[Margaret Pilkington]

Solving the problems in the NHS isn't just about money, though of course it is bad business to allow people to escape paying for treatment if they have not paid into the system.

To my knowledge,all hospitals have admin staff whose job it is to determine those patients who come through the doors and should be paying.
Now if they are doing a poor job, that should be sorted.
The problems within the NHS are complex...multi faceted and need an approach which addresses the complexity...and deals with the facets simultaneously.
If this is not done, then whatever efforts are put in will fail, or may only provide a temporary stop gap.
The NHS needs to run in tandem with social care provision for a start.
Social care provision should be a state run concern.
The NHS has been a political football and all parties have meddled and tinkered around the edges. None of this tinkering has been beneficial to the patients.
The companies who provided the PFI contracts should be told that after a certain date the hospitals will pay no more into their fat coffers...and hospitals should be allowed to contract their works to the lowest tender...or set up their own works departments again(far more cost effective and those who actually work for a hospital give a better service because of the pride they have in their work).
GP's need to improve their services too...no more closing for a half day on Wednesday, staggered lunch times. It can be done but needs to be thought out and managed properly.