Discussion Group – December/January 2021

The Discussion Group met on Monday 13th December to talk about how the National Health Service should be paid for. The question accepted the need for universal health care. Some basic figures were given. The country pays a little over 200 million pounds a year at present, some 20% of all public expenditure. Some comparisons with other countries were attempted, with the UK having the second lowest proportion of GDP spent on health care in the G7 countries.

We talked about how to raise the money required. National Insurance contributions were generally seen as paying for health care, but in fact end up in the same taxation pot as the rest of government revenues. It was felt that a more direct link between contributions and expenditure would be helpful in getting consent for higher levels of spending.

Further discussion was held about how to control the money spent. How to balance the approach of doctors to medical need with the professional administration of the money available was important, and felt to be out of step. It was felt that profit should never be the driving force behind health care provision.

A further topic relating to what treatments and drugs should be available on the NHS was raised. Concern was expressed about the over prescribing of drugs, and the issuing of equipment never returned. Mention was made of cosmetic surgery and infertility treatment, and the difficulty of dividing people into those whose mental health was affected by these issues, and those prompted more by an assumption that there was a medical solution to all problems. Addiction was mentioned, in particular the high number of emergency admissions in which alcohol was a contributory factor. It was noted that tobacco, alcohol and gambling all attracted extra taxation, but that more information between the cost of the harm caused and the taxes raised through sales would be helpful.

A few comparisons were noted with French and German health provision, and in particular payment of GPs in the UK, based on patient rolls rather than the appointments made was commented on. There was recognition that the contributions people made during their lifetime had paid for the care of previous generations, and that no effort had ever been made since the creation of the NHS in 1948 to change this. The future projections of a smaller working population supporting more elderly people requiring more sophisticated treatment was likely to have serious consequences in due course. More effort should be made to inform people of the costs of providing health care and how it relates to the taxes they pay. This will make for a better understanding of the issues involved.

Our next meeting will take place on Monday 10th January, in Room 5 at the Manor House at 10.30am. We shall be discussing the justice system in relation to rape and sexual assault. The meeting is subject to late change or cancellation depending on changes to government guidelines over Covid.

Michael Heyden, Convenor

Please note that the views expressed by the Discussion Group may not represent those of the wider Dawlish and District membership.