NHS vs systems in healthcare that work

Controlled by the convulsions of my body, before even conscious thought...

Am I being fronted up to by some Billy no neck with a clenched fist? Have the police caught me committing "hate speech"?

No, I'm finding myself in this predicament after any public critique of the NHS. Instictively flinching or lifting my guard. As if expecting a barrage from Mike Tyson. Even the slightest suggestion that veers away from "our wonderful NHS". Don't even mention BUPA. Amazing how something so very flawed can be immune to scrutiny. 

But how can anything...like anything improve without scrutiny. Is it geniunely perfect? No, but the solution always seems to be throw more money at the problem. Unless you've worked for them.

I have and I can tell you the "welcome to the club" and a wink I got from some employees, a lot of people know different. Add to this, perhaps misinterpretation, the views of employees I rubbed shoulders with from other countries. Who, invariably when asked would you like to be with the NHS when ill, answer "definitely not". One even telling my line manager as much, in jest. Met with a stone cold silence similar to my lack of pure adoration. 

This may all seem pure pre-amble, maybe so. However, I am suggesting, before the bureaucracy, the red tape, the lack of people skills. Before we deal with any of this, we first have to be able to critique the system. As it stands we can't. 

Despite the Army proving with the building and initial running of the Nightingale hospital, this could be done without many of the features of the NHS. How can we alter or throw out any unecessary features if the beginnings of change cannot commence? Switzerland, Belgium, Israel, Germany, to name a few would have saved thousands of UK lives had they been under any of their systems instead. 

The answer could be in how their public critique compares. Articles praising Israeli innovations in healthcare appear to be as abundant as the ones criticising it. I would argue this is key. Praise where it's due, critique also. I don't think any other countries clap at the sky either. So let's be fair when it comes to all our national systems. Not so much the police as their incredible bravery in telling people not to have picnics, yet cowardice when dealing with grooming scandals has tainted their rep somewhat. 

So let's call it as it is. Then maybe we can work towards improving the system, without throwing insane amounts of money at it. Especially during these times. Build a system we can be even more proud of. Let's make a start by questioning why every other nurse seems to be on TicTok during a "pandemic". 🙄🤔