This definitely seems like the sort of situation where this is going to start having massive knock-on consequences. Complications from untreated illnesses, job losses due to chronic illnness, deaths whilst on waiting lists, further thinning out of staff due to unreasonable demands placed upon them due to unsatisfiable demand. At some point the whole structure beocmes unviable, the thing to remember is that this is the innevitable result of starving the NHS of resources in the first place. It was fine when it was competently goverened. You'd need to be kind of thick to stay in the UK as a doctor today, which is a massive challenge for the NHS, and you'd need to be an idiot to move to the UK (see: recent comments on immigration from the home office).
I distinctly remember reading a few years ago the arguments for socialized healthcare in American press, citing England’s successes with HHS system, among others. Does this new information change anything?
The NHS was one of the things that made the UK more than just "America with national depression and less money". It will probably be gone soon, because given the choice between a great society and pissing free money at any problem rather than doing some basic planning and taking responsibility, people choose the later.
> The waiting list for hospital treatment has hit a record high of seven million in England, latest figures show.<p>England population: 56.5m<p>Anyone else find it hard to believe that 1 in 8 people including children are waiting for hospital treatment?