The Conservatives would like to completely privatise the NHS

[bythestairs]

The quote below is interesting because an increase from 4.3% to 6% of the NHS budget actually represents an increase of 40% percent in terms of the amount of money spent on private contractors.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health called the suggestion of greater privatization “nonsense.” “Use of the private sector in the NHS represents only 6 percent of the total NHS budget – an increase of just 1.7 percent since May 2010.”

rt.com/uk/240029-nhs-privatisation-agreement-largest/

Nonsense.

God help us of they get in again, without money behind us we'll be f**d big time. We've always worked and saved and scrimped and we are on low wages. We are the working poor, and the tories will absolutely decimate us if they get in.

YABU.
Or YANBU - I cannot tell

The Tories have been making moves to dismantle the NHS by stealth for years, that is true.

The public are contributing to the collapse of the NHS by their ignorance about treating themselves and their over reliance on the services provided. I'm not talking about genuine need, but the sorts of people who turn up at surgeries with routine viruses or A&E with minor first aid issues (home treatable).

If people aren't paying for something, they take it for granted. I don't agree with privatising it, but something needs to be done to make people value it.

More private 'services' and PFI have been introduced to NHS by Labour.

So yes, I'd be concerned if that party of privatisation got in.

I live in an area serviced by a hospital rebuilt under PFI ( private finance initiative ) in a deal done by the labour government which is now in hock to private financiers for ever more in a scheme similar to a payday loan. The care is absolutely appalling: referrals lost, appointments never sent out, huge nos of locum staff who are unfamiliar with NHS and local care pathways, I T systems which are unfit for purpose, experienced staff leaving in droves, etc etc. A labour government have and will again also look towards the private sector to fund NHS services and also education think academies so YABU to think it's only the conservatives who are at it.

I agree with hiddenhome. Because it's free at the point of use, people don't value it. Not sure what can be done, but it can't go on as it is

thank you Mumzy and Viking. I wonder why people have such short memories when it comes to politics?

Healthcare provision for the population should not be politically determined. Politicians don't understand the medical needs of a population. The two should be separate and senior clinicians should make the decisions. Funding needs to be negotiated in an intelligent and informed manner. Politicians lack the intelligence and insight to take on such a role.

Even charging a nominal fee for a GP or A&E visit would help to focus people's minds and deter the time wasters. Drunks need to be fined for ending up in A&E due to excessive intoxication too I think.

We all should take responsibility for the way we handle our health care needs. The NHS is a good system, but something needs to change.

At least 60% of NHS money goes to private companies/individuals.

And has done since it was founded

Healthcare provision for the population should not be politically determined.

^^That.

However, I don't think that charging will be the answer (tempting as it sometimes seems).

It's a difficult one because there is a lot of inefficiency in many NHS hospitals.

The private providers often do deliver services better and at lower cost to the NHS while still making a profit. However they cherry pick the profitable simple procedures of many specialities.

Perhaps the answer should be public-private co-operatives where a capped bonus is given to the people who run them and 'profits' are ploughed back into services locally.

Is that you, Ed?

This is a rewording of 'Conservatives to cut all child benefit' and some people on here will actually believe it.

the Tories do indeed want to privatise the NHS.
they been angling for this since the 1980s.
anyone who can't see it is blind.

hidingfrom why no changes before 1997 then?

Even charging a nominal fee for a GP or A&E visit would help to focus people's minds and deter the time wasters.

On the other hand this could result in more expense as many people won't go to the doctor for small niggly things that then end up being something very serious.

The private providers often do deliver services better and at lower cost to the NHS while still making a profit.

Wasn't there something on the news a few years ago about private providers charging the NHS for 100 hip replacements but only doing around 60?

A true Conservative does not believe in the state provision of healthcare. Conservatives believe in low taxation and the state staying out of peoples' lives as much as possible.
They will run down the public services in this country for the same reason bears shit in the woods - that's just what they do!

Complete rubbish.

Corlan One definition of conservative does want a smaller state, but the current leadership are not of that ilk. They do believe in living within our means and that higher tax rates often mean less economic activity, a worse economy and a lower total tax take.

As I understand it, Labour would reverse the health and social care Act, which put private providers on a level playing field with the NHS, for new contracts.

Reversing this would make the NHS the 'preferred provider' again, only using a private one if the NHS couldn't supply/do whatever it is.

(Can someone please let me know if I've got that wrong.)

FFS these Tory / Labour bashing threads are getting really REALLY bloody annoying - can we not keep them to the politics page?