Will the NHS survive in its current format?
Posted by Desperate-Drawer-572@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 9 comments
Ageing population, ever increasing costs and corridor care still super high.
Is the NHS going to still be free in 20 years or so? Feels like at some point drastic action needs to be taken.
Confident_Yak_1411@reddit
Our country is going to have to make some tough choices when it comes to the NHS and our welfare state in general.
It must be protected at all costs though, for the young/working age people at least. I’d rather see things cut elsewhere. And I also think we need to have a tough conversation around elderly care.
My nan is 90, she has been retired for almost the same amount of time as she spent in the workforce. She’s had a number of health issues and requires carers. The NHS wasn’t set up to deal with an elderly population living as long as they are, and maybe we need to talk about withdrawing everything except the most basic care for those over the age of 90.
I also think a focus on preventative medicine (nutrition/vitamins) would save a fortune.
Forsaken-Advert@reddit
I’d imagine it’ll become similar to the dentistry system.
JeffreyEpsteinUK@reddit
Assuming you mean free at the point of use, not free (because it costs 20% of all tax revenues annually)
No, it won't be in the same format in 20 years. I'm quite optimistic and think it will be better. But that's only because it would be difficult for it to get any worse than it already is.
It might be private, it might be based on income bracket, or it might just be an even bigger portion of tax take. I think it will still ultimately be better. It wont survive in its current format though. 0% chance.
Gent415@reddit
Nice try Nigel 😉
Good-Animal-6430@reddit
A lot of the costs are because of more old people, going through their frail NHS-using years. That's really just started, the first lot of baby boomers have just hit 80, so in 20 years the demographic bump will have worked it's way through.
If ozempic or an equivalent can reduce obesity and diabetes, we might have a chance.
ldn6@reddit
Probably because any attempt to change it is politically toxic (despite there being plenty of European countries to emulate, it’ll invariably become freaking out about copying the US), but that will hasten it getting to an absolute breaking point.
sweatypissflap@reddit
im surprised that shit show of an organisation has lasted this long!
Apple_Master@reddit
No, that's sort of the whole end goal for [insert political statement here] and sadly it is going to happen.
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