From: Platt Holden (pholden@sc.rr.com)
Date: Mon Aug 09 2004 - 01:45:46 BST
> dmb replies:
> You've helped me make my point. The Gaurdian article discusses these
> problems without putting the blame on socialism.
Oh, but it did. Like in the following excerpt:
"Lack of choice
The state monopoly means that patients have very limited choice, and
basically have to accept what they are given. They have some choice of GP
within their area (but it is difficult and time consuming to switch
between them, in contrast to the ease of going to another doctor in
France), and almost no choice of hospital or specialist. Obviously, choice
doesn't apply in some areas - if you are in an accident, you just want to
be treated as quickly as possible. But true accidents and emergencies are
a tiny fraction of the entire NHS workload.
This can be intensely frustrating for patients who have learnt to enjoy
choice in every other area of their life, and seriously undermines
complaints systems for redressing wrongs. Patients with ongoing treatment
are too frightened to complain about a doctor who quite literally holds
the power of life and death over them. Medical authorities can adopt an
incredibly defensive, dismissive and arrogant position because they know
that the patient has to either 'like it or lump it'.
It is also inefficient, because it removes a strong incentive for
improvement in the services. Since patients by and large can't choose to
go to a clean hospital or a good doctor, there is limited pressure on
dirty hospitals and bad doctors to raise their standards.
If the government still controls where the money goes, then patients have
only whatever choice the Health Secretary decides to grant them which is
ultimately very little choice indeed."
State monopoly. Socialism. Limited choice. Waiting lines. Thanks Clinton,
Kerry, Kennedy and company, but no thanks.
Platt
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