Responding to comments by the BMA Chairman Dr Hamish Meldrum that the National Health Service is being run like a “shoddy supermarket war”, Progressive Vision, the classical liberal think tank, has said that the NHS should be run more like supermarkets, not less.

 Shane Frith, director of Progressive Vision, said;

“Dr Meldrum’s remarks are ridiculous. Supermarket competition is neither shoddy nor warlike. Supermarket customers can buy a wide and diverse range of products, at very reasonable prices and can expect minimal queues or waiting times to get what they want.

“If only NHS patients were so lucky. They often have to wait weeks or months for the treatment they need, have very little choice in the service they get and end up receiving health care that rates amongst the worst in the advanced world.

“The NHS should be subjected to more supermarket-style competition not less. It would help to ensure that health care became more responsive to the needs and desires of patients and less driven by the interests of doctors and doctors’ unions.”

ENDS