Competition between hospitals a sound idea
Thankfully, we still have a privately operated GP service which works well and is improving. The involvement of VHI and Bupa is excellent as they insure against possible future illness. What needs doing is in introducing an element of competition between hospitals.
Competition could easily be introduced by switching central funding from hospitals to patients. All that is necessary is for health boards to register all medical cardholders with VHI or Bupa and pay the fee for them. This would remove the two-tier system and allow patients to select the hospital and medical professionals of their choice. There would then be competition at all levels, leading to improved services. Medical professionals' earnings would depend on their work output. Hospital income would depend on the level of medical procedures and care provided. Where the income does not exceed the outgoings, the establishment closes.
