The marketisation of the NHS has reached a point where it would be laughable if it were not true. The Department of Health is to publish a marketing code allowing hospitals to advertise to attract patients.
Both the BMA and NHS trade unions have made the obvious point this morning - NHS money should be spent on healthcare not on adverts!
And doesn't the idea of advertising for patients rely on a notion that different hospitals are in competition with each other, rather than working together as part of an integrated National Health Service?!
Excuse me, but I don't want to browse a set of advertising promotions in order to pick the best hospital for my particular ailment. I want to know that my local hospital will look after me. I don't want to know that a particular hospital is the best, because that tells me that others are not good enough.
I sense a comic potential in adapting popular advertising slogans to this particular market. I might add some later on, but in the meantime, readers are welcome to log in and use the comments box.
