A special tax to save the struggling NHS won’t work. Here’s why | Simon Jenkins

This idea distracts from what’s needed: a bipartisan royal commission to stop NHS money being wasted, then reform

A special NHS tax is a bad idea. The concept as put forward today by a group of health professionals is naive. First, it will not happen and is thus a distraction from getting more money for health. Second, if it were introduced, every good cause would want its own tax, housing, schools, student fees and the army. The Treasury would just slash existing spending on them.

That 10 senior figures from the NHS, general practice and nursing, on a panel set up by the Liberal Democrats, should want more for their service is not surprising.

No profession will suggest radical reform of itself, least of all doctors

Related: Hospitals cancelling urgent surgery despite NHS bosses' orders

Continue reading... February 05, 2018 at 04:48PM