Why health cuts when more being spent?

We have already seen cuts in Standish, Fairford, Tetbury, Thornbury and more. Yet more money than ever is being spent on the NHS. What is going on?

I should state first that it is wonderful that all parties locally are pulling together to beat these cuts - but that should not mean we ignore the causes of this crisis.

Gloucestershire is getting 12% less than other health authorities - this clearly is not fair. We should rightly be critical of this shortfall - but it is often shouted loudest by Conservatives who voted against every rise in health spending Labour have made.

And let us also not forget that the NHS has been in debt massively for years - the Primary Care Trusts were created 3 years ago and given debts to make up before they even started. Why now do we have to suddenly balance the books?

GP contracts, new drugs, pay awards, GP out-of-hours services and rising health needs in the population are also part of the picture - talking to many health staff it seems that poor management is much less of an issue than some sections of the media suggest. So where is the money going?

To my mind a crucial element missed from most of the reporting is the huge rise in the private sector involvement in the NHS - Labour are literally throwing away money at the private sector.

The problem stems from the Conservative introduction of the market economy into health care 16 years ago. Labour have since expanded private sector involvement where for example:

- under the Private Finance Schemes, companies involved with the NHS are set to make colossal windfall profits of £3.3 billion! Gloucestershire's deficit is £38 million.
- operations 'cherry-picked' by private companies cost 40% more than the NHS
- pharmaceutical companies get 20% more than most European countries for their drugs.

The NHS is also facing hugely damaging internal market reforms and now faces the 24th major restructuring in 32 years. Even the Commons health select committee unanimously warned that the costs of the latest shake-up "outweighed the benefits."

Healthcare should not be left to the market: witness the appalling situation in the US. We must stop throwing our money away on these companies whose primary aim is profit not the needs of patients. The Green party are urging people to sign the national online petition to stop the privatisation of our NHS under 'Campaigns' at: www.glosgreenparty.org.uk

Read the latest from the new websites:
Save Stroud Hospitals:
http://www.savestroudhospitals.org/
Also more at:
http://www.stroudmaternitymatters.co.uk/