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Debate about the health service will never go away

Articles about Government funding are constantly in the newspapers, especially when it comes to matters relating to the National Health Service. Efficiency of the nation’s hospitals, for example, seems to be a major issue, and one which causes a great deal of controversy. League tables relating to the subject seem only to spark more debate.

Another controversial subject seems to be the wages paid to hospital managers and administrators. It’s always likely to be an emotive issue, partly because it tends to result in comparisons with the salaries being paid to nurses. While nobody doubts the importance of good management, many feel that the cost shouldn’t be at the expense of any employing more nursing professionals.

Controversies about the cost of medicines

The high cost of certain medicines remains a touchy subject. There is often a huge amount of research and development when introducing new drugs, often going back many years, Trials can take a long time, part of which involves testing on people. Although the final costs are usually high, it should be remembered that an awful lot of money is invested before a medicine reaches the pharmacy.

The National Health Service is public property

It seems that the National Health Service will always be in the news, partly because it’s publicly funded. As a nation, we often feel we have a major stake in the NHS and therefore we all have opinions on how it should be run.

The National Health Service was introduced in the 1940s, promising a level of care ‘from the cradle to the grave’. Despite its detractors, the service is likely to remain in its current form for many years to come.