It has often been said that the NHS would benefit from being run by an independent corporation, rather like the BBC, at arm’s length from government. Well, the Tories say that’s exactly what they’ll do, a fact that I’ve referred to elsewhere, having previously been in favour of it myself.
OK, the BBC might not be the most inspiring example, given that it’s currently under fire from every quarter, not least from those same Tories, but the principle should be a good one, given that we spend most of our time complaining about the political micromanagement of healthcare.
And yet, and yet. The more I think about it, the less sure I am that it’s a good idea - it will all depend what sort of outfit this ‘NHS Board’ turns out to be, and the trouble is, I suspect we all know the answer to that question, don’t we? We’d like it to be composed of respected medical professionals (not necessarily medical politicians - in fact, specifically not medical politicians) plus the cream of the sensible NHS managers (yes, there are some - you know there are).
However, we’ll probably get saddled with a bunch of professional quango members - those benighted souls who move from one highly-paid sinecure to another, having never experienced a proper job in their lives; a couple of politicans with a health connection (Frank Dobson, bless him, will be a shoo-in); a clutch of businessmen with good Tory cost-cutting (sorry, modernising) credentials and, if we’re lucky, a couple of doctors prepared to take the DoH shilling in return for a gong. And, oh yes, almost forgot, a few over-promoted nursing Dames who haven’t been near the dirty end of a patient in 20 years, but who have acquired certificates and diplomas in facilitation, process engineering and service improvement.
The worst case scenario would be if the Board is brought into existence simply to oversee the piecemeal selling-off of the NHS to the private bidder offering the cheapest deal. This is a process already well advanced under Nulabour, and anyone who thinks the Tories won’t continue, or even accelerate, the privatisation of health care learned nothing from the Ken Clarke years (and it is truly remarkable that those of us who were around then find ourselves looking forward to the return of a Conservative government - a testimony, if one were needed, to the sheer awfulness of Labour rule).
Just as I was putting the finishing touches to that last paragraph, David Cameron announced that one of his first acts on taking power will be to abolish the post of chairman of the BBC, so I think we all know who’ll be our new boss.
Cynical, moi?
Tags: NHS Board
An independent board would be a huge improvement. An apolitical approach would allow us to get beyond micro-management and on-the-hoof policy making.
How about that Crozier bloke. After all he did a great job at the post office, and i’m sure he’ll lick itv into shape in time to move on to us.
Good thought bob 2, but unfortunately, Adam C has just become Chairman of ITV (or something like that).