The state of public healthcare in the UK is terrifying indeed - but I believe a massive part of our problem is not so much that politicians are afraid to raise the taxes required to provide more funding, but that they're so incoherent in terms of their own ideologies that they can't argue one way or another about whether the NHS is desirable in principle or in practice. They *could* argue for higher taxes here, or reduced spending there, or investment here to stimulate growth there, on the basis that the NHS, as a point of principle, is worthwhile and that our country deserves a viable, well-run public health service - but they won't. From top to bottom, all of our major parties are taking money and freebies from private health interests, and once their stint in parliament is ended, plenty of MPs will trot off to provide consultancy services to one or more of them.
It's one thing for the NHS to die because of lack of funding - but it's quite another for it to die because our own politicians simply won't argue for it other than it being 'free at the point of use' - which is no good to anybody if the service is terrible!
As it stands I can't see the NHS lasting to my retirement age - but I'd bet an arm and a leg that no matter what kind of dire situation the economy may be in at any given time, there will *always* be a way to fund whatever it is our politicians actually do want, which most of the time seems to be war and bungs for their mates!
The arguments you present here - highlighting the scandals, the problems with recruitment etc - we need to hear these things coming from the mouths of politicians if we are ever to save the NHS. The money exists, but the will doesn't, unfortunately!
Heartfelt insightful reply Tom thanks very much. I suspect the main parties are well aware of the broad thrust of their opposing ideologies, but find it politically inexpedient to reveal too much before 3 maybe 4 forthcoming by-elections, and the GE in 2024. It seems they would rather achieve their objectives by stealth after power is secured. Which makes policy direction anyone's guess in the event of a hung parliament.
Hi Hannah I'm still here 🙂. This last week my wife and I were poorly with some kind of virus (not Covid) like food poisoning. Better now. I post only around monthly and it's sometimes difficult to squeeze in reading and commenting time looking after two ladies. I'll try to catch up. Honest!
Jun 16, 2023·edited Jun 16, 2023Liked by Paul Backhouse
Thank you for mentioning me in this very important (and very well-written) article, Paul - and thank you for choosing to write about this topic in the first place! Sadly, the situation is very similar here in Denmark. Public health care was already deteriorating rapidply before Covid and the Covid-circus almost finished it off completely - or rather: finished off patients who had to wait for years to get treatment for truly critical illness while the hospitals stood nearly empty waiting for the "massive rise" in critical Covid-patients that never came.
Jannik thank you for your comments, very much appreciated. Extremely interesting to hear of similar deterioration in health provision in Denmark and Georgia.
I’m truly sorry, Paul. I understand that this may not ease your concerns, but the healthcare situation in Georgia is deteriorating. I feel ashamed and am unable to discuss it publicly. Stay strong and let’s hope that AI will do better than some humans.
Nat no need to be sorry. I thought Substack would be a great forum to raise and discuss concerns. There maybe some whose experience is different to mine. And as you say, a potential intervention in the form of AI may well be timely.
The state of public healthcare in the UK is terrifying indeed - but I believe a massive part of our problem is not so much that politicians are afraid to raise the taxes required to provide more funding, but that they're so incoherent in terms of their own ideologies that they can't argue one way or another about whether the NHS is desirable in principle or in practice. They *could* argue for higher taxes here, or reduced spending there, or investment here to stimulate growth there, on the basis that the NHS, as a point of principle, is worthwhile and that our country deserves a viable, well-run public health service - but they won't. From top to bottom, all of our major parties are taking money and freebies from private health interests, and once their stint in parliament is ended, plenty of MPs will trot off to provide consultancy services to one or more of them.
It's one thing for the NHS to die because of lack of funding - but it's quite another for it to die because our own politicians simply won't argue for it other than it being 'free at the point of use' - which is no good to anybody if the service is terrible!
As it stands I can't see the NHS lasting to my retirement age - but I'd bet an arm and a leg that no matter what kind of dire situation the economy may be in at any given time, there will *always* be a way to fund whatever it is our politicians actually do want, which most of the time seems to be war and bungs for their mates!
The arguments you present here - highlighting the scandals, the problems with recruitment etc - we need to hear these things coming from the mouths of politicians if we are ever to save the NHS. The money exists, but the will doesn't, unfortunately!
Heartfelt insightful reply Tom thanks very much. I suspect the main parties are well aware of the broad thrust of their opposing ideologies, but find it politically inexpedient to reveal too much before 3 maybe 4 forthcoming by-elections, and the GE in 2024. It seems they would rather achieve their objectives by stealth after power is secured. Which makes policy direction anyone's guess in the event of a hung parliament.
hey where you vanished.....? ((((
Hi Hannah I'm still here 🙂. This last week my wife and I were poorly with some kind of virus (not Covid) like food poisoning. Better now. I post only around monthly and it's sometimes difficult to squeeze in reading and commenting time looking after two ladies. I'll try to catch up. Honest!
oh really you are a busy man )) good to hear from you again ))
have a great week, you get better
Thank you for mentioning me in this very important (and very well-written) article, Paul - and thank you for choosing to write about this topic in the first place! Sadly, the situation is very similar here in Denmark. Public health care was already deteriorating rapidply before Covid and the Covid-circus almost finished it off completely - or rather: finished off patients who had to wait for years to get treatment for truly critical illness while the hospitals stood nearly empty waiting for the "massive rise" in critical Covid-patients that never came.
Jannik thank you for your comments, very much appreciated. Extremely interesting to hear of similar deterioration in health provision in Denmark and Georgia.
I’m truly sorry, Paul. I understand that this may not ease your concerns, but the healthcare situation in Georgia is deteriorating. I feel ashamed and am unable to discuss it publicly. Stay strong and let’s hope that AI will do better than some humans.
Nat no need to be sorry. I thought Substack would be a great forum to raise and discuss concerns. There maybe some whose experience is different to mine. And as you say, a potential intervention in the form of AI may well be timely.