Gerry Robinson and the NHS
I have just watched the first episode of "Can Gerry Robinson save the NHS" on Channel 4 which I had Sky+ed. The problem he confronts is that individual hospitals are funded according to the number of patients treated, whereas doctors and nurses are paid the same regardless how many patients they operate on or see at a clinic.
Is the solution not almost too obvious? Why can't the medical staff have their pay linked to the revenue they earn for the hospital, whether individually or as teams? No doubt this would be met with a barrage of complaint claiming that this would diminish standards etc, but it seems to work in most other industries. Surely this reform would be the logicial conclusion to the concept of the internal market? That, and opting medics out of the European Working Time Directive.
Is the solution not almost too obvious? Why can't the medical staff have their pay linked to the revenue they earn for the hospital, whether individually or as teams? No doubt this would be met with a barrage of complaint claiming that this would diminish standards etc, but it seems to work in most other industries. Surely this reform would be the logicial conclusion to the concept of the internal market? That, and opting medics out of the European Working Time Directive.
