Originally Posted by Mr K

Although the last Labour government wasn't blameless, continuing to blame them after 7 years is wearing a bit thin Hugh.

A more open and honest way is to throw this back to the public and how much they are prepared to contribute to the increasing demands on the NHS. (sorry another referendum...)

Something along the lines of:-

- contribute no more. The NHS only to provide emergency care, you need private care for anything else (I suspect this is where the Govt. wants to go)

- 1p in the pound more tax. Try and maintain the status quo, with the NHS cutting some non-life threatening treatments.

- 2p more, status quo

- 3p more. More GP's and out of hours service

- 4p more. All singing and dancing 7 days a week NHS providing all care.

Not pretending these are the real figures or level of funding needed but an example of the choice we as the public, not politicians, need to make. Then we couldn't whinge because we'd made the choice.

It would certainly be a more honest approach than the current Govts. i.e. just let the NHS rot, blaming Junior Dr's, GPs, immigrants etc etc. When it collapses bring your private sector mates to the rescue...