NHS : Less Free at the Point of Need

Central government is actively encouraging all public sector bodies to operate joined up services. As a result you will see various public sector departments and quangos sharing the use of each other's services, staff and property. Nothing wrong with that. The problem is each partner thinks 'corporately' and sees the other as a supplier or customer. So what happens is they develop contracts outlining legally binding rules. Private sector lawyers and bureaucrats do well from the arrangement as it keeps them busy and profitable at your expense. Money that could be of more benefit to those delivering front-line services. Local government working with the NHS is a classic example:

1. You pay council tax to the local council.
2. You pay income tax, national insurance and VAT. A portion goes to the NHS and local government.
3. Local government agrees to offer the NHS use of council facilities.
4. The NHS wants to do lots of things that local government dont agree with and vice versa.
5. Local government also thinks they are poor and the NHS rich so they attempt to charge private sector rates for service charges. Which the NHS pay to local government using money you have paid the NHS.
6. Both the NHS and local government employ there own auditors, commercial managers and accountants to check everything. Both use similar systems to manage, control and account for the flow of money. Both the NHS and local government tend not to have the in-house expertise to implement these systems so they both employ the same management consultants to help who normally charge 900 pounds per day.
7. Local government pays for a load of legal advice to protect their interest whilst the NHS pays for their own legal advice to protect their interest.
8. If either party breaks the rules in the contract either party is entitled to a cash sum in the form of a penalty. (the cash is your money and comes from the same overall pot).
9. In the event either party cant pay or wont pay the NHS can take local government to court and vice versa. Each party would then engage legal advisers. Basically, they are attempting to seek compensation (your money) by pay legal advisers using your money.

The whole thing is so complicated only the accountants, auditors and lawyers who are the main beneficiaries understand how it all works. In the mean-time there are not enough dentists, superbugs flourish and patients suffer. Yearly, the NHS is becoming less free at the point of need due to bureaucrats who think they are commercially savy business people. The commercialisation of joined up working between our public services diverts funds away from services that everyone needs. We will end up with an American style health service. Guantanamo Bay is the only place on USA soil where an American can get free health care.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LePgSxmI3U&feature=related