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Has any one commenting on the Mckinsey suggested cost cutting looked at the health service in a detached manner? Probably not. Have they spoken to a wide variety of frontline and back office staff? Probably not. Have they looked at the quick wins and the low hanging fruit? Probably not.
Has any one looked at the most expensive resource within the NHS that could be made to work more efficiently and effectively? Have you not guessed yet? It is the medical workforce. 30,000 consultants at an average cost of £100k per person. And ofcourse what about the GPs? Are they really good value for money? If all they are going to do is prevent referrals, why not appoint a senior nurse? A nurse will cost at least 50% less and will probably examine the patient, talk to her and even draw blood for tests! Is a 10% reduction possible? I am not suggesting a reduction in the workforce, however, have we examined if those who get paid the money actually put in the effort comensurate with the remuneration? If one looks at the diaries of some of the doctors one will be amazed! Many of them claim to work 60 hour weeks, week on week since the times of Adam & Eve (ok I admit I have exaggerated the timescale). On top of that they find time for private practice and other commitments. Has any one tried working those hours continuously? What is the effect on the brain? It turns into mush after a few weeks. Do we want our doctors to be zombies? Certainly not! So what is the solution? If something appears to be too good to be true, it is probably not. All the doctors claiming to be working 60 hrs a week in the interest of patient care is a myth!
What some one in the DH, and in the Trusts needs to take the bull by the horn. It is time we called a spade a spade. Re examine the consultant and GP contracts (nothing should be sacrosanct in an age of austerity). If found necessary, take away the extra payments. If need be hire qualified doctors at non-consultant grades (after all they will provide all the service and cost atleast 30% less on an average). Certainly it is worth cutting the excessive wages of the non performers. And do not believe in the propaganda that there will be a huge exodus of doctors to the USA or down under or to the middle east! Just do it!