What is wrong with the NHS?

Firstly, there is a lot right with the National Health Service.? It was often said that the NHS was the envy of the world and, in my experience, it is still one of the ‘go to’ places across the globe for wisdom and practice on care delivery.

But there is now quite a bit wrong with it.? The issues are deep rooted and complex and they have fermented over many years – it will take just as long or even longer to unwind with effective solutions.?

Covid showed the very best of the NHS but in my view, it created a moment for those within and outside to question the service.? For those within it, the question was whether staff would continue regard their work as a vocation and to work above and beyond their contractual commitments.? For those outside it, the question was whether they would continue to love, value and pay what was needed for the services that did so much for the nation in the darkest of times.?

Did Covid break the moral contract between the NHS and the nation?? ?

Will the NHS continue to be regarded as a national religion??

Will Governments provide the appropriate funding for the NHS and how will the resulting increases in taxation be politically palatable?

In a series of posts, I am going to give some personal reflections and perspectives about the different challenges facing the National Health Service and how there are clues about how these can be resolved.

I do not have a monopoly on wisdom so I am trusting my network to add their perspectives at an opportune time in the political cycle.

The posts that follow will include:

-??????? “It is the money, stupid”

-??????? “Leadership: a fish rots from the head down”

-??????? “Getting better value from health expenditure”

-??????? “Reorganising the deck chairs”

-??????? “Not another fad”

-??????? “Who exactly is responsible for improving health?”