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Part of my letter (06
November, 2003) to Michael Howard MP on the day he was elected leader of
the UK Conservative Party:-
B) National Health
Service:-
Problem:-
The current annual per
capita expenditure on the NHS is £850. The State guarantees
comprehensive treatment to all, free of charge at the point of delivery.
Unfortunately, the reality is that there are inadequate resources e.g.
surgeons, doctors, nurses, hospital beds, diagnostic equipment etc
resulting in unacceptable delay in treatment for non-emergency
treatment, including surgery.
The State is unable to
inject private sector discipline in management of resources e.g.
hospital management and carries the burden of risk for the whole
population. Rising patient aspirations, longevity, increase in serious
illnesses (cardiovascular diseases, respiratory and cancer) impose a
huge financial burden on the State that cannot continue to be met out of
direct taxation without seriously eroding the competitiveness of our
national economy.
Solution:-
1. Shift the burden
of risk from the State to the private sector by assisting
citizens to insure for comprehensive medical cover.
2. Create NHS Hospital
Management Boards by recruiting local and successful entrepreneurs and
professionals.
3. Allow each hospital to
compete for patients who are covered privately as this will force
private sector discipline and ensure efficient use of manpower,
equipment, beds and medication, including perishables.
How could such a system
be established?
a) Offer tax credit of up
to £500 maximum to each person under 20 years old who can provide
evidence of comprehensive cover with a bona fide health insurer. Tax
benefit would accrue to the parent of minors and/or those receiving
education. This will remove the risk of cover for treatment from the
State for all citizens under 20 in the first year of implementation.
b) In the second year of
implementation, offer a tax credit of £500 maximum to all those between
the age of 20 and 30.
c) Continue to cover
using a 10 year age band to cover the 50 to 60 year olds in the 5th
year.
Therefore, in 5 years of
implementation, it is possible to offer comprehensive health cover to
the entire population with the exception of citizens aged 60 or over.
This group of pensioners would be covered by the State as insurance
premiums for this group can vary substantially depending on their state
of health.
The shift to private
medical cover for the bulk of the population would generate substantial
opportunities for both state owned and privately owned hospitals as they
strive to offer quality treatment on a competitive basis. The patient
would be free to choose the surgeon and the hospital for treatment
forcing efficient use of resources. Such a system would generate
additional capacity and reduce/eliminate the current delays for
treatment and surgery, experienced particularly by pensioners.
This scheme does NOT
'privatise' the NHS because the state hospitals will continue to employ
the doctors, surgeons, nurses etc. although they will be judged and paid
according to competence as hospitals compete to offer the best for the
patient.
This policy for the NHS
offers quality and choice to the patient. State and private hospitals,
eager to attract patients, would be obliged to publish data on
admissions, failures, bed occupancy rates, acquisition of new equipment
and details of professional qualification and experience of health
professionals. It will encourage medical personnel to advance their
training, offer the prospect of modernising the diagnostic equipment,
improve substantially the hospital wards and allow health professionals
to manage the NHS without interference from politicians!
C) Immigration and
Asylum:-
Problem:-
The UK is unable to
identify genuine asylum seekers as too many economic migrants arrive and
declare themselves as fleeing from their countries. Furthermore, there
is inadequate control at our borders resulting in illegal entry of
economic migrants, victims of human trafficking and criminals involved
in drugs or terrorism.
Solution:-
1) Install trained
manpower and advance scanning equipment at every major entry point in
the UK to ensure comprehensive check of every vehicle, boat, train and
aircraft that enters the UK.
2) Establish and
advertise worldwide the criteria, requirements and procedure for all
asylum seekers to eliminate those who are using this pretence for entry.
3) Determine the UK
manpower requirement by consulting industry, commerce, public services
and UK's professional associations e.g. BMA, NUT, Nurses Union,
engineers etc.
4) Establish a point
system for immigration like that used by the USA, Canada, Australia and
New Zealand.
5) Publish the national
requirements so that the people can know what numbers of foreigners will
be entering the UK.
An immigration and asylum
policy based on such criteria helps to eliminate fear and suspicion. It
also promotes good race relations, especially important for those ethnic
minorities that are established in the UK.
Only the readers can
judge whether Mr. Howard’s UK Election manifesto, speeches and
interviews reflect any of these ideas I put to him in 2003! |
