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NHS reforms synopticity

politicsrstillus — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:15:02 +0000

The editors of the Health Service Journal, The Nursing Times and the BMJ have written an opinion piece branding Andrew Lansley’s healthcare reforms an ‘unholy mess’. The comments further the pressure on Lansley and the government whose reforms and cuts have faced a level of opposition unprecedented in the last decade of politics. There’s more on the BBC site here.

How and why has the principle that healthcare should be ‘free at the point of need’ be under threat? (15)

politicsrstillus — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:59:48 +0000

The idea of the NHS being ‘free at the point of need’ has had to be undermined due to the pragmatism of politicians. When it was established the NHS was extremely ambitious with the idea of ‘free at the point of need’ so it was inevitable that certain parts of the NHS would require some payments.
The mantra that British healthcare should be ‘free at the point of need has been undermined in a number of ways. Prescription charges were introduced for those working adults between 19 and 60 in 1952. Although it is a small charge, and only for those who can afford it, immediately the idea that the NHS if free for all is under threat because a crucial part of healthcare, drugs, is no longer free.
Another example of healthcare no longer being ‘free at the point of need’ is that opticians and dentists impose a charge for all those over the age of 18. Opticians charge for eye appointments and glasses and dentists for any dental work or checkups. This is where a whole aspect of the NHS has been eroded and people are now forced to pay for a part of their healthcare completely.
The establishment of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in 1999 has meant that what drugs and treatment vary according to area. Each branch of NICE decides what treatments are available on the NHS in that area. This has unfortunately led to a ‘postcode lottery’ where some NICE branches have rejected an expensive radical new treatment in favour of saving more lives with chemo for example, whereas another area this treatment might be available. This variation between treatments available across the country has meant that healthcare is ‘free at the point of need’ for everyone is no longer true as it depends on area.
The NHS does provide nursing and residential care, however, this is means tests and has to be topped up Local Authorities. By mean’s testing care authorities raise the question as what point should you start paying for healthcare. If someone needs that care then it should not be means tested it should be ‘free at the point of need’ no matter their own assets.
One of the reasons that the idea of being ‘free at the point of need’ is being undermined is economic recessions that occurred since it was established. Government’s have been forced to be pragmatic and enforce payments on those who could afford it.
Another major reason for the NHS being under threat is demographic changes that have occurred over the years. Lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetes and some cancer as well as an aging population has put increasing pressure on the NHS which has meant that not everything can be free for everyone. An aging population has also meant the number of cases of dementia has increased putting even more strain on the NHS.
Lastly the cost of treatment has meant that the NHS can not afford to be ‘free at the point of need’ for everyone. The cost of treatment for diseases such as cancer and long term illness has meant that NHS has had to spend more and thus raise more money which requires charging for some things.

Lords force Cameron to look again

politicsrstillus — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:21:00 +0000

The controversial benefits bill which has already been rejected five times by the upper house has been sent back again after the Lords refused to agree that the proposed £26,000 benefits cap shoul dinclude child benefit. The Guardian has a good article here which includes some nice synoptic names, notably Lord Ashdown and Simon Hughes. Below is a video from The Telegraph where the PM calls the cap a ‘basic issue of fairness.’

Polly Toynbee lays into the coalition and the opposition

politicsrstillus — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 12:41:34 +0000

The Guardian columnist has gone all guns blazing for a government she describes as ‘the most incompetent in living memory’ before chastising Ed Miliband for not making more political capital out of opposition. There’s some good material on the Economy and the Welfare State to be had here.

Boris veers off

politicsrstillus — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 13:20:24 +0000

Ahead of the publication of ‘Responsible Reform’ Iain Duncan Smith’s review of the Welfare System Boris Johnson has criticised coalition policy prompting a potential rift with David Cameron and giving A2 Politics students some valuable synoptic material.

Life in a Young Offenders Institution

politicsrstillus — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:03:38 +0000

As we head towards the Law & Order part of the course this piece from The Guardian on life in Ashfield YOI is an excellent read highlighting the complexity of the prison system and the challenges it presents. There’s plenty to take note of, not least the annual cost of locking up Young Offenders which, at £55,000 pa, is vastly in excess of sending a child to Eton.

Channel 4 on the Benefits myth

politicsrstillus — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:03:21 +0000

An excellent piece from Channel 4 news with a couple of embedded videos uses new figures on the number of people who have been out of work and claiming benefits for over 5 years to suggest that the idea of a ‘benefits culture’ is a right-wing myth. The figures have been questioned by the likes of @bengoldacre but there is an interesting case to be made in response to some of the benefits A2 questions.

The Guardian review of the 2011 in Politics

politicsrstillus — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:54:33 +0000

A nice piece on 2011 in Politics from The Guardian which highlights how teflon coated the PM seems to have become and how well the coalition has done given the economic crisis and subsequent social unrest.

Stephen Lawrence & the entire Law & Order course

politicsrstillus — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:57:27 +0000

The 2012 conviction of Gary Dobson and David Norris for the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993 has allowed the entirety of the case to be closed from the legal perspective, this article from the Telegraph and highlights the huge significance of the case for the British police and legal system and for A2 Politics students.

The Coalition Pledge Tracker

politicsrstillus — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 21:48:47 +0000

The Guardian’s Coalition Pledge Tracker allows you to check how well the ConDem alliance is keeping up it’s pledges. There’s some useful environmental material and good stuff on benefits too.