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NHS Chief's Stark Warning: Future in Peril
16 Dec
Summary
- NHS faces existential risk despite increased funding and staff.
- Private practice risks NHS waits falling, exacerbating the crisis.
- Poverty and inequality significantly strain NHS resources.
A veteran NHS leader, Nick Hulme, has issued a dire warning about the future of the health service after 46 years of service. He contends that the NHS is at an unprecedented risk, noting that despite increased funding and staff, waiting lists persist stubbornly high. This situation, he fears, provides fertile ground for political narratives aimed at undermining the NHS.
Hulme expressed concern over the rise of private healthcare, suggesting it could actively benefit from extended NHS waiting times. He criticized the promotion of 'choice' by politicians, as the system lacks the necessary spare capacity. Furthermore, he lamented the return to siloed, restrictive practices after a period of pandemic-induced collaboration, and pointed to professional bodies' opposition to measures like physician associates.
The outgoing CEO highlighted how poverty and inequality disproportionately affect NHS resources, with a significant majority of patients over 65 suffering from diseases linked to deprivation. He argued that substantial funds are spent on treating the consequences of poverty, which could be more effectively and cheaply addressed through prevention. He believes the NHS, while fundamentally the best system, requires urgent improvement to avoid people seeking 'snake oil alternatives'.
