NHS in dire need of ‘system-level reform’ post-Covid
29 September 2020
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In the Media
Julian Jessop quoted by the Express
28 September 2020
Education
Lifestyle Economics
15 November 2024
Responding to the NHS Confederation’s latest report titled ‘NHS Reset’ on the need for reform post-pandemic, Dr Kristian Niemietz, IEA Head of Political Economy and author of ‘Universal Healthcare Without The NHS’, said:
“The fact that the NHS Confederation is concerned about the health service’s inability to deliver at pre-Covid levels by October shows the need for system-level reform.
“The NHS is likely to have underperformed compared to the health systems of other developed countries: we had the second-highest excess death rate in Western Europe (after Spain). In some of our neighbour countries, things are already more or less back to normal, healthcare-wise. Here, in contrast, we’re still struggling with clearing up the backlog.
“Rather than deluding ourselves about how wonderful the NHS is (it is not), we should take this as an opportunity to learn from best practice across the globe to ensure the UK that can meet demand in normal times and adapt quickly in the face of unforeseen events.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
For media enquiries, please contact Emily Carver, Media Manager, on 07715 942 731.
Dr Kristian Niemietz is available for interview and further comment.
For further IEA reading on the case for healthcare reform:
Has the NHS let us down during the pandemic?
Universal Healthcare without the NHS
The mission of the Institute of Economic Affairs is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems. The IEA is a registered educational charity and independent of all political parties.
“The fact that the NHS Confederation is concerned about the health service’s inability to deliver at pre-Covid levels by October shows the need for system-level reform.
“The NHS is likely to have underperformed compared to the health systems of other developed countries: we had the second-highest excess death rate in Western Europe (after Spain). In some of our neighbour countries, things are already more or less back to normal, healthcare-wise. Here, in contrast, we’re still struggling with clearing up the backlog.
“Rather than deluding ourselves about how wonderful the NHS is (it is not), we should take this as an opportunity to learn from best practice across the globe to ensure the UK that can meet demand in normal times and adapt quickly in the face of unforeseen events.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
For media enquiries, please contact Emily Carver, Media Manager, on 07715 942 731.
Dr Kristian Niemietz is available for interview and further comment.
For further IEA reading on the case for healthcare reform:
Has the NHS let us down during the pandemic?
Universal Healthcare without the NHS
The mission of the Institute of Economic Affairs is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems. The IEA is a registered educational charity and independent of all political parties.
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