#NHS67. By the people. For the people.

The NHS turns 67. We've had nearly 70 years of brilliant and free healthcare. The only slight on this wonderful institution is the government. It's time to take the power back.


Who didn't cheer loudly, swell with pride and maybe even shed a tear at Danny Boyle's homage to the NHS on the international stage at London 2012. It was a thrilling reminder about how lucky we are to have such an amazing thing at our disposal.

We're lucky. We have world-class healthcare on our doorstep and it's free. The men and women who work within the NHS have the most gruelling and heart-wrenching job. They tirelessly do their best to fix people despite it hemorrhaging money through layers of middle management, bureaucracy and targets.

It's time that the people who work and love the NHS to run it, free of charge. It should work like a cooperation. We all pay into it, so we should all have a say in what we want from it. It's not a political toy for politicians to win votes and make money from.

I believe we need to stop treating the NHS like a corporation. It isn't, it's a charity just like Oxfam, Medecins San Frontieres or the Red Cross. It needs to be run accordingly. So get rid of all these management layers whose wages and benefits probably cost more than healthcare. Upskill pharmacists so they can treat mild and routine ailments, taking pressure off GPs who should be treating more serious and persistent cases. Get rid of targets so doctors and nurses can spend time on pre and post care of their patients, as well as during their treatment. Implement a robust and futureproofed online database that can be accessed in any surgery and hospital, taking away paperwork and bureaucracy.

Most of all, private healthcare exists so wealthy people who can afford monthly payments should be encouraged not to use the NHS unless absolutely necessary - therefore taking financial pressure off the system.

Most of all we must do everything in our power to stop the NHS being owned by profit-making corporations who only care about dividends, not people.

First published 05/07/2015

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