I just want to point out that the nhs is not
supposed to be a second class service. It does not agree to deliver just basic healthcare. It is supposed to be a fully comprehensive and upto date health service provider.
This is from 'The NHS Constitution'
1.
The NHS provides a comprehensive service, available to all irrespective of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, belief, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity or marital or civil partnership status. The service is designed to diagnose, treat andimprove both physical and mental health. It has a duty to each and every individual that it serves and must respect their human rights.
At the same time, it has a wider social duty to promote equality through the services it provides and to pay particular attention to groups or sections of society where improvements in health and life expectancy are not keeping pace with the rest of the population.
2.
Access to NHS services is based on clinical need, not an individual’s ability to pay. NHS services are free of charge, except in limited circumstances sanctioned byParliament.
3.
The NHS aspires to the highest standards of excellence and professionalism – in the provision of high quality care that is safe, effective and focused on patient experience; in the people it employs, and in the support, education, training and development they receive; in the leadership and management of its organisations; and through its commitment to innovation and to the promotion, conduct and use of research to improve the current and future health and care of the population. Respect, dignity, compassion and care should be at the core of how patients and staff are treated not only because that is the right thing to do but because patient safety, experience and outcomes are all improved when staff are valued, empowered and supported.
6.
The NHS is committed to providing best value for taxpayers’ money and the most effective, fair and sustainable use of finite resources.
Public funds for healthcare will be devoted solely to the benefit of the people that the NHS serves.
There are pages and pages of pledges and promises of high standards. The crazy thing is that a large part of their annual budget is set aside for compensation re negligence. They know beforehand that they are NOT able to meet the standards they set themselves.
In my Dad's case his consultant was one of the top ones in the UK in that field. One of my brothers enquired at the time about a private consultation. We could have seen that SAME consultant at a hospital 30 miles away at a cost of around £500. So, it seemed logical to see that top consultant for free at an nhs hospital 3 miles away.
Do you see? how NEARLY it gave a good service!! It is very frustrating.