End of State Monopoly?

There are some potentially concerning moves afoot regarding the British healthcare system arising from the latest ideas of current Prime Minister David Cameron. The talk is that he's going to to "completely change" public services and start to work on the "presumption that private companies, voluntary groups and charities are as able to run schools, hospitals and other council services as the state".

That enterprise may run council services better is of course possible. But there is a reason that the NHS has never in its history made profit: it was never meant to be a profit making organisation. The emphasis ought be on the word 'service'. Conversely, the idea that a group of volunteers [no matter how well meaning] could organise the day to day running of a vast hospital (with each department vying for resources) is just plain daft.

These principles work well enough when it comes to rail or bus transport privatisation (maybe not everyone would agree!) - but those services are much less complex than health.

Posted in: David Cameron,Private Sector,Public Services