“Local socialism” trumps “post code lottery” in the NHS debate
Posted under: Local Involvement Network, NHS, Public Involvement, Uncategorized | (2)
I’m thinking about starting a list of unhelpful phrases about the NHS and top of the list is going to be “post code lottery”.
“London NHS care is postcode lottery” screamed the Evening Standard recently in response to a study from the Kings Fund showing variations in what London PCTs spend on cancer, heart disease and other things. Cue tabloid shroud waving and health-campaigner handwringing: funding differences = dreadful unfairness to people in areas where spending does not match the highest levels = heartless NHS bureaucrats putting people’s health at risk (shame!).
Simplistic league tables comparing health spending in uncritical ways don’t help ...