Right now, the NHS is not being privatized – that’s the beauty of the long game

The left, the unions, ‘Red Len’, even senior medical professionals – all have been warning of a health apocalypse ever since this government took to power in May 2010. The impending doom of the N.H.S. is an unfathomable, if often seemingly far-fetched, prospect. Our hard-fought social and welfare structures created in a war-torn post-imperial state make Britain after 1948 a unique and proud country. Thus, if the very entity that binds us all together, the power of our universal, free health service, was to be destroyed, we have every right to be up in arms, and should expect others to act in the same way.

            And that’s exactly the point. This is what the unions and all those on the left have been missing. The government may be despised for its blatant ideology-focused policies, and derided for its incompetence, but they are certainly not stupid. Their ideological focus is in fact what drives them on to succeed. They know that however nonplussed or frustrated the British people are with Labour’s management of the economy, bringing down the public service of the N.H.S. would bring down the walls of Jericho with it. Such a fundamental change, altering Britain’s place in the world and one of its few positions of moral ‘high ground’ over its superpower ally, the U.S., would be catastrophic. The people would not stand for it. The equivalent of Cameron’s impeachment would happen – almost immediately. So this is not what the Conservatives will do. Their plan is far subtler and far nastier. Gradually, more and more contracts will be sold – to the likes of Serco and G4S. Remember that name from anywhere? I wonder perhaps, the difference between public frustration at inefficient security arrangements, and the public’s reaction to negligent mismanagement, perhaps leading to ‘profits’ getting in the way of people, a poor standard of care and even (I speculate here) a higher mortality rate as a result. Whether or not this is valid speculation, what is certainly true is that gradually chunks of the NHS – still free at the moment – are being put up for sale for the highest bidder. The government claims that they are fiercely legislating to protect high standards, and somehow suggest that companies with a purpose of profit will improve standards – yes, people will still be put first. But the fundamental point is that this is being done slowly and carefully. The Tories are relying on a majority in 2015 to enact these changes to their full potential. But they will certainly be enacted. Whether that will mean eventually paying for appointments to the doctor, as was favored by 52% of GPs in a recent survey, cannot be predicted. But a stand cannot be taken to protect the N.H.S. when – thus far – it is fundamentally as strong as it was before this government took power.

            There are, hence two objectives which the British public can take to prevent long-term damage to our proudest institution. Firstly, block any further reform after 2015 by kicking the Conservatives out of power. And secondly, maintain our political activism as with any other issue. Keep an eye out at your local hospital for ‘changes to improve efficiency’ or similar wishy-washy changes. Read or access a news source such as the Guardian, perhaps the best for championing the anti-privatization movement and alerting the public to undesirable changes. Then, when they go too far, we will know about it – and be in a position to strike.