I have never been a great fan of charity or business being used to fund what we are continually being told is a state funded, health service meant to be free at the point of access for all. As far as I can see if some people can access a scan, or a piece of equipment just because of where they live, who they know or how loudly they can shout or petition then that is wrong. It is not that I believe the NHS can or even should fund everything for everyone, it is just I think we need to be more honest about what can and can’t be afforded when or how. On the BBC website this morning I found a story about a new scanner, provided by the Royal Bank of Scotland to a hospital in Edinburgh. Great news for the people of that part of Scotland that they will be able to access state of the art scans, but if you read on, apparently staff of the bank will get some kind of preferential treatment! Now whatever happened to the NHS being about need, equity and fairness. Secondly who will pay for maintenance, additional training that might be needed for those operating or interpreting scans, what happens if and when it breaks down and what happens if you live outside of the area of Edinburgh whether you work for the bank or not?
I am firmly committed to the NHS, why I work for the NHS. But it is time for us to discuss exactly what can and should be funded and exactly what cannot and should not. It is time for clarity about what choice means, what access means and what equity means because some people clearly have more choice, access and equity than others!
Apparently the picture above is the kind of the thing the scanner can see which of course is amazing stuff!
Strangely I’ve been considering alternate funding systems for the NHS recently. I am a huge advocate of the NHS and although largely I do not agree with how it is run I think it has great potential and demonstrates a massive cultural difference between us and other ‘western powers’.
I think the risk with any level of corporate donations, sponsorship or regular funding is it will turn the NHS into a business, more concerned with pleasing investors and their share holders than patient care.
There is also a risk when it comes to increasing restrictions on who is viable for certain diagnostic tests. In my experience a lot of people are accidentally diagnosed through tests the physician doesnt believe are necessary. I have even known cases where a patient was diagnosed through a result not expected within the diagnostic test. ie. Us and Es test looking for creatonin levels which were fine however potassium and sodium were asymptomatically out of range.
I think the solution here would be altruistic donations with no strings. Any of you guys got a couple of billion to give away?
Well apparently, soon whole trusts will be privatised. Hey, it worked great with the trains and post office and everything, yeah?
Why not contact Ben Bradshaw MP, and tell him what a wonderful idea it is of his….
Constituency Secretary
26b Clifton Hill
Exeter
EX1 2DJ
01392 424464
http://www.benbradshaw.co.uk/contact/contact.php
I’m just throwing the seeds of dissent out there, and hopefully a few of them will sprout..