This raises many questions. How could the National Health Service BE sold ? If it were for sale, to whom would it be for sale ? This begs the question, who owns the NHS ?
The structure of the NHS is Byzantine, it has evolved over the last 70 years to become a behemoth all its’ own, the fifth largest employer in the world. Still honouring the three foundation principles.
~ To meet the needs of everyone in the UK
~ To be free at the point of delivery.
~ To be based on clinical needs not the ability to pay
The Blairite McKinsey spend nomenclature of ever shifting acronyms - PCTs, CCGs, cluster trusts, simply serve to befuddle further.
One cannot sell what is not clearly defined in terms of ownership. To this end the Attorney General must now enter the fray and clarify the situation for the Nation.
The teeth of this debate is the colossal buying power of the NHS. With day to day running costs of somewhere in the region of £115 billion per annum, the NHS is the largest customer in Europe for those pitching their wares, for example the giant pharmaceutical companies.
Consider this; if you are selling lightbulbs to 150 hospitals or loo paper pour se laver les fesses of 1.7 million employees and you negotiate an exclusive supply contract, you are made for life.
A brown paper envelope to the relevant Minister a triviality in terms of potential revenue.
The NHS is not for sale but it has is the biggest cheque book in the EU.
Inherent in all this are the glaring flaws in the UK parliamentary system. MPs have no guarantee of tenure, there is no fixed term. The cabinet is musical chairs. When they are out they are toast. George Osborne, once a cabinet minister and Chancellor despatched, sacked and redundant.
They are not accountable, whilst in office or otherwise, except at the ballot box. We have to on occasion rely on leaks to the media. Neither is there transparency.
In the 1990s there was the cash for questions scandal. More recently the MPs expenses scandal.
How can these flaws be addressed? Surely at a time of political turbulence there is great measure for address and reform.
For example a structure that brings in accountability and encourages integrity. Secondly a reporting mechanism to and for the public that is direct, explicit and apposite.
Thirdly that the intentions of these elected representatives are overt, cogent and free to scrutiny.
This comes to you from the original coffee house location, exchange of free thought and speech, from Royal Society of Arts.
We have had our Victoria Sponge cake and eaten it. Here with respect to Gary Rhodes. RIP.
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