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Never mind the bankers – the credit crunch will have a deep impact on our patients

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Never mind the bankers – the credit crunch will have a deep impact on our patients

John Timmons
1 November 2008

The global economic crisis has been in the news now for more than six months, in fact the ‘credit crunch’ was first mentioned in the media last summer. Britain is now in the midst of economic recession and generally the mood of the country is low.

I am a little concerned that the focus has been on how those involved in the banking industry will be facing hard times without their large bonuses, without a thought about what £500bn — the cost of the government bail-out of the banking system — could do for the NHS. I think a few years without the need to ration care might be in order, and maybe a few more nurses and doctors would prove to be useful. I understand, however, that this money has now been invested elsewhere and although the NHS may benefit in the long term it is nice to dream of a similar sum being offered to ‘bail out’ the service.

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