Enticing NHS heroes into private web

SINCE your story “Deals offer companies foothold in Yorkshire NHS care” (Yorkshire Post, October 12), further articles have seemed to me to have had a clear relevance. You have covered age discrimination in the light of NHS cuts and then the prediction that by “2040 there will 1.2 million OAPs with breast cancer”.

Linking the steps toward privatisation which have already been agreed to the subsequent details regarding cuts threatening the level of services to the elderly is not very comforting to this 77-year-old reader – but then 2040 is not likely to be a personal threat.

As with many of advancing years, I can tick many of the conditions referred to in these pieces and I am in a position to be able to compare the private practice standards against the NHS in one aspect. I was offered a hearing test by the high street company mentioned (Specsavers), in a facility totally unfit for purpose. When I had the NHS test in a properly constructed, soundproof room, I was even more convinced.

If (and it is a big if) these companies are able to meet their obligations in so many different areas of the nation’s health, what standards will apply?

My NHS involvement became a major factor in my life 20 years ago when I had a heart attack. Thanks to their response, I have since been able to lead a fairly normal active life. I am now in my ninth year of treatment for prostate cancer and awaiting an endoscope examination.

I have always found NHS front-line staff to be first class, well trained and dedicated to caring. Patients are their motivation, they are heroes. No wonder these same companies will soon be enticing them into their web for where else can such people be found?

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