Ok TJ, I accept that it is a subtle argument and that you will continue to do your best to mis-represent what I say. But even here, it is about patient care, not about patients themselves. Where is the noun, the subject, in all of this?
I do not doubt the dedication of most of the people who work in the health service and am in awe of their skills and contribution. But that shouldn't blinker one to the fact that "service" is, at times, a misnomer.
And forgive me from starting with the wrong premise - the patient?????
If we want to start with the idea of premises lets take the NHS's vision statement (excuse the ghastly phrase):
a comprehensive service, available to all, free at the point of use, based on need, not ability to pay’
...and consider, "available to all." So is this true from the patient's perspective? NO, it is true from the governments and hospitals perspective. Who makes the choice.....the government devolves power to the medical staff who determine what they will make available and in what time frame. Again its a matter of perspective. And this is not the patients perspective.
One day, the patients truly will come first. In the meantime, the usual mess will prevail....
If Milliband is correct - that we are passive recipients - there are few services in the world that survive like that without reform.
Edit at 12 mins: [TJ - Opposition to these reforms from the professionals is all about the patients. Just read the press releases from them. I even quoted some a while back] ok very small sample but that's exactly what I did. Two links were made, neither put patients first. But fair to say that this was a ludicrously small sample 
