Kings Fund - Aug 2023
Health and care services are facing challenges on many fronts. Record numbers of people on waiting lists, stubbornly high staff vacancy rates, outdated buildings and equipment are all contributing to a system in crisis with too many people struggling to access the care they need. In this context, public satisfaction with the NHS has hit its lowest on record as measured by the British Social Attitudes survey.
That same survey finds that support remains strong for the NHS model of a tax-funded, universally available, largely free at the point of use service. Despite this unwavering public support, some commentators and politicians now argue that the current situation means that the NHS model is 'broken' and that the only solution is a 'radical' alternative – although it should be said that the definition of radical is subjective and many of these ideas have been proposed – and rejected – for decades.
This piece looks at the potential benefits and drawbacks of some of the main 'radical' alternatives being advocated for, and then asks whether they would, in themselves, solve the problems that the health care system in England currently faces.
Further information - The NHS in crisis – evaluating the radical alternatives
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