I am afraid of falling ill in Britain

The recent case of hospital bugs has escalated to an investigation into potential criminal prosecution of one NHS trust. And whatever Alan Johnson says, targets - another big government idea by the Labour party - are the problem. It's very simply really. Results-based policies never work if they are not accompanied by a set of incentives and values. Put in another way, if you make hospital staff meet centrally-imposed targets and quotas on the threat of sanctions, without paying doctors and nurses and cleaners more and/or developing a culture of professionalism, which of the two do you think is going to be more important to them - meeting targets or doing a good job? It is always easier to look good than to actually be good, and targets emphasize exactly the wrong sort of values. You pay peanuts, I work like a monkey.

Which is why I believe in small governments and the value of economic competition. But that's another story.

So my girlfriend C and I have made a pact: if either of us falls ill and is hospitalized, the other will promise to come daily to DISINFECT and CLEAN surrounding areas and bring NUTRITIONAL FOOD - homecooked - for meals. She won't buy medical insurance on principle, cos she says that defeats the whole purpose of paying high taxes to fund a national health system. Although I have to admit, I'm beginning to waver on that one... though from personal experience (hence not generalising here), private health care in London, although much more pleasant and plush than the NHS, isn't anywhere as good or technologically advanced as it is in Singapore or the US.

I want to say, however, that there are many good medical professionals - many of whom are my friends - out there. The problem is systemic, it isn't them. And it's very unfortunate that they get painted with the same tar brush.