Is the nhs a monopoly

Answer 1

Yes it is virtually a monopoly although of course, there are private clinics and hospitals but they are still overseen by the State. A substantial number of people [more than we think] would like to see the NHS abolished in favour of people taking responsibility for their own health. NHS contributions are deducted from our wages. In addition, a large proportion of our other taxes go towards the NHS. Many libertarians would like to see the NHS abolished because if an individual decides to 'go private' for a health problem they have to pay again. They feel they are paying twice. NHS insurance as well as taxes are compulsory. You cannot opt out of contributions. The State always has first dip into your wages.

The NHS employs millions of people just to run it - especially at the administrative level. And they all have to be paid! This is where the bulk of your money goes. The PCT alone takes up unbelievable amounts. A much smaller proportion actually goes on patient care. GPs wages are approx £450 a day for doing a bit of diagnosing and a few referrals if they don't know the cause of your problem. Their housing, holidays and lifestyles are guaranteed by the taxpayer. At the other end of the wage scale the reception staff [who do all the work and take all the patient's abuse] are lucky if they receive £50. They are usually women as women are less likely to respond to abuse and tend to be notoriously concentrated in these kind of low-paid jobs. Men would tolerate neither the abuse nor the low pay.

Many people would like the NHS to be eradicated because of the dependency culture that it has generated. Some argue that it is the mummy and daddy of the nation. Most surgeries are filled with people with minor ailments and out of all the referrals only about one in every 500 genuinely have something wrong with them. If people had to pay they would ignore their minor ailments and refrain from turning up at casualty with a bunion. There is no way that the NHS can continue as a monopoly with an ageing population, one born every minute, increasing obesity, the mental problems that Western poverty causes and an ever expanding open house for all. Other countries manage well without a national service but the UK seems to think it cannot. Data reveals that many people would like to see small private houses set up as small practices with competitive quality care. The lower paid need sufficient wages in order to afford it. Some doctors would like to make their own minds up about who they take into their practice and who they would like to take themselves off elsewhere.

The NHS is a hot potato with politicians. It acts as a buffer against revolt. If there is one thing guaranteed to incite mass revolution it would be the eradication of the NHS. Once a country has a national heath service it is impossible to get rid of it openly. However, aspects of it are being privatise albeit in very subtle way.