Britain’s National Health Service faces destruction

[Hannah Bell]

Britain’s Conservative/Liberal Democrat government has set out plans for the destruction of the National Health Service as a universal and comprehensive service free at the point of delivery.

The NHS Bill introduces a competitive market-based system, in which health care will be rationed. Health care will no longer be centrally controlled. Each hospital or NHS Trust will be able to set up joint ventures with the private sector. The bill also abolishes the duty to provide a comprehensive health service and to ensure equality of access. Instead, consortia of General Practitioners will arrange for such services as they deem necessary, based on their budget... Local authorities can also be required to take over NHS functions, at a time when their budgets are being slashed to the bone.

The bill exposes the Conservative/Liberal Democrat government’s lies--centred on the assertion that the NHS is “ring-fenced” from the impact of its draconian cuts in public spending. Workers will soon find themselves entitled only to a basic menu of treatments, as under the US system of managed care, and ultimately will have to depend on an insurance-based system...

The privatisation of the NHS began under Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government in 1989-90, with the introduction of the “internal market”. But this process went far further under the last Labour government. Under the banner of “modernisation” and “patient choice,” Labour set up Private Finance Initiative hospitals, privately run clinics for specific treatments and other measures that funneled vast sums of money to the health businesses...

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/may2011/pers-m20.shtml

[Hugabear]

1. This is how conservatives go about attacking universal health care

They point to Britain as an example, but what they don't tell you is that most of the problems with Britain's system came about as a result of conservative policies put in place during and since Thatcher's reign.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[calimary]

3. God! CONservatives spreading like a cancer!

:puke:

[Sirveri]

4. Well scratch Britain off the list of potential emigration targets.

Sad too since I have relatives there and speak the language.

[Amonester]

5. Well, (maybe) as long as they'll keep their beloved Royal marriages

I guess they won't complain.

:sarcasm:

[OKNancy]

6. It won't pass.

Although this is a right-wing opinion piece, it's more balanced than the wsws article

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1389351/How-Osborne-conspiring-Clegg-wreck-NHS-reform.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

[Hannah Bell]

9. i will bookmark your prediction & let you know.

[steaa]

7. This would refer to just NHS in England, not Scotland/Wales/NI..

nft

[suffragette]

10. What will that mean with this kind of split in services in such a major area?

Not so united in the United Kingdom anymore?

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. The WSWS is speculating on the outcome many years ahead

The changes the Tories announced they want to make to the NHS are worrying, but the WSWS is exaggerating about what is proposed now. If you want a realistic evaluation of them, then a more reliable source in, for instance, The Guardian. Some things like "the bill also abolishes the duty to provide a comprehensive health service and to ensure equality of access" are, as far as I know, fantasy, and there is no talk about any insurance-based system coming in. And what has actually been proposed has proved so unpopular, with voters and the doctors, nurses and others in the NHS, that the PM announced a 'pause' in the process to consult people. The Health Secretary (Andrew Lansley) now looks isolated in the cabinet, and the worst bits of privatising which, if they'd gone ahead, could have eventually ended up with a single payer system rather than a health service, look unlikely.

[suffragette]

12. Hope you guys can continue holding them in check

and keep them from making the changes they want.

[xchrom]

8. reagan/thatcherism was more successful than any of us dreamed.

progressive parties changed to be more like them & conservative parties became even more conservative.

[Keith Bee]

13. Back to Dickens wit' you!

K&R, but this truly sucks.

[StarsInHerHair]

14. & they claimed they'd NEVER do THIS, but that was BEFORE they got elected

nt