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Who's suggesting it be set in aspic? That would be idiotic. I'd trust an independent body, with cross-party oversight, rather more to make changes, and choices

Who's suggesting it be set in aspic? That would be idiotic. I'd trust an independent body, with cross-party oversight, rather more to make changes, and choices, most suited to the service and populace than most politicians. There might even be some opportunity to think long term rather than just having the next election in mind.

dageshi 9y ago
I wouldn't. Any time that independent body fucked up or did a bad job, they'd simply claim they didn't get enough money from the government to do the job. Whether that was the truth or not. The "cross party" oversight would then take positions according to their party priorities, if in power blame the independent body for doing a bad job, if not in power blame the government for not giving them enough money. Unless of course that independent body had separate tax raising powers for just the NHS? In which case I can't see how they can't be elected as they have the power of taxation. You can't get politics out of the NHS, it spends too much money raised by taxation.
- oldcynic 9y ago
  I think it's axiomatic that every human endeavour is flawed. It's pretty clear NICE works rather well and is now accepted by both political sides and the profession. Let's start there. In terms of funding the NHS spends a smaller proportion of GDP than most developed nations. If we can nail defence and overseas development as x% of GDP, why not also for the NHS? Perhaps consider increasing to the average EU spend?
  - DanBC 9y ago
    For one example of politicians chosing to ignore NICE look at the Cancer Drugs Fund. The CDF makes available cutting edge new technology to people dying from cancer. These meds are very expensive. They often fail the NICE appraisals. The CDF pays for the meds. We know that these meds often don't work at all, and sometimes cause harm, and are fantastically expensive. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/apr/28/cancer-drugs-fund-condemned-as-expensive-and-ineffective https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/apr/28/cancer-drugs...
- pjc50 9y ago
  I suppose the TV license system is very close to an independent body with "tax" raising powers (including the ability to jail people for non-payment). No longer quite so popular.
  - DanBC 9y ago
    Strictly speaking you can't go to jail for non-payment of tv licence. You'd get a fine, and go to jail for not paying the fine. You're right that people get a criminal conviction for non-payment of the licence fee, and that's a bit worrying when it happens to so many people.

dageshi 9y ago

I wouldn't. Any time that independent body fucked up or did a bad job, they'd simply claim they didn't get enough money from the government to do the job. Whether that was the truth or not. The "cross party" oversight would then take positions according to their party priorities, if in power blame the independent body for doing a bad job, if not in power blame the government for not giving them enough money. Unless of course that independent body had separate tax raising powers for just the NHS? In which case I can't see how they can't be elected as they have the power of taxation. You can't get politics out of the NHS, it spends too much money raised by taxation.

oldcynic 9y ago
I think it's axiomatic that every human endeavour is flawed. It's pretty clear NICE works rather well and is now accepted by both political sides and the profession. Let's start there. In terms of funding the NHS spends a smaller proportion of GDP than most developed nations. If we can nail defence and overseas development as x% of GDP, why not also for the NHS? Perhaps consider increasing to the average EU spend?
- DanBC 9y ago
  For one example of politicians chosing to ignore NICE look at the Cancer Drugs Fund. The CDF makes available cutting edge new technology to people dying from cancer. These meds are very expensive. They often fail the NICE appraisals. The CDF pays for the meds. We know that these meds often don't work at all, and sometimes cause harm, and are fantastically expensive. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/apr/28/cancer-drugs-fund-condemned-as-expensive-and-ineffective https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/apr/28/cancer-drugs...
pjc50 9y ago
I suppose the TV license system is very close to an independent body with "tax" raising powers (including the ability to jail people for non-payment). No longer quite so popular.
- DanBC 9y ago
  Strictly speaking you can't go to jail for non-payment of tv licence. You'd get a fine, and go to jail for not paying the fine. You're right that people get a criminal conviction for non-payment of the licence fee, and that's a bit worrying when it happens to so many people.