Labour plans to overturn principle of a free NHS

The Independent ^ | 07 February 2002 | Ben Russell

[ThJ1800]

Labour plans to overturn principle of a free NHS

By Ben Russell, The Independent, 07 February 2002

Secret Labour proposals to water down the founding principles of the NHS by proposing a health service providing only "largely comprehensive services", "overwhelmingly free at the point of use" are contained in a policy document leaked to The Independent.

The highly controversial moves, which appear to open up the possibility of new limits on NHS services and raise the prospect of charges for some patients who are able to afford them, are contained in a draft discussion paper prepared by a policy commission co-chaired by Alan Milburn, the Secretary of State for Health. They pledge to use the private sector "to the full", fuelling the dispute over Labour's plans to reform public services.

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[balrog666]

which appear to open up the possibility of new limits on NHS services

Oh my, more rationing by the British socialists. Or is that Canada?

[kezekiel]

Oh my, more rationing by the British socialists. Or is that Canada?

Same difference. Are you listening, Hillary and Teddy?

[ThJ1800]

Not just rationing, but they are actually talking about opening it up to free markets and the evil profit-loving health care providers; of course, not totally, but they are stepping in the right direction. One part of the plan seems to be that they are going to give the elderly, or their relatives, cash payments so that they can go seek health care from private providers.

[Timesink]

Not just rationing, but they are actually talking about opening it up to free markets and the evil profit-loving health care providers; of course, not totally, but they are stepping in the right direction.

They're going to have to, eventually, so they might as well start taking the baby steps now. The NHS is falling apart, and is not too far from the point where people are going to be reguarly dying on the doorsteps of hospitals. My guess is that they're only one mildly-bad flu season from having true riots in the streets over this.

It's a bureaucracy completely out of control, and is beyond saving. It can only be crushed.

[ThJ1800]

Quite right. Have you been reading the stories about letting British patients go to private providers on the continent, such as Greece, Germany and France? There was also the study comparing the NHS to a non-profit in California; the NHS didn't fare too well.

[Timesink]

There was also the study comparing the NHS to a non-profit in California...

Yes, Kaiser Permanente, one of the most hated HMOs in the United States. It's the health plan that's so bad, every American who has a choice runs screaming to another insurer - ANY other insurer - and yet they still annihilated the NHS in every category.

That's like managing to find a company whose finances make Enron look like saints.

[ThJ1800]

That's like managing to find a company whose finances make Enron look like saints.

That's a frightening, yet sobering, thought. Thanks be to god, that we do not have a government health care system, yet.