Why Britain should not be proud of the NHS, with Dr Kristian Niemietz

Hello all. This skeptics group has been dormant for a while, but I took it over when the previous organiser left, and there's an upcoming event tomorrow that may interest people here.

This is the second talk in the new Sacred Cows series, where we investigate the evidence behind contemporary ideas that can often seem immune from criticism. This is a paid event (£8) and tickets must be bought in advance here.

In surveys which ask people what makes them most proud to be British, the NHS always consistently comes out as the top response, and by a very large margin.

Dr Kristian Niemietz, Editorial Director at the Institute of Economic Affairs and author of the book "Universal Healthcare Without the NHS", sees NHS worship as a bizarre, irrational cult. He argues that there is nothing the NHS has achieved which dozens of other healthcare systems have not also achieved, and often better.

He sees the NHS as a mediocre-to-poor healthcare system which trails behind most of its peers, and which is completely undeserving of the adulation it receives. He also argues that NHS worship is not just a harmless national eccentricity, but an active deterrent to achieving better health outcomes.

The talk will take place in the upstairs room of the Sekforde pub in Clerkenwell, London. Doors to the upstairs room will open at 6:30 and the talk will start at 7, will last for roughly 40 minutes and will be followed by questions. Then for those who want to stay, more drinks and discussion in the pub.