The NHS needs more money.

There has never been a time when the NHS had sufficient money to pay all the bills. There has been an almost permanent 'black hole' in its finances. When I was at the LSE heath economics was one one my favourite subjects. As the needs of the nation change so will the response of the NHS have to be more nimble on its pins. More elderly patients, more case of obesity and diabetes and the complications that follow, more heart disease and cancer cases etc. The longitudinal costs of health services unless potential patients are encouraged to make more healthy choices will bankrupt the system. There is now a projected £8 billion short fall in the income for NHS England over the next few years. How can people be persuaded to take the healthy options? Should they be charged for having smoked all their lives thereby making sure they will become ill? If they are alcoholic should they be charged a premium for this indulgence? As the budgets of many are squeezed there will be pressure to penalise the unhealthy. If seriously overweight should they again be punished? There will be increasing exasperation with those who have decided to take the 'unhealthy options' in their lives and should be charged accordingly. How much is this to do with class, poverty, education, poor diet and poor families? Will they being doubly punished for being poor?