Forum Topic

BJ to seize control of the NHS with new law

Ministers want new powers to instruct health bosses to force pace of change, amid fears that private-sector involvement could be expanded across health servicehttps://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-nhs-new-law-simon-stevens-tory-ministers-a9324761.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR1En16alowLE3ZMs6s3QjswhrvdI6qUf2SN5EE4t8bn7InL7JkGcBvHjms#Echobox=1581170382Very bad news!!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2468d12 Comments

Well from the little I know, Sir Simon is hated in the NHS.  I do believe Boris is genuine and let's face it, the NHS does need a shakeup. There is so much wastage and far too much management.I still think the NHS should be run be a cross-party consortium, but I guess the arguments would be even worse.

Bunny Payne ● 2467d

Bring back matron.

Barbara Stevens ● 2467d

I really do not know if Sir Simon is hated or not.I believe doctors should deal with the NHS, not politicians.  Perhaps the NHS does need a shakeup - administration layer far too large.  But the NHS should be looking after the NHS.  The disastrous obligation of tendering to all and give mayor contracts to private companies is something that must be looked at - not by politicians!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2467d

That would be brilliant Barbara.  But, regrettably, they are all scared of women!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2467d

Surely, Ivonne, they're brought up to obey nanny? But seriously, surely no one can be surprised by this move? It was obvious before the election that Johnson et al had some plan afoot like this? He won't sell off the NHS but wait and watch for the private health companies to take over more and more of the NHS ... he'll pacify Trump and his cronies by saying you don't want to and can't by the NHS but your paymasters can bid for some lucrative contracts ...

Michael Ixer ● 2467d

Hello Michael,Well, we may have expected, or continue to expect, surprises from BJ.  But taking over NHS as it appears he wishes to do, this is really too much.  I wonder when we will stand up to say enough is enough.He also wishes to curtail the judiciary to his benefit. He has also undermined Parliament,He may wish a trade deal with the US and Australia with passion.  But, hand in heart, do you not think this is becoming very much like a dictatorship?  While in some respects I may not be surprised at what he wishes to do, on the whole, British people wish the NHS to continue being the NHS, not a subsidiary of insurance companies.  Will we all accept this without a protest?

Ivonne Holliday ● 2467d

Ivonne. I don't like it but I'm not at all surprised by this as in my opinion he is an untrustworthy,  duplicitous bully - so that's why I didn't vote for him. However, the UK's electorate - with some assistance from the first past the post electoral system- has given him a large, controlling mandate. Hence, I'm not sure there's much anyone can do in a democracy if the electorate select someone who wants to dilute that democracy.  The British people were given the opportunity to replace the FPTP system but they rejected that, so the only moderating forces are the House of Lords and the judiciary but in the British system the Commons, if it has a sufficient majority can modify those. Let's wait and see what he does in his cabinet reshuffle ...

Michael Ixer ● 2467d

About time. The government are continually asked to pump more of our Money into the NHSThe same government are pilloried about waiting times and shortages in the NHS. They now want to take control to improve the NHS and people complain.  I am at a loss . Are those complaining the same ones that want them to take control of the railway?

Andy Pike ● 2467d

Good morning Andy,As far as I know, the NHS is a public entity which has not been franchised out.  That the private sector has a greater share I do not deny. But the management layer has grown at a disproportionate pace since the Bottomley times. Since then,  managers have earned a lot more than doctors and nurses.  The NHS should be run experts in that field, obviously with the assistance of managers.  Not run by managers for their benefit let alone politicians taking control.As somebody told a friend of mine not long ago, let the nurses and doctors give you ideas on how to save and improve the NHS, after all they are at the heart of it.  Of course, that is never done as big consulting companies are brought in, at great cost, to provide solutions without understanding the basics of the work the NHS does.Comparing the NHS with the railways is rather difficult, at least for me.  Most of the lines are run be franchises owned by foreign governments.  The situation with Northern Railways was dire until it was recently nationalized.  Southern and SWR are owned by the same company which has caused chaos since taking over.

Ivonne Holliday ● 2467d

Yvonne I agree with a lot of what you say . The NHS needs to divest itself of a lot of these so called managers. The government is clearly frustrated that under Sir Simon this cgange us not happening quickly enough. Hence its frustration and the need to speed up the pace of change

Andy Pike ● 2467d

The 2013 reorganisation made fragmentation of the NHS worse and very difficult to get joined up coherent approach to healthcare and public health. The system needs longer-term, systematic planning And stability by people who know what they are doing. I very much doubt that BJ and co have the expertise to do this. Unfortunately they don’t seem to have the wisdom to back the people who do. . Decisions driven by ideology and short term, self-interested thinking of politicians will make the current situation even worse. still the British public knew what they were going to get and voted for it anyway. Nothing we can do for another 5 years.

Ruth Pates ● 2467d

My sister is head of Community Nursing in a very large area of Wiltshire.  She has several Matrons reporting to her, but the days of "ooh Matron" have long gone, more's the pity.  I must ask her what Matrons' duties are now (Google says it's cleanliness and preventing hospital infections).Btw, as nurse of many years, who recently had to get a degree to take the next step up the ladder, she despairs of nurses who are more interested in gaining qualifications by going on courses, than actually pulling up their sleeves and getting on with looking after patients.  Although I still think nurses are marvellous and often much better and more understanding than doctors.  And PPS, my sister was more than capable of going to University in the 80s, but chose to train as a nurse instead.

Bunny Payne ● 2466d