Cuts

摘要

Economist John Appleby observes that if the NHS were not protected from the UKgovernment's forthcoming spending cuts, it would have to reduce its budget by around 14%overthe next few years (p 372). A 30% real pay cut for all staff, non-provision of drugs, sacking all consultants and general practitioners, or abolishingthe NHS eitherin London orin Scotland and Wales-any of these could deliver such savings. But none, he admits wryly, would be very appealing, and even if less drastic cuts were made across the board these would be highly unpopular with the NHS-loving British public. Yet David Hunter, professor of health policy and management, argues against ringfencing the health budget (p 372): he believes that protectingthe NHS atthe expense of other public spending will hamper efforts to reduce social inequalities and prevent disease.