Interesting way to spin this story, given the fact that the NHS comes second last in

[Peter]

You're wriggling on the hook here, p.

Face it: the NHS is a bit shīt.

Anyway.... the NHS comes out top overall and scores well in every category apart from the ‘everybody dying’ category.

Also note that category focuses on preventable diseases and mortality across a population, and NOT specifically on outcomes from NHS care.

It suggests an ageing, unhealthy, disease-ridden population rather than an incompetent, bureaucratic health care system. In other words, the NHS is doing a reasonable job but people are dying anyway.

Overall, proof it is the best healthcare system in the world.

And that everybody dies…..

[Burney]

Anyway.... the NHS comes out top overall and scores well in every category apart from the ‘everybody dying’ category.

Also note that category focuses on preventable diseases and mortality across a population, and NOT specifically on outcomes from NHS care.

It suggests an ageing, unhealthy, disease-ridden population rather than an incompetent, bureaucratic health care system. In other words, the NHS is doing a reasonable job but people are dying anyway.

Overall, proof it is the best healthcare system in the world.

And that everybody dies…..

So a National Health Service bears no responsibility for the overall health of the nation's population? Interesting way of looking at it...

[Peter]

So a National Health Service bears no responsibility for the overall health of the nation's population? Interesting way of looking at it...

I didn't say that. I think my point is that you cant polish a turd.

[Ash]

So a National Health Service bears no responsibility for the overall health of the nation's population? Interesting way of looking at it...

Yeah but too much of that gets into the whole 'preventative' thing, which is a slippery slope. Telling us how much we should be drinking (two pints a week max) and so on.

[Burney]

Yeah but too much of that gets into the whole 'preventative' thing, which is a slippery slope. Telling us how much we should be drinking (two pints a week max) and so on.

There is a difference between good, lifelong health education and endless prissy hectoring. This country does a lot of the latter and búgger all of the former.

For instance, a really good use of NHS funds would be to teach people to budget, choose healthy food and cook from an early age. Also, the provision of sporting facilities and equipment would help.

That sort of thinking's a bit too joined-up for our mandarins, though. Much better to spend those billions on wagging your finger at those who are already past saving.

[SWv2]

There is a difference between good, lifelong health education and endless prissy hectoring. This country does a lot of the latter and búgger all of the former.

For instance, a really good use of NHS funds would be to teach people to budget, choose healthy food and cook from an early age. Also, the provision of sporting facilities and equipment would help.

That sort of thinking's a bit too joined-up for our mandarins, though. Much better to spend those billions on wagging your finger at those who are already past saving.

The NHS don't have enough money to even do the health thing before they diversify into areas which could or should be covered off by other authorities such as Sports Councils or whatever.

[Burney]

The NHS don't have enough money to even do the health thing before they diversify into areas which could or should be covered off by other authorities such as Sports Councils or whatever.

But it's exactly that sort of siloed thinking that's the problem, you see? If you take a holistic view of health and the factors that impact upon it, then effective prevention is surely within the remit of a health system?

Besides, the NHS has fùck tonnes of money to spend on shīt like diversity officers, multi-faith chaplains and incredibly inefficient central purchasing practices that mean I can buy paracetamol 20 times cheaper at Tesco than it can be prescribed to me by the NHS.

[SWv2]

But it's exactly that sort of siloed thinking that's the problem, you see? If you take a holistic view of health and the factors that impact upon it, then effective prevention is surely within the remit of a health system?

Besides, the NHS has fùck tonnes of money to spend on shīt like diversity officers, multi-faith chaplains and incredibly inefficient central purchasing practices that mean I can buy paracetamol 20 times cheaper at Tesco than it can be prescribed to me by the NHS.

I would suggest you are then a part of what is a massive problem if you are wasting NHS time and resource with minor illnesses which can be fixed with some Paracetamol.

[Peter]

But it's exactly that sort of siloed thinking that's the problem, you see? If you take a holistic view of health and the factors that impact upon it, then effective prevention is surely within the remit of a health system?

Besides, the NHS has fùck tonnes of money to spend on shīt like diversity officers, multi-faith chaplains and incredibly inefficient central purchasing practices that mean I can buy paracetamol 20 times cheaper at Tesco than it can be prescribed to me by the NHS.

Yet comes out 3rd for efficiency on your list. Go figure. Must be wrong, I suppose.

I don't think it takes NHS money to provide education on diet and facilities for fitness. Those are catered for elsewhere, just not very well. Or at least, with little take up.

Of course, we could take the punitive route. Taxes on high fat food and fast food that subsidises the cost of fruit and vegetables, greater subsidy on local authority gym membership.

People are more likely to avoid a fine/tax than take advantage of a subsidy.