World-class doctors and nurses thwarted by a failing health service

SIR – A recent King’s Fund study shows that the NHS is one of the worst health services for saving lives (report, June 26). People die here who would not if they lived in other G20 countries.

The NHS is a failed structure. We have well-trained doctors, nurses and allied professionals who are in demand throughout the developed world. But the NHS system is a total failure in mobilising their efforts to deliver world-class care. It is yet another example of the costs to the public of having the Government and the Treasury running anything.

The solution is to move to an insurance-based system that allows patients choice over how and from whom they obtain their care.

David James
Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire

SIR – Does the 75th anniversary service at Westminster Abbey today finally confirm that the NHS has become our national religion?

Peter Richardson
Amersham, Buckinghamshire

SIR – In April my daughter, suffering a skin complaint, was referred to an immunology department. Remarkably quickly, she got a letter saying it was “pleased” to arrange an appointment. It was, however, for December 9 2024 – a 19-month wait. In June she received a second letter cancelling it and offering another as soon as possible. 

She is not holding her breath.

Simon Rose
London SW18

SIR – I’ve worked for the NHS for the past 42 years. It has always risen to the challenges of an ageing population, technological revolutions and the education of doctors and nurses.

As individuals, we need to take stock of our own health issues and use the service sensibly. This means striking a balance between the trivial and the more serious. It can be a difficult judgment to make, which therefore requires effective triage services provided by GPs, 111 and pharmacists.

Dr René Tayar
Tadworth, Surrey

SIR – The Health Secretary’s order to hospital bosses to “slash bureaucracy” by hiring more doctors and nurses instead of managers (report, July 2) won’t create a leaner health service; it will risk wasting new investment.

New research from my organisation and the Social Market Foundation finds that 43 per cent of hospitals scoring above average in management practices also achieved “high quality” outcomes, compared with 14 per cent of those below average.

To equate management and bureaucracy misses the point, as good managers limit red tape. When it comes to NHS managers, we have a quality and quantity problem.

The NHS costs over £120 billion a year and hires more staff than anywhere in Europe. We must recruit and train great managers to ensure it is well led and well managed. Patients and taxpayers deserve nothing less.

Anthony Painter
Director of policy, Chartered Management Institute
London WC2