Anyone who questions any aspect of the way the NHS performs – whether in Scotland or England and Wales – soon becomes accustomed to being accused of harbouring some kind of ideological resentment towards the dear old thing. Ideological, of course, is a Bad Thing. It is supposed to indicate a preference for an evidence-free approach that places means above ends.
This works both ways, however. If (some of) the NHS’s critics are motivated by ideology many of its keenest defenders are no less moved by an ideological commitment to the service. Their ideological commitment, of course, is a Good Thing and not to be confused with the other kind of ideological commitment.
Sometimes this means that even stalwart defenders of the NHS must sacrifice what works for the greater purity of the service. If patients suffer as a consequence of this commitment then too bad. Let them wait. Their ailments are mere trifles when matched against the greater glory of the NHS itself.
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