The NHS debate

The NHS has come in for some stick recently, especially from the USA where a big debate is raging about their healthcare system. The NHS was brought into the debate when Americans began to say that the NHS is rubbish.

I know quite a few people who work for the NHS and whilst it undoubtably has its problems, in my opinion, the NHS does a brilliant job. It employs 1.8 million people and eats up billions of pounds but it is there when you need it for most things anyway.

Of course, the NHS is not perfect, far from it. There are too many managers and not enough front line staff and treatment targets don’t tell the full story. There is also a problem with the cost of drugs for specialist treatments meaning that there is a post code lottery for some treatments.

Personally I would like to see a hybrid system whereby private healthcare is mixed with the NHS and it’s possible to opt out, but overall I think the criticism coming from the USA is unjustified.