I am an NHS consultant and have seen care and standards slipping to dangerous levels across the service. Rachel Clarke raises this crucial topic boldly and accurately (“Not one of my colleagues believes the NHS as we know it can survive much longer”, Comment, last week).
It is way beyond the time for party politics and blind worship of the NHS. Despite tall claims by the professional bodies, in most areas the care we receive is way behind that in many private hospitals in developing countries.
The good thing is, the care is free at the point of delivery. Is it timely and a reflection of the resources invested, though? The sad answer is no.
Dr Joseph Sathianathan, Dumfries
Prescribe privatisation
People may hate private health systems but they should appreciate that we still pay for healthcare in this country — it’s just substandard. The current nationalised system rewards failure by pumping more money into mismanaged hospitals.
Profit may be politically toxic but profit-driven businesses have, overall, delivered the best outcomes in whatever fields they are in. Think about whose innovation is rescuing the world from Covid-19: it isn’t inept governments but for-profit pharmaceutical companies, equipped, funded and motivated to do the job properly. A regulated, subsidised (for those unable to afford it) private system is the obvious way forward for everyone.
Shual Rosten, London NW4
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Going Dutch
Rachel Clarke is 100 per cent correct. I was an intensive-care nurse and district sister for 35 years. I left because my standards and expectations to offer good, kind, sufficient care could not be realised within a broken system.
I spent two years working in the Dutch healthcare system, which is properly funded and staffed. The British public either need to pay to fund an adequate system, properly managed and run, or understand they will pay for themselves privately.
Elaine Glasius, Loughborough, Leicestershire
Crisis point
Clarke’s article resonated with me. Four years ago, my mum was dying of heart failure. For days we had visits from paramedics who refused to admit her to hospital. Eventually I drove her to the emergency department, an hour away, wheeled her to reception and asked for help. The receptionist realised Mum was at crisis point and she was urgently admitted.
She died a few days later. The hospital staff were amazing and we were supported by a palliative care nurse who was an angel. We were lucky, she died peacefully, but it should never have got to that point. I took a risk: my mum could have died in my car.
Alison Griffiths, Swindon
