Not a day goes by when the news headlines don't feature a
breaking story about the NHS. Whether it’s about strikes, protests, government
cuts or negligence, we can't help but form our own opinions about our National
Health Service.
As a controversial and often heated topic of conversation,
it can be difficult to tell if there is a common thought amongst the public.
Thousands, if not millions, of us turn to the NHS year-on-year and many would
be lost without it – but does that mean we love it?
Compensation landslide
A report by the Standard
revealed that the NHS in London alone pays on average £470,000 in compensation
– and this is just the tip of the iceberg. The service pays on average £700 every day for every livebirth, according to a report by the BBC.
Due to the nature of these compensation pay outs, the vast
majority are due to what is deemed to be negligence. Naturally, many in the
public are angry, but not necessarily at the expense of the NHS. According to a
survey by First4Lawyers, 50% of people across the UK believe that negligence is a direct result of staff
being overworked.
The fault of the government
One of the most interesting news stories of recent months
come in the form of the protests against government decisions in regards to the
NHS. Thousands have stated their hatred for the changes and cuts that are
putting further pressure on staff, with many publicly expressing their dislike
for the government.
More than 50,000 marched in Manchester to protest against cuts in the NHS by the coalition
government during the Conservative Party conference. To add to this event, 73%
surveyed agreed with the protesters saying that they disagreed with the government
proposals and actions.
Fears and concerns
Of course, few of us believe that the NHS itself is
completely innocent. Fears for the NHS grow as winter settles across Britain as
many wonder if the NHS can handle the pressure. So far, 2013 has proved to be a difficult year overall
and the added pressure winter brings could be the straw that breaks the horses
back.
Many feel that the NHS could do much to help itself, even if
they believe the government isn’t helping. A huge 65% believe that the NHS
wastes money, which could prove to become even more problematic should the
majority of government cuts go ahead.
It doesn’t look as though the NHS will be saving money
through lack of compensation unfortunately. An unsettling 29% of people know
someone who has been mistreated by the NHS to a significant level, meaning
something must be done, even if no one knows who by.
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