I remember N Farage in Brexit campaigns gone by evoking the image of hundreds of poor Europeans queuing to use our A&Es and GP surgeries. Was is it only six years ago that ‘our NHS’ was apparently the envy of, well, some at least. Now a sign of the times, as if we need one, is that two client couples have told me in the last month of their plans to move to France, to have access in later years to ‘a decent healthcare system’. And others are looking to preserve funds, not for long-term care, but in case they need to see a consultant and have tests for which they might otherwise wait months.. When once many of those who’d retired to the Costas would struggle and sell to get back home, there’s now more chance of an ambulance and hospital bed pretty much anywhere on the other side of the channel. It’s a tale of long decline, ‘efficiency savings’, over-management and electoral smoke and mirrors. But others are managing something approaching a system that works; so it’s surely not impossible.
“NHS is off the table and stay out of our elections, UK prime minister tells Trump”
In the real world, large chunks of the NHS are already sort-of privatised. In Gloucester, many cataract operations are carried out by a private company; which, yes, has cut waiting times considerably. In Oxford, three GP practices are now owned by a private company....
