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Tuesday, March 9, 2010
3:03 PM EST
Tim Andrews

The endemic rot in government run health care

We have previously, and on numerous occasions, highlighted the myriad of problems that exist in other countries who have the sort of government run healthcare that is the goal of the radical left. Case after case of neglect and abuse, leading to deaths that could easily have been prevented.

Those on the far left, in much the same way as a child might block their ears whilst jumping up and down shouting  "I can't hear you, I can't hear you" have said that these are all 'isolated' examples. Rare instances, and so forth.

Well, yesterday, a series of reports in the UK released over the weekend, and commissioned by Lord Darzi, the former health minister, has examined the structure of the National Health Service, and revealed that the problems are systemic. They came to light only after a pursuit through Freedom of Information Laws. The Times reports:

They diagnose a blind pursuit of political and managerial targets as the root cause of a string of hospital scandals that have cost thousands of lives.
 
One report, based on the advice of almost 200 top managers and doctors, says hospitals ignored basic hygiene to cram in patients to meet waiting-time targets.
 
“Managers crowded in patients in order to meet waiting-time targets and, in the process, lost sight of the fundamental hygiene requirements for infection prevention,” the report stated.
 
One heading in the report says: “The patient doesn’t seem to be in the picture.” It adds: “We were struck by the virtual absence of mention of patients and families ... whether we were discussing aims and ambition for improvement, measurement of progress or any other topic relevant to quality.
These are not isolated incidents. These are not unfortunate accidents. Rather, they are the inevitable result when bureaucrats start dictating health policy. People strive to meet the expectations of government officials, not patients. Meeting wait-time targets becomes more important than hygiene and care. Patients become an almost inconvinient.
 
In the 1980's, the political satire Yes Minister, produced an episode about a hospital in Britain that was nominated for an award because it had no patients, no doctors, and 500 administrative staff. Here's a clip, watch it, and welcome to what we'll be seeing here if the radical ideologues on the left get their way.

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