UK rationed health care left patients 'sobbing and humiliated' to hit cost targets

BBC:

Hospital patients were left "sobbing and humiliated" by uncaring staff, an investigation into one of the worst NHS scandals in history has found.

The independent inquiry claimed the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust had become driven by targets and cost-cutting.

...

Last year it was reported there were at least 400 more deaths than expected at the trust from 2005 to 2008.

But the relatives of patients treated there said many questions still remained unanswered.

...

This latest report also outlines instances where patients were "routinely neglected".

It documents cases where patients were left in soiled sheets which relatives were forced to wash.

And it highlights examples where patients were left alone, leading to falls - some fatal, which were not reported.

And one woman, who gave evidence, told the inquiry: "My Mum was in absolute agony, I can hear her screams now, as I walked into the ward."

Half of the patients and relatives who gave evidence also cited problems getting enough food and drink.

The report criticised the "ineffective" management which was too often concerned with hitting targets, particularly in A&E, as well as the "lack of compassion" and "uncaring attitude" of staff.

But staffing levels were also said to be too low because the trust was trying to slash costs by £10m.

...

Clearly government health care is not the answer to cutting health care cost. The brutal treatment these patients received would never happen where they have alternative treatment facilities competing to provide service. The push for more government controls in the US is deeply misguided.