The suggestion by LibDem leader Vincent Cable to increase tax to pay for NHS has received mix reception. While most people are willing to pay extra tax, a rise of one penny overall, or better still a arise at the upper end of five penny, depending on the amount of extra revenue it may generate, many have also raised concern about the waste and inefficiency in the NHS.
But the main concern is that unless this extra revenue is specially ear marked for NHS, it may disappear in the bottomless pit or worse government may fiddle with the figure, reduce their contribution in line with the extra revenue generated by this special tax, thus negating the benefit to NHS.
Many pundits raised the valid questions of procurement where by NHS pays over the odd for medicine which could be purchased at fraction of the price paid by NHS. Add to this the cost of Health Tourism, the scandalous cost of agency nurses, as well as doctors who may earn a month's wage by doing couple of long shifts at weekends. Add to this the ten fold increase of non clinical staffs, especially managers, along with waste, inefficiency and PFI repayments due to past unbelievable blunders are all responsible for the mess NHS is in today.
The best way forward is for government to appoint All Party Advisory Board to look at NHS and make fair and free but binding recommendation that may include contributions by patients for GP and A and E visits.
Without such drastic solutions, NHS will stumble from one crisis to another every winter. The poor patients, especially the old, infirm and chronically sick will pay with their lives.
Kumudini Valambia
From Valancia, Spain
