Why the NHS needs to change...

There is gross inefficiency in our healthcare system. Whilst in theory the NHS is a great idea, the provision of treatment for all in the age old British tradition of a queue (otherewise know as a waiting list that grows ever longer), does not always work.

My 85 year old Nan has needed a knee replacemnt for just under a year. After fiddling and faddleing around, her local hospital, with whom she had not yet had one consultation, told her she would be better off at a hospital in the neighbouring health authority. This was probably the best move that could have been made. She was seen by the consultant within three weeks of her notes arriving (although all the wasted time had meant she had picked up an infection that needed to be cleared up first).

She goes in for her knee replacemnt tomorrow. She will be in for at least a week, with around 8 - 10 weeks recovering. By the time all is said and done she will have been waiting over a year.

And the reason the NHS costs so much... so much waiting and pressure on my Nan's good knee means that her other knee will need to be replaced too! Think how much money could be saved if the British tradition of queueing and waiting our turn were to be scrapped!

Don't get me wrong, I think the NHS is good, but there are so many inefficiencies that it could be so much better.