NHS Wastes (Another) £46bn

Predictable headline of the day, from the London Times: "Man who helped NHS to £46bn says it wasted the money and needs more."

The money poured into the NHS has failed to produce a more efficient service, or to reduce unhealthy lifestyles. As a result even more cash will be needed in the future, says a new review by Sir Derek Wanless.

It was published yesterday, five years after his review for the Treasury paved the way for the extra £43.2 billion that the Government has since spent on the NHS. Sir Derek, a former chief executive of NatWest bank, sees some improvements in the service, but also identifies a range of failings, including mismanaged structural changes; generous pay deals that failed to produce an obvious return; and a neglect of public health.

In an accompanying editorial, Times Health Editor Nigel Hawkes comments that "The NHS used to be underfunded and ineffective. Now it is only one of these."

In other NHS news, The Independent reports that last year alone the British Department of Health spent over $6.1 million on first class train travel, and a further $1.5 million on taxis and business class travel. As the Spectator's Coffeehouse Blog noted, this is could cover the NHS's massive shortfall in Alzheimer drugs.