The NHS

There will never be enough money for the NHS.  Ken Clark on The Politics Show (BBC1 14 June 2009) points out with an ageing population advances in all kinds of treatments that expenditure will rise in real terms.  Unrestricted demand will always outstrip the resources that the tax payer can afford.  

So the starting flag on public debate has been dropped with the recent report on the massive cash shortfall in the NHS a few years down the track.  

Everyone will agree that any rationing of treatment is difficult for all, emotional for most, life threatening for an unfortunate few and heart rending for their close family.

At one end of the social spectrum of conscience is the prolonging of lives of all ages, but especially babies and others, just because it is possible.  Then there are those who after deep consideration wish to end their lives before their suffering becomes too great.

Where do the boundaries lie?
IVF for all, no matter if the woman has already had a child and/or where the age gap will make physical play with the child in its adolescent years difficult and communication gap may be more like grandparent to grandchild.

Keeping hopeless cases alive, with long court battles over Human Rights.

Whilst the examples may not incur huge costs, they are proportionally high per patient impacted.  But they illustrate the complexity of the debate and the emotions it will certainly arouse.

However, all of us that have had cause to be grateful for the skills in the NHS, will know that there is also much that can be done more economically.  These issues have to be attacked without excessive obstruction.