Health concerns us all, so we all have opinions about healthcare, not all backed up by good evidence.


Jeremy Hunt has only been English Health Secretary since September 2012. As control over each country’s health system was devolved since the late 1990s, the opinions of EACH health minister also affect policies – Shona Robison ( Scotland ), Mark Drakeford ( Wales ) and Jim Wells ( Northern Ireland ). Each country has a tax-funded service with universal coverage, similar values, and similar operating principles, with comprehensive benefits – but the differing policies don’t appear to have made much measurable difference to health between them.


A & E departments ARE under real pressure – more people are turning up at A & E. Attendance rates are higher in England and Northern Ireland than Scotland and Wales. NO UK health service can claim that 95% of patients spend less than 4 hours in A & E at the moment – but this is just ONE performance indicator ! Some conditions need to be seen urgently ; others can wait several hours. UK A & E still compares favourably with systems in many other countries including the Philippines.


Several NHS hospital trusts have declared " major incident " status recently. Such incidents are " any occurrence that presents serious threat to the health of the community, disruption to the service or causes such numbers or types of casualties to require special arrangements to be implemented ". This means they can bring in extra staff, divert staff from other activities, and postpone " some routine procedures " ( such as non-emergency operations ).


Reasons - with at least SOME good evidence - for the A & E " crisis " include :-


• Ageing population ( pointed out by Arthur, among others ).


• Up to a third of those attending A & E COULD have been treated elsewhere – by a GP ( although most people go to A & E during working hours ) ; minor injuries unit / walk in centre ; or pharmacist. " NHS 111 " MAY have increased numbers referred to A & E.


• Cuts to social care ( council budgets inadequate ) – elderly people more likely to need A & E, then " bed blocking " if admitted.


• Staff shortages – nurses, doctors in training and consultants – aggravated by insufficient numbers of GPs ( no compulsion to enter such specialities ).


• Political " point scoring ", instead of cooperating, to solve the problems – not only in A & E but also the NHS as a whole.


• More resources – money and staff – needed, for the NHS and A & E.


• Possible solutions include a dedicated ( " hypothecated " ) NHS tax ; diverting resources from other budgets to the NHS ; more insurance and direct payments ; competition between healthcare providers and privatisation ( no evidence of a realistic possibility - for either A & E, or most of the NHS as a whole ).


The election run-in doesn’t need relentless disputes between politicians about each party’s health data and track records. OUR NHS needs political parties and experienced healthcare workers to COLLABORATE in providing best NHS and SOCIAL care for people living longer, with more complex and expensive illnesses ( urgent and long term ).

It employs 1.7 million people and keeps many more healthy enough to work and enjoy life. Of course it could improve – just like any other large organization, but there’s no one simple solution. It’s still the envy of our Filipino friends, for whom if health care can’t be afforded, they stay ill ( or worse ).