[burdapoint]

The NHS is chronically under-funded compared with other western European countries on a per-capita basis. It is one of the most efficient systems in the world in terms of £ in and outcomes out.

The underfunding is the cause of the inefficiencies that you have probably seen. It literally does not have enough staff, buildings, beds, mri machines etc to operate and is constantly fire-fighting.

Yes, it's a big employer, and? It provides health care to 70 million people, of course it is. Why do you think competition would improve things? the US spends more than 2x as much per capita.