A cutting intervention
James Forsyth 11:44amPaul Waugh has a phenomenally important mini-scoop on his blog. He reports that last night, the chief executive of the Audit Commission Steve Bundred said:
Bundred is almost certainly right: you can protect frontline services without ring-fencing the entire budget. Sadly, though, no major politician is prepared to risk the inevitable charge of wanting to shut down hospitals, sack nurses etc that would come from talking about cuts in the NHS budget.“Both political parties have pledged that whatever happens they will protect health and education.
“I think that’s a big mistake. Health and education are the two services that have been most generously funded over the past decade but they are among the most inefficient services.”
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Ben Elford
July 1st, 2009 1:48pm Report this commentIt sounds entirely credible that these two sectors, into which so much money has been poured, probably have a huge amount of waste and need to be pruned rigorously.
I fail to see why anyone in the present financial climate, whatever his political persuasion, should treat health and education as sacred cows which are exempt from scrutiny, and from necessary economies.
Dirty Euro
July 1st, 2009 2:08pm Report this commentI think the PM did not that well. He should have brought up the riots point and tried to claim the tories would cause riots with public service cuts.
strapworld
July 1st, 2009 2:19pm Report this commentSteve Bundred. Labour through and through Father was Leader of Liverpool City Council (nice chap actually Sir. George). Very left wing Chief executive of Hackney Council now of the Audit Commission and someone CAMERON can now throw back at BROWN with impunity!
Verity
July 1st, 2009 2:43pm Report this commentBen Elford, I totally agree. And vast, huge, gigantic economies could be effected to the NHS by making it compete in the open market. By which I mean, employees should be able to nominate their healthcare provider of choice to receive their NI deduction. Handing it over to one organisation, by mandate, is nuts.
Tony E
July 1st, 2009 3:27pm Report this commentHealth Care in my area is still appalling. I need an appointment, (non emergency), wait two weeks. Doc says I need a blood test, come back in two weeks to get that taken, then wait another two weeks to get the results, and another two weeks for another appointment with the same doctor.
So don't cut the money, make them do something with it rather than just throw it away on nothing!
Roland Scott-Jackson.
July 2nd, 2009 9:29am Report this commentWhy not make over the Health Service - and indeed, whole chunks of the economy - to the French. They know how to run these services. I need a blood-test ? I go to the local clinic with the doctor's request, wait a few minutes, blood sample is taken, and away I go. As a matter of course, the results are sent to ME, and a copy to the doctor, usually on the same day.
Verity
July 2nd, 2009 3:45pm Report this commentIn France, in my experience, the doctor gives you the prescription for the test, and one is free to choose which clinic to patronise. Result: market competition to provide courteous, accurate and timely service among clinics.
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