NHS services are being slashed, yet private companies providing NHS services, might soon be exempt from paying corporation tax on their profits under new proposals being considered by a government-commissioned review of competition in the health service
Monitor, the NHS's economic regulator, argues that as public sector hospitals do not pay corporation tax and VAT on supplies, whereas private firms do, the result is an "unfair playing field" in healthcare. Critics argue that it is ridiculous for companies to lobby to provide NHS services for profit and then to claim it was unfair to pay tax on their profits. Academics say the regulator has been "captured" by industry. Andrew Street, professor of health economics at the University of York, told the Guardian. Monitor had "been influenced by industry, this looks like pandering to special interests to me. If companies wanted to provide NHS hospital services and not pay tax then they could do so by becoming charities."
"David Cameron said he wanted to turn the NHS into a 'fantastic business' and we are beginning to see what that means in practice First he opened the door to a huge number of private providers that put profits before patient care, now the government may help them maximize their bottom line
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "We have commissioned Monitor to carry out their Fair Playing Field review. Once it has been completed and submitted to the department, we will consider how to respond."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jan/13/private-firms-corporation-tax-nhs-profits
UK politics are a cesspit of iniquity. The only people doing well through this recession are unprincipled politicians, untouchable government protected bankers and pandering regulators. Ex minister Tony Blair’s fortune is set to treble to £45 million next year. I wonder how much Cameron and his colleagues will accrue during and after his likely short term in office.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tony-blairs-fortune-to-treble-to-45million-198253
Monitor, the NHS's economic regulator, argues that as public sector hospitals do not pay corporation tax and VAT on supplies, whereas private firms do, the result is an "unfair playing field" in healthcare. Critics argue that it is ridiculous for companies to lobby to provide NHS services for profit and then to claim it was unfair to pay tax on their profits. Academics say the regulator has been "captured" by industry. Andrew Street, professor of health economics at the University of York, told the Guardian. Monitor had "been influenced by industry, this looks like pandering to special interests to me. If companies wanted to provide NHS hospital services and not pay tax then they could do so by becoming charities."
"David Cameron said he wanted to turn the NHS into a 'fantastic business' and we are beginning to see what that means in practice First he opened the door to a huge number of private providers that put profits before patient care, now the government may help them maximize their bottom line
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "We have commissioned Monitor to carry out their Fair Playing Field review. Once it has been completed and submitted to the department, we will consider how to respond."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jan/13/private-firms-corporation-tax-nhs-profits
UK politics are a cesspit of iniquity. The only people doing well through this recession are unprincipled politicians, untouchable government protected bankers and pandering regulators. Ex minister Tony Blair’s fortune is set to treble to £45 million next year. I wonder how much Cameron and his colleagues will accrue during and after his likely short term in office.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tony-blairs-fortune-to-treble-to-45million-198253
Twice as Many Swedes as Brits Survive Lung Cancer
The odds of surviving lung cancer are significantly higher in Norway and Sweden than they are in England, reveals a comparison of the three countries.
This is despite the fact that healthcare spend and infrastructure in each of these countries are similar. The researchers based their findings on five year survival rates for lung cancer patients in Norway, Sweden, and England, all of whom were diagnosed between 1996 and 2004. Survival rates were lowest in England and highest in Sweden. Almost twice as many Swedish lung cancer patients survived five years as did their English counterparts. 11.3% of Swedish men diagnosed with lung cancer survived five years. This compares with 9.3% of Norwegian men and 6.5% of English men with the disease. In Sweden just under 16% of women diagnosed with lung cancer survived five years compared with 13.5% of those diagnosed in Norway and just 8.4% of those diagnosed in England.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100428204556.htm
This is despite the fact that healthcare spend and infrastructure in each of these countries are similar. The researchers based their findings on five year survival rates for lung cancer patients in Norway, Sweden, and England, all of whom were diagnosed between 1996 and 2004. Survival rates were lowest in England and highest in Sweden. Almost twice as many Swedish lung cancer patients survived five years as did their English counterparts. 11.3% of Swedish men diagnosed with lung cancer survived five years. This compares with 9.3% of Norwegian men and 6.5% of English men with the disease. In Sweden just under 16% of women diagnosed with lung cancer survived five years compared with 13.5% of those diagnosed in Norway and just 8.4% of those diagnosed in England.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100428204556.htm
More 'user friendly' hospital visiting hours are piloted in Scotland
More flexible visiting hours at Scottish hospitals are being piloted to enable friends and family to visit patients at more convenient times. Health Secretary Alex Neil said the pilot was "the first step towards making our NHS more 'user friendly' and giving patients what they want". The pilot is being launched at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital. NHS Tayside is one of five health boards participating in the pilot which will see visitors allowed nine hours of the day, instead of during shorter set windows. Mr Neil said: "By making visiting hours fit better with modern day working patterns, it will be easier for family and friends to visit patients, which in many cases will help to speed up recovery, as support from family and friends is a crucial part of the healing process.” It will also take some of the pressure off staff, as visitors will be spread out more throughout the day."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-21030500
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-21030500
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