NHS budget

Last night on BBC news there was a big fuss being made about NHS budgets and hospital performances, with heated discussions from the House of Commons (Westminster). Well I have a few suggestions to knock some cost off the taxpayers' bill:

Have you ever been abroad and needed medical treatment? I have. First question they ask is not "Where does it hurt?" or "What is the problem?". No! The first question is always, "What is your credit card number?" or "What is you Medical Insurance cover?". So why do we let visitors to the UK get away without paying? That's the first change, should save millions.

Next up, "young ladies" from across the Commonwealth coming to the UK to have their "virginity restored" on the NHS. Apparently, according to NHS statistics this has jumped from 300 cases per year in 2010 to 17,500 in 2012 and is expected to rise in 2013. Why? Did they get laid on the NHS? No, of course not! So (again) why are they getting away without paying?

Then there are old people who fall over (shouldn't victimise the elderly as this could apply to anybody really, but... ). For example, father-in-law has the odd tumble, he is 85 years old and resident in a home. Every time it happens the home phones for an ambulance and sends him off to hospital for a check up. There he ends up waiting for 4 hours to have blood tests, then waits another hour or so before being admitted to the Medical Assessment Unit for an overnight stay because he has a heart condition. This is all part of his medical history, so why, when the call is received does the NHS not check his records and dispatch a paramedic and/or doctor. Put an SLA on the service to get to patient within 1 hour and penalties on them if they refer patient to hospital and hey presto.... A better service for the patient. A more efficient service for the NHS. A less costly service for the taxpayers.

On top of that have at least one Walk in Clinic open 24/7 in every town for anybody who has the ability to get there (I suggest they don't do the driving if their ability to do so is impaired) which is staffed by the doctors and paramedics who are also on call for trips and falls (and other similar, non-life threatening health issues). Adequate car parking with £1 per half hour of parking, fully refunded if the stay is more than 3 hours. Cost effective service that's close to self financing.

Hospitals themselves... many need rebuilding or refurbishment. Don't do like Derby has and close the one just off the town centre and build a massive "one stop shop" away on the outskirts of town. If it is close to town centre people can use public transport to get in and out. Ambulance and other mobile services can get to all parts of the city / toewn / area without having to cross from one side of town to the other, keeping costs down. People travelling a greater distance can get in using rail travel (god help them). And do we need massive "one stop shop" hospitals anyway? Form an NHS network with each specialising in certain types of care. It has to make sense!

But hey! Since when have politicians ever made or applied sense to the equation?