'Planned 49% limit' for NHS private patients in England

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16337904

A quick google around the net, uncovers a few interesting statements.

"It seems quite clear that the government envisages hospitals in which many more than 50% of all patients are private (thus opening up a future narrative for the near future that the NHS-funded minority are scroungers)."

Is the NHS as we know it, effectively dead?

I don’t see major industrial unrest stopping it in its tracks at this stage, and many of the crucial parts of the NHS infrastructure has already been dismantled or will soon be beyond repair.

Thought provoking comments, welcome.

Saw this myself. And thought the exact same thing.
Let the bun fight commence.
One can only hope that wherever you are in employ that your gang is bigger and better than the others in order to survive.
But isnt that what the man wants us to be like in life in general.
Ask yourself why are private industry there? There is only really one true answer.
Then ask yourself why service industries are there, again there is only one real answer.
I hope those concerned can sleep at nights, but then again I tend to think whatever they say they have no social conscience.

I find it surprising that there has not been more debate over this amendment to the Health & Social Care Bill.

So, the taxpayer undertakes to foot the bill for PFI built NHS Hospitals, and private healthcare providers then rent back bed space and theatre slots, using NHS equipment and staff at the expense of patients on NHS waiting lists.

Its perfectly clear that "PFI" doesn’t represent "value for money" to the taxpayer, and in many cases Trust's (in financial difficulties) are trying to renegotiate their PFI repayment's with a view to achieving Foundation status before 2015.

The only way to achieve this will be to rent out taxpayer funded beds and slots to the private sector.

Successive mismanagement at senior public service and parliamentary level has left your NHS in a very parlous state, with very few financial options.

Need an operation? There is a waiting list, but if you prefer to go private within the same NHS Hospital we can see you straight away. We take all major credit cards.....

There is a perception from those outside it that, as it stands, the NHS is run primarily for the benefit of the staff. But having said that, it doesn't mean that we should stand by and watch "our" NHS go down the pan. In short, it needs to get back to the basics of providing decent public healthcare.

Of course "PFI" has been a disaster, just as many of us knew it would be. It's a gravy train, pure and simple.

But what is being discussed here is just a fraction of what is wrong with the so-called United Kingdom today. It has become an unpleasant place, populated by and large by unpleasant, greedy, selfish people. The bankers and their pals the lawyers are in charge, money is king, and nothing else seems to matter.

Unfortunately, I don't see it being brought back on an even keel (if indeed it ever truly was) during the remainder of my lifetime, and that of most folk who get on here. The malaise is too widespread to be put right quickly, even if we started today. And frankly, I don't see much sign of that happening. The political will is simply not there.

This country lost it's only chance of real reform when the servicemen returning from the Second War War handed in their weapons.

Hello Geoff, (Hope you had a Good Christmas).

Private Finance Initiative
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_finance_initiative

Makes an interesting read.

I wont debate the why's and wherefore’s of this present mess Society is in, but I am interested in your views towards solving the current NHS budgetary crisis. If we need to radically change the way we run the NHS, so be it. (It can hardly be left in a worse state, than the so-called consecutive government "custodians" have left it).

Hello Sean. Thank you for your kindness. I hope you are also enjoying the "Holiday Season", or whatever it is we are "allowed" to call it these days.

I shall refrain from further comment on this thread, for three reasons:-

1) Sensitive folk won't like to hear about my remedies.
2) With only thirty or so posts to make before I hit 10,000 (and therefore call it a day) I have to ration them a bit now.
3) I'm sure that the "fresh audience" (whomever they may be) have something far more exciting to say.

Compliments of the Season to One and All.

O Dear have i missed something?

I think you shouldn’t refrain from using this forum to air your views (free speech, and all that).

Reasons not to limit your ebme forum responses in 2012

1) We are way beyond being sensitive; a pragmatic approach is the only solution.
2) 10,000 (it’s only a number, and there have been some pearls of wisdom amongst your prolific efforts).
3) People only comment when there is lively debate. Lively Debate requires alternative solutions coupled with a sense of humour

I have had occasion to disagree with your views over some issues, but so what. I would not expect you to refrain from commenting on a subject which stimulates interest amongst others.

Feel free to comment on topic, as required, matey

I agree with all that you say there, Sean.

I am not hacked off, but it's just that I don't always have too much time available for this stuff now. And 10,000 just seems like a nice round number!

Back to the thread ... I believe that we have to take a more global view of things these days. "Thinking outside the box", or whatever you want to call it.

In my opinion, Britain needs real change (that is, something akin to a Revolution). We need to move on (at last) and become a truly Modern State, and one in which everyone gets a "fair go". But (as I say) I don't see anything like that happening any time soon ... unless it is forced upon us by something *cataclysmic.

* Like if the coming rounds of warfare get out of hand (and we bite off more than we can chew).

The NHS is similar to other Public Utilities prior to their privatisation in that the management are enjoying a rather comfortable Gentlemens' Club culture (or to be more accurate in the NHS, a Gentle Ladies' Club). Having worked for a large utility prior and after privatisation in the early 1980s I noticed changes were made to make management accountable. Some divisions that imported Americans to shake up the culture adopted an appraisal system of the managers by their workers with many uncomfortable questions being asked. Another method of breaking up complacency was to rotate managers every 2 years, the incomming manager being expected to perform better than the last. NHS managers can make poor decisions that lead to loss of productivity with no sanctions being taken. Poor managers can upset their staff leaving low morale and performance without it affecting them whatsoever. A system of measured performance related pay would sort out the sheep from the goats.