Summer 2011 Has Proven Explosive
Summertime has proven to be an explosive one in political terms in the UK. For the first time in many years, parliament was recalled twice over the break and August turned out to be one of the most interesting months of the year so far. Riots spread across the cities of Britain and social unrest and dissatisfaction seemed to be at an all time high. Yet one of the most divisive political actions occurred within one of the most treasured organisations the UK has – the NHS.
The new healthcare bill has been making its way through the Commons and has divided opinion sharply both within and outside Westminster. To the opposition things like care home manager jobs and similar positions may be under threat. The new bill allows for private companies to tender for the services that the NHS currently provides. David Cameron was at pains to point out during several weeks of Prime Minister’s Questions that no private company is being given control of the NHS. What is happening is that companies are being offered the chance to be providers for some of the services paid for by the public. Control would still remain within the NHS and the government hopes that this would encourage a more efficient and effective service for patients. At the moment as there is no competition within the NHS, the reasoning is that we allow poor service and care to flourish.
As imagined, this bill has proven to be political dynamite for the opposition who have used every opportunity to openly criticise Cameron and his party for even tabling it. Yet is there logic to the madness? No one wants to see the NHS destroyed, least of all Cameron as it would taint his legacy permanently. Yet the public purse is empty and still has holes in it that need repairing. Allowing the private sector to work within the NHS could be a masterstroke if it works and as long as it can be shown that the NHS remains a solely public body with no outside influence. Yet detractors and doubters remain.
Whilst there are many positions like social care jobs readily available at the moment, opponents of the new bill fear that medical staff would choose to go and work for the private companies employed by the government as they would receive higher salaries and benefits then they would under the NHS.
This situation will prove to be a tricky minefield for the government to navigate. Retaining existing doctor and nursing staff whilst cutting money to the NHS, remains problematic at best. Many GPs are already concerned that the control they are now being given over their local budgets will result in health care standards dropping as they are forced to place a £ sign over every patients'head. Most are concerned that if they spend their budget before the end of the fiscal year then they would have to delay referrals and treatments until funds became available again.
Summertime is rarely bright in the UK. The changes that have occurred this season have proven to be politically explosive and gloomy for many outsiders looking in.
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