I obviously heven’t been paying enough attention. I hadn’t realised that the reforms had gone this far:
From 2008 people needing
an operation will be entitled to select any hospital – public or
private – that can work within NHS cost limits. The treatment will
remain free for the patient and the hospital will be reimbursed by the
taxpayer.
Absolutely bloody marvellous. It’s a voucher scheme in all but name. Exactly what has been needed.
As the rest of the article points out it’s also bringing private investment into the system as well….another thing to celebrate. And this part:
Patricia Hewitt, the
health secretary, told the Labour conference that the contracts she
intends to sign with independent treatment centres will bring them no
more than 10% of the market for elective surgery. But she could not
commit the government to making 10% a permanent ceiling for the private
sector because she did not know how patient choice would work after
2008. The size of the private sector will be determined by competition,
not Ms Hewitt.
As I said, I haven’t been paying enough attention. As long as they don’t interfere this has the makings of being exactly what the whole system needs. Specialisation, competition, additional providers and all still single payer funded via vouchers (which is a political necessity).
From the Guardian Leader:
Do not be beguiled by the
health secretary’s assertions that the second wave of treatment centres
currently under negotiation will restrict the private sector to a 10%
share of elective care or just 1% of NHS expenditure. It would be a
mistake to infer that this would be the limit of private sector
involvement.
As above, it will be the market that decides the portion of health care that is delivered by private providers.
Don’t these people read their own paper?
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