An NHS musical

Sometime's it's best to go straight for Godwin's Law, and so I offer up the following attempt at humour based upon the epic musical "Springtime for Hitler"

The NHS was doing nicely
What a great, great story
And then came the elections
Where we elected the Tories

Suddenly we need a new way to be
A liberal economic victory
No top down reorganisation became
Revolution for you and me

And now it's springtime for Lansley and Jeremy
Corporations are happy and gay
Dismantling the nation's safety net
On multinationals, our health we gladly bet

Springtime for Lansley and Jeremy
Winter for Pensioners and Plebs
Springtime for Lansley and Jeremy
Come on patients, come offer your thanks

I was born thanks to Virgin Care, and that is why they call me Rare
Don't be stupid, be a smarty, make sure you vote for the Tory party

Springtime for Lansley and Jeremy
Healthcare with healthy margin
Never mind the needs of the populace
Private care is on the rise again

Springtime for Lansley and Jeremy
Huge debts will build up once more
Springtime for Lansley and Jeremy

Means that
Soon there'll be no need
We've get to where there's no need
You know there'll be no more tax

Free Market's Revenge

The fluctuations in the prices of medicines have long been a source of consternation in pharmacy circles. While free markets often lead to low prices, it need not be necessarily so. Having to explain why a tablet that genuinely costs pence to make now costs hundreds of pounds for 28 isn't something I enjoy.

However it rarely makes the national news. This morning was an exception:  Phenytoin, an epilepsy drug, has had a sudden surge in price. The reason appears to be that the drug manufacturer has changed from one that was producing it below the cost of manufacture (as a loss-leader) to one that wants to make enough profit to survive in today's economic environment.

Pharmacists have long argued that medicines shouldn't be, despite actions of pharmacy chains and pharmaceutical manufacturers, treated as ordinary items of commerce. This drug is a perfect example: the properties of Phenytoin mean there are very limited options for a competing product to force the price down.

You sometimes win, you sometimes lose when you try to manage healthcare through a free market. Every so often the free market takes it's revenge on you.

And there's no point sulking when that happens.