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Barry, that is exactly the reason why people are concerned.
David, I couldn't agree more about mismanagement but what we have to remember is that the private sector is pretty good as mismanagement in spending our money too - we only have to look at the railways; or the way current private healthcare provideder use the state provision to train their staff or even emergency transfers from private 'routine' operations to NHS emergency facilities. (Can anyone tell me where our nearest private A&E department is?)
Yes the NHS does waste money, yes it does need massive reform. However it is the inability to see the difference between what the NHS is and it service.
The analysis is always based on "I went to a bad hospital, had bad treatment" therefore the NHS is rubbish. "I went to a good hospital, had good treatment" therefore it is good. People should be reminded that the 'H' in NHS doesn't, stand for hospital.
No one can shy away for the fact that things are seriously broken in some areas, but removing funding and then standing back and saying "look I told you it was rubbish" is hardly reform. People do see the NHS as sacrosanct, I would even go as far as to say it's a part of our national identity. It can be rubbished or referred to as a sacred cow, but then so can our monarchy or royal military bands - all of which enough of our nation believe to be important and ultimately form our identity.
When people bang on about the Jubilee or something as simple as a wedding making them proud to be British, I feel the same about other things, like the supporters of the NHS.