Health care UK

Is it time to rethink the NHS?

When it comes to health care UK residents are lucky: unlike some other countries, we have a free health service that's available to everyone. However, pressure on the NHS is growing every year and despite huge cash injections, the service is still struggling. Should health care remain free for everyone?

When John Reid was given the job of health secretary, he allegedly said "Oh ****, not health". As every politician knows, the NHS is a constant - and growing - problem for government. When it comes to health care UK politicians may have to rethink the role of the NHS.

With health care UK residents can get free treatment for almost anything, irrespective of their personal circumstances - so you get free treatment even if you earn a six-figure salary. However, with each year the demand for NHS treatment increases as new drugs and surgical techniques are pioneered, and we're also facing a population time-bomb: we're living much longer than we used to, and as a result in years to come we'll have more and more people needing treatment for age-related illnesses, while fewer and fewer people of working age will be paying the tax that pays for such treatment.