> The NHS has much bigger problems than funding. Even the new, left-wing government has indicated that they won't increase funding without reforms.
It's always very convenient to starve something of funding for years when you want to insist something needs to be reformed before you can spend as much as it costs to provide service at an adequate quality.
Reform or no reform, outcomes won't improve without increasing the funding, as no other system in a comparable country manages to deliver more at the NHS cost level.
The point is that throwing ever more money at a bottomless pit isn't a solution. Hence there must be changes, not just more money.
Another issue is that the NHS is a religion. It is blasphemous to suggest departing from free-of-charge delivery or private involvement (although that's already what we have). Even suggesting "reform" is badly received.
The reason is that private intervention is tricky. The US has a fully private healthcare system, and as you can see from this post, it's shit.
I'm from the US so excuse any oversimplifications, but over the past couple decades I've noticed a trend of US-ification in British politics. I would be careful with looking to greener pastures.
The thing is that right next to the UK is France, which I know.
The French system is based on a mandatory health insurance, now with mandatory private health insurance in addition to that.
GPs and most health professionals are private practices that set up shop like a, say, lawyer would and there is big private sector involvement up to hospital level.
I think there are many similar examples throughout the world.
This is partly why I find this focus on the US system in the UK puzzling. My best guess is that it is used as a scarecrow by those opposed to any changes to the NHS.
It's always very convenient to starve something of funding for years when you want to insist something needs to be reformed before you can spend as much as it costs to provide service at an adequate quality.
Reform or no reform, outcomes won't improve without increasing the funding, as no other system in a comparable country manages to deliver more at the NHS cost level.