To worry Labour will (part) privatise the NHS?

[DrBlackbird]

A friend recently commented to me that Labour plans to continue to move the NHS further along the privatisation pathway. I’ve read the following in the FT:

Wes Streeting has said ..the precondition for additional funding would be reform, including through the rollout of new technologies and partnerships with cutting-edge private companies Also that Streeting has mentioned several times plans to use the private sector for hip, knee and eye surgeries funded by the NHS and dismisses concerns about using NHS funds to pay private providers.

The thought of further reform is concerning. Does anyone have any more information on Streeting’s plans? Or general thoughts? Please note, I am NOT denying the Tories have eviscerated NHS services. This is not a comparison between the Tories and Labour. Tories will lose the GE so it’s a moot point. More, anyone have thoughts on Labour’s planned approach.

Whilst Blair’s Labour did invest in the NHS there were some disastrous policy decisions eg the PFI. NHS trusts now spend £2bn a year financing debt on private finance initiative (PFI) projects. That was a New Labour initiative.

IABU = Move along. Nothing to worry about here.
IANBU = Streeting’s reforms could be like New Labour’s shambolic PFI

Ok....
Forced to prescribe certain drugs. NICE issue protocols on drugs based on cost and efficacy.
MRI's. It is in fact completely the opposite of the explanation. The scanners are owned and run by the private companies. The NHS uses them during the day, the private companies pay "rent" to the NHS for the facility. They then use the scanners for private patients out of hours. It's a quid pro quo. Scanners cost millions and are generally not owned by the NHS.
Yes, government has signed contracts with private provides/insurers like BUPA, Nuffield and Circle Health for specific areas that have high need. It's actually very cost effective, pay per treatment. No extras.

MP's or Lords have no oversight of any NHS contracts. These are issued by the civil service or direct by hospitals and trusts.

The torys already have privitised a great deal

PFI was clearly a recipe for disaster. It was obvious at the time. I really hope Labour won’t go down a similar root. I abhor the idea of companies making profit from tax payers money. Every penny should be re-invested.

You've got to laugh really!

It's good in some ways, to just be able to order say inhalers for £10 each delivered to your door next day. And being private you can buy medications the NHS are stingy with

You're buying inhalers for £10? £9.90 is the cost of an NHS prescription. I think you've been had.

The NHS has been run down and defunded for years with too few staff and not enough beds. In the short term, outsourcing cuts waiting time and people are happy. Private hospitals are seen in a good light. In the long run, outsorcing to private companies is more expensive than treating in house and will drain the NHS of even more money. The NHS then fails completely over time and is fully privatised for private profit. Insurance becomes expensive and not everyone can afford to be covered - or have employers who will pay for it. As in USA, larger sums are spent and those without insurance go without or sell their homes to fund treatment. Unfortunately, both main parties are pushing this agenda. Money corrupts. So sad.

Only when it's a Labour policy

I used to live in a Labour area (local council) - the council really pushed new builds and granted permission for all kinds of tiny little new builds, built by cronies of those in power.
Very similar to what the Tories did for Covid contracts.

In this regard there's not a lot to choose between the two. (i.e. govt contracts given to friends)

Saw this article to see that this doctor is also concerned. I’m just not convinced by these plans of labours. I think it will make the situation worse. It’s as if Labour are trying to suggest that the NHS problems can be solved by directing money to private providers. But this is a dishonest election ploy that is going to undermine the NHS further. It worries me that they believe the electorate is that naive.

If it is free at the point of delivery (which is what seems to cause most of MN angst) and also delivers value for money to the NHS, why do you have an issue with it? Private providers have been contracting to the NHS for years, and not just the Tory years either.

And only certain conditions and difficulties will get a good service.

I remember watching Sicko the film about the USA healthcare system and a baby died because the nearest hospital wasn’t covered by the parents insurance.

The reason Nye set it up was to create health equality. I fully support that. Tax payers money shouldn’t end up as share holder profit. It should all be reinvested IMO.

I have an issue with my taxes ending up as share holder profit AND that I have witnessed first hand the shoddy services private providers give. I’ve never seen it improve things.

It's the way the rest of Europe, and indeed most of the world operates. I can't understand why people in the UK think it can't work here.

It's the way the rest of Europe, and indeed most of the world operates. I can't understand why people in the UK think it can't work here.

Well for one, I absolutely have no faith that we’d have a well run French or German or Dutch type health insurance insurance system.

What do you think we’ll get?

Of course we’d get an American system with American health insurance companies rushing in to fill the void. These companies operate in the region of 30% profit margins and CEO’s are some of the highest paid globally. America health care providers are vastly profitable because it’s a guaranteed product that people will spend their last penny on. Highly lucrative for physicians too.

Canada does have a similar system to the uk so it’s possible to have nationally funded health care although American health care companies have tried for decades to undermine the Canadian system.

Plus, there are not too many success stories in the UK of formerly state run services that were privatised and became more efficient, better services, provided to consumers at lower prices. Funny how the efficiency of the ‘market’ and ‘competition’ disappears with commodities we cannot live without. Trains? Gas? Water… that one speaks for itself.

I remember watching Sicko the film about the USA healthcare system and a baby died because the nearest hospital wasn’t covered by the parents insurance

During Covid a 17 year old boy died in a taxi after being turned away from one hospital because ‘no insurance’ going to another publicly funded one. You’re okay in the states as long as you work in a reasonable job.

This OP reads like a junior social media person the Conservative HQ was sent among us to sow seeds of doubt

Nothing to see here. Anything labour would do on this front, the conservatives would do tenfold so if you don't like it, vote labour!!

You’re okay in the states as long as you work in a reasonable job.

No, you aren't. Half my corporate team are in NYC and my coworker just had to pay a $5,000 co-pay for... giving birth.

I shit you not.