{
  "id": 11234636,
  "title": "£350m a week for a national care service? Hmm… time for some joined-up thinking | Brief letters",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/350m-a-week-for-a-national-care-service-hmm-time-for-some-joined-up",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-01T16:38:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Health",
    "slug": "guardian-health",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/oct/01/350m-a-week-for-a-national-care-service-hmm-time-for-some-joined-up-thinking"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A side-of-the-bus calculation has revealed that the £18bn annual cost of a national care service equates to about £350m per week. This figure was calculated in response to the announcement made by Andy Burnham regarding the potential rejoining of the EU. Burnham's proposal was expected to lead to increased trade, resulting in greater public taxation revenues of £770m per week.\n\nWith such a substantial sum available for investment, there is an opportunity for some \"joined-up thinking\" to improve the healthcare system. Currently, GPs have been recruiting the support of practice nurses to manage preventive healthcare. As of the early 1980s, there are now 23,000 such nurses providing excellent care. Elaine Fullard of Oxford shares her thoughts on this matter.",
  "summary": "A side-of-the-bus calculation | GPs, nurses and preventive healthcare | House guests | Treasured kitchen tools | Hedgehog-flavoured crisps | Advance booking A quick side-of-the-bus calculation reveals that the £18bn annual cost of a national care service ( How will Burnham’s national care service work – and how will it be funded?, 29 September ) equates to about £350m per week. How fortunate it…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}