Large part NHS is going to be privatised what can we do?AIBU to think it's too late.

[Hidingmyindentity]

I'm a HCP at a meeting this week our medical director said the medium term plan is to privatise all routine stuff, all planned surgery e.g. Hip/knee replacement if you want this kind of surgery you will have to pay for it or get health insurance. The NHS has no choice because it's loosing money in these areas. I had guessed this was on the cards but I was shocked it was now being said out loud.
ED, seeing a GP, all acute life threatening stuff in medicine and surgery will stay in the NHS, as will emergency paediatrics oncology midwifery emergency mental health all the rest we will have to fund some how.
Much of mental health is already been privatised as is much of the community care for children and adults with very complex needs, e.g. Virgin do lots this care.
TBH I don't know if we can stop it most of the unions except the BMA (and we know what happened to them when they spoke out about what's going on) are toothless and useless. I am unconvinced that we can do anything now the NHS has I fear reached a point of no return. Very few HCPs want this but no one is listening to us speak out and the press treat us like scum.

[onthettcbus]

Do you have any more specific details, time scales etc?

[LurpakIstheOnlyButter]

It has already happened. We will never get it back. Things have gone too far, bit by bit. I see it every day in my job (HCP)

[HelenaDove]

Bloody hell OP That is frightening.

[uglyflowers]

It terrifies me. Don't know what to do about it though 😢

[VideoGame]

Unsurprising. It's the Tories startegy. Defund it so there's no money, then when something goes wrong, point the finger and say aha! Knew it! Those damn socialists! My friend's private company can do so much better!

It's not accidental. I get so frustrated by people who campaign for hospital closures, they're playing into the hands of the government who want it privatised for ideological reasons.

[Hidingmyindentity]

Within the next five years.
All routine surgery will include orthopaedic surgery, a large part of gynae, ENT, hernias etc. Basically anything which your not going to die of or is t very specialised or require HDU/ITU, is a booked admission and has few if any complications. The NHS is loosing money on these because it can't recoupe the cost of this sort of stuff and charge what the private sector charges.
This makes me and my colleagues depressed we do not want this we believe free health care regardless of age, wealth, gender, race is a right and an essential in our country.
We are already turning away non British nationals who haven't been here 6 months presenting at our hospital with "non urgent" conditions this includes children.

[IJustLostTheGame]

This has been going on for years.
I did the admin for it for 8 years.
The Primary Care Trusts have all been privatised over the last 5 years

[Justanothernameonthepage]

I think the only thing to do is to start fighting for a political party you think may be able to stop it. For me that's WE party but neither the Tories or Labour seem that bothered about sorting it

[Hidingmyindentity]

We were all saying the other day that we wouldn't want to be treated in the private sector. It might (just) be fine if your in a famous private London hospital but not in your average private hospital they just don't have the experience when it goes wrong.
Although I suspect you'll still be treated in an NHS hospital you'll just have to fund it yourself.

[onthettcbus]

I don't understand the losing money argument, anyone explain this to me? I don't understand how they can be losing money when the NHS isn't a business.

[onthettcbus]

Where would they be recouping the cost from?

[Hidingmyindentity]

The primary care trusts but the NHS isn't billing the actual cost.

[Maisy84]

Jesus Christ. This is so shocking. When are they planning on making a public announcement?

[HelenaDove]

"a large part of gynae"


So women bearing the brunt again.

[Hidingmyindentity]

what's shocked us is that medical director is standing up and telling us. As I say it's obvious it's on the cards but th at a different from someone actually saying out loud.
They'll say it's the only way the NHS free at the point of immediate need can survive.

[Hidingmyindentity]

No Helena the poor in particular men women and children bearing the brunt.

[MorrisZapp]

Can you explain how this works? If I require non urgent surgery, will my GP will refer me to a private hospital and tell me to pay for it myself?

[dangermouseisace]

I'm puzzled as to how people are going to afford to pay off their tens of thousands of pounds of student debt, their extortionate rent/mortgage and THEN pay for elective surgery…without which they will be unlikely to be able to keep working until they drop dead.

The whole system is fucked. The Tories (and New Labour before) want us to have a system like the Americans- the most expensive healthcare in the world.

It's a disaster. What can we do?

[helpimitchy]

What sort of gynae are they planning on not treating?

They're just going to allow us to bleed to death or end up with massive prolapses?

Compulsory merina coils for everyone over 45?

[Hidingmyindentity]

I am unconvinced that anything will stop this. The current back door privatisation e.g. Community care, mental health in particular secure acute paediatrics has not affected enough people for your average man walking down the road to realise what's going on, But they'll be more, my neighbour can't get his hernia repaired on the NHS because it's not life threatening, inguinal hernias rarely strangulate soon it will be routine orthopaedic surgery, shoulders etc . And so it will go on.

[Hidingmyindentity]

Routine gynae: prolapses repairs for incontinence etc.
Your GP wont refer you he'll tell you if you want for example your prolapse replied you've got to pay for it. That's what happens in many areas with minor things like hernias.

[onthettcbus]

I think we need more info op.

[helpimitchy]

Well, we're going to end up with a pretty crippled population then aren't we? People will end up disabled by their non urgent problems and won't be able to work.

[Hidingmyindentity]

Repaired not replied!

[lottieandmia]

If this happens before the next election. Ie, service no longer being free at the point of service the Tories will not get in next time.