BMA: NHS in Wales faces ‘meltdown’

[Doc Alan]

It doesn't matter, the UK government can overrule them when it comes to the NHS regardless of who is in power, and where.

Correct .


The devolved governments have operational control, but not financial control of the health service.


Those who voted " Yes " in the Scottish Referendum believed the country would then be free from the " stranglehold " of the Westminster Treasury by allowing politicians to control public finances and NHS policy.



There are differences in organization and delivery of the NHS, and it is not as easy as the Daily Mail claims to make direct comparisons .


England has GP- led Clinical Commissioning Groups who purchase health care. Spending in 2012-13 was £ 109 billion, with another £ 30 billion of specialist care.


Scotland has 14 Health Boards, no separation of purchasers and providers, and spending over £ 9 billion in the same year.


Wales has 7 Health Boards, no purchaser-provider split, and spent over £ 5 billion.


There are advantages of retaining a NATIONAL Health Service . That enabled my late Scottish colleague and friend Sam Galbraith to have his lung transplant in the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle. There are countless other examples of patients getting the best treatment, free of charge, wherever they live in the UK. How envious are those living in the Philippines of that situation !