Such a mixed piece – I'll leave some factual errors to thinktanks for chapter & verse. “What we talk about when we talk about privatisation & the NHS” – a thread [1/10]
John Furse in the #LRB: lrb.co.uk/v41/n21/john-f… via @LRB
John Furse in the #LRB: lrb.co.uk/v41/n21/john-f… via @LRB
@LRB Some chronologies suggest coherence, lending credence to conspiracy theories - “secret plans” to “privatise” NHS. But incremental changes have been haphazard: what we have lived through, & continue to live through, is series of convoluted & complicated compromises re NHS [2/10]
@LRB 3 diverse strands identifiable – knitted together to varying degrees, and varying degrees of success. [3/10]
@LRB 1. Marketisation reforms span NHS internal market - New Labour choice&competition - HSCA 2012 reforms. Lansley foresaw utilities-style regulation of NHS – but NHS-private health (PH) interaction precludes... [4/10]
@LRB 2. NHS competition reforms reflect wider NHS – PH relationship, acknowledged by Blair. Section 5 National Health Service Act 1946 = consultants can continue private practice alongside NHS workload. Concession necessary to implement NHS – “stuffing their mouths with gold”… [5/10]
@LRB Led to “peculiarly British compromise”(Timmins) of “NHS pay beds”, now private patient units in NHS Foundation Trust hospitals… [6/10]
@LRB 3.Wider relationship also shows involvement of competition authority (now CMA). CMA oversight of NHS providers treating private patients expanding, but has less attention. CMA oversight of private providers treating NHS patients more controversial. [7/10]
@LRB But more complicated – CMA recognised limited role of competition in 2017 Manchester hospitals merger, CMA role can benefit NHS patients? eg fining pharmaceutical companies overcharging NHS [8/10]
@LRB Furse wrong to equate CMA oversight with section 75 HSCA 2012 regs re procurement. Furse right to acknowledge proposed deregulation in latest reforms #NHSLongTermPlan [9/10]
@LRB Terms like “Americanisation” and “privatisation” reductive – soundbites anywhere on political spectrum make fools of us all [10/10].
@LRB See further intersentia.com/en/competition…
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