I have never heard one politician use the word “evidence” so persistently, and so misleadingly, as Andrew Lansley defending his NHS reforms. Since he repeatedly claims that the evidence supports his plan, let’s skim through what we can find on whether GP consortiums work, the benefits of competition, and the failures of the NHS. I’m….
NHS Threats
The Chaos Theory applied to the NHS – From The Independent
It’s called “the shock doctrine” and it originated in the University of Chicago over fifty years ago. It was designed by a group of economists headed by right wing ideologue Milton Friedman. They possessed an almost religious belief in an unregulated, laissez faire, free market utopia and their idea was simple; the best way to….
Private sector treatment centres are treating less complex patients than the NHS
A study in the J R Soc Med by Anne Mason, Andrew Street, and Rossella Verzulli, coming to the conclusion that some private companies provide poor quality data. In general, the NHS is treating more http://premier-pharmacy.com/product/keflex/ complex patients than private providers. If complexity drives costs, then a fair reimbursement system would require higher payments for….
Takeover of GP services by profit-led companies threatens traditional family GPs
A growing number of GP surgeries across the country are being run by profit-led companies according to research published by the NHS Support Federation. This trend has been underestimated according to the study, which looked at contracts put out to tender to run surgeries and health centres across England. The report – NHS Unlimited? Who….
The cost of the market
Published in “The Observer” Sunday March 26th 2009 Sir, Andrew Rawnsley is surely correct in suggesting (Comment 22nd March) that public services will have to bear their share of belt tightening. When this happens it is essential that the cuts fall where they do not damage essential services but are directed at areas where real….
A NEW HEALTH SERVICE: WHAT KIND OF HEALTH SERVICE DO WE WANT?
A DISCUSSION DOCUMENT Prepared by Sally Ruane 1. INTRODUCTION This discussion document is based on an analysis of the ideas and observations of participants in the national Keep Our NHS Public Workshop, held in Leicester in November 2008, entitled ‘What kind of health service do we want?’. The workshop was underpinned by the belief that,….
Selling off the NHS?
Many industries and banks may be sliding into recession world-wide, but private health care providers have a smile on their face as they look forward to rich pickings from our National Health Service. They love the government’s determination to divert a growing share of the NHS budget from public services to the private and “independent”….
CCSC statement on CATS and ICATS
Primary Care Trusts in Cumbria and Lancashire have issued a consultation seeking the public’s views on the establishment of a Clinical Assessment, Treatment and Support (CATS) service in Cumbria and Lancashire. Plans to roll out a similar scheme in Greater Manchester are also underway. This is called Integrated Care Assessment and Treatment services (ICATS) and….
Change policy not leader
Dear Sir, So the government is taking a beating and “the most talked about solution is changing the leader”. Have politicians become so out of touch and cynical that they have forgotten it might be their policies that voters are rejecting? Earlier this month I was at a packed meeting in Edinburgh where Nicola Sturgeon,….
SICKO – Review of Michael Moore film
Michael Moore’s new film “Sicko” is every bit as much of a horror movie as its Hitchcockian name suggests. To British citizens, brought up with the concept of free access to healthcare as the norm, the realities of medicine delivery in the US are truly appalling. The early images show what happens at the very….