footsoldiers, it surely would be.

The model is no longer fit for purpose. How can we tolerate a system where waiting lists stretch months and years ahead, but if one offers to go privately the surgeon/ consultant/specialist can see you next week or next month and, in my case a few years ago: I’ll see you the first week in January, a month away, because I’m skiing over Christmas.

How do the administrators get away with “free at the point of use” when (a) it’s not free, and (b) it should be free at the point of need? And why is essential, but not life threatening treatment, like replacement knees and hips, described as “elective surgery” as if it’s a patient’s lifestyle choice like a facelift or a bum tuck, who’s electing?

So it set me wondering about these administrators, the chief executives and senior managers of hospital trusts, the surgeons and specialists, the 27 quangos that run it and their executives working three days a week, or is that three days a month, how many of these people taking decisions that affect the lives of ordinary people have private medical cover?

How many NHS hospital trust chief executives and senior managers have private cover written into their remuneration package?

I think we should know.

Richard Heath

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