The NHS. It costs over 98 billion of tax payer’s money each year, and is the envy of many countries who fail to provide free health care for their citizens.

While it has many failings, it is a success, treating millions of patients every year since 1948. But will it continue to be free?

In the recent years of ‘New Labour’, various reform have lead to independent companies working and managing many parts of the Service, including PFI schemes leading to third parties bearing the cost of building and maintaining hospitals, and leasing them back to the NHS: at almost twice the cost.

Now, GP clinics and being taken over by these private firms, and in some hospitals, big companies are completing operations. One such example is United Health Group, the largest in the US, (currently being investigated for fraud), is responsible for commissioning medicines. Including to themselves.

If we are not careful, the NHS could be bound for to follow the Privatization route (just like BT and British Gas). That would spell the end of free health care, with profits being the motivation and not medical care. These companies wouldn’t think about the nurses and doctors, the patients or other employees. Profit; that’s it.

What about poorer families, what would they do? Try adding health insurance on top of rising food and energy prices. The NHS is a free service, centered around patient care. I hope that it never goes private.

JK