OnTheWight always welcomes a Letter to the Editor to share with our readers – unsurprisingly they don’t always reflect the views of this publication. If you have something you’d like to share, get in touch and of course, your considered comments are welcome below.
Christine Lightbody, from IOW Save Our NHS shares this letter. Ed
So today (Wednesday 14th July) we will have the results of the Parliamentary vote on the Health and Care Bill. After years of campaigning to save our NHS this is my take on what will happen.
Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely, has already indicated that he will be voting in favour of the Bill.
Our NHS will be on it’s final downward spiral
Once this Bill goes through as it undoubtedly will, our NHS will be on its final downward spiral towards full privatisation which will most certainly be irrevocable for many, many years to come because of the awarding of long-term contracts to healthcare providers for as long as ten to 15 years.
The 42 Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) across England will gain a statutory footing and their boards will include people from private companies (like Branson’s Virgin Healthcare) and British/ American corporations who are desperate to get their hands on this oh so lucrative ‘business’ and turn it into a money making machine for themselves and their shareholders at the expense of healthcare for patients
Once it’s gone, it’s gone
In the beginning, each ICS will be allocated a ‘pot of money’ and once it’s gone, it’s gone. They will choose to offer treatment only to those deemed to be ‘of best clinical value’ ie; the easiest and cheapest patients to treat and the rest will be left to suffer.
Also, I believe that there’s nothing to stop them keeping a large chunk of that money for themselves.
‘Low cost’ medical insurance
Then I believe that we will be offered ‘low cost’ medical insurance at a loss to the Insurers to begin with, just to fool people into believing that it’s affordable and a good idea.
Gradually, the premiums will increase.
People who can’t afford to pay and those with complex medical conditions who will be by-passed as too high a (financial) risk, will be excluded and hey presto, we have our Americanised health care system.
Opt out now
What better reason to OPT OUT of the current ‘data grab’ which will make everyone’s medical history available to these bodies and to Insurers, to facilitate their actions.
My heart is breaking
Welcome to England’s own version of ‘Sicko’. My heart is breaking.
Find out more via The Lowdown.
Image: Trades Union Congress under CC BY 2.0
