I love reading posts from people moaning about waiting lists etc. They always have the option to go private if they don't want to wait. If they can't afford to do so, then they are still better off than they would be in the US where its go private or go without!
What do they think would happen if the NHS was abolished? Taxes would NOT go down (whatever the Tories say, they'd just waste the money on something else, like their own expenses claims, tax cuts for the rich or pointless wars). Private healthcare would not necessarily become more affordable, as the private healthcare companies would have the monopoly on the market and so could charge what they want (the NHS forces private insurance premiums DOWN in order to attract customers away from the NHS). My mum remembers the pre-1948 days when sick people couldn't afford to go to the doctor and children would die. She can remember her own mother screaming in pain and not being able to seek treatment because they couldn't afford doctors' fees. Is that what they want to go back to?
And with private healthcare you still have all the hidden charges of having to pay for drugs, deductibles etc, which could result in low wage earners having to go without their care as they can't afford the £50 or whatever it costs for a doctor's visit.
The NHS needs improving but without it an awful lot of people in the UK would be in an awful lot of trouble.
"Of course not. Many whinged about it and then said in a huff, "I'm off to Spain/Protugal/Australia/etc", until they really needed it. Ooops, cancer, old age, etc. Then they run back, pronto."
Lol indeed. I notice how people will complain until they are ill and need it and can't afford to pay exorbitant hospital bills in which case its the best system in the world . . .
John Q - you already pay for other people's healthcare through your insurance premiums. All those emergency room visits by people whose untreated conditions have gotten so serious that they need expensive treatment and then struggle to pay? Thats your money which covers it. Had they been able to get treatment earlier it would have cost you a lot less. A friend of mine in the US who is uninsured was rushed to hospital last year and the bill came to $1200. It was reduced to $800 as her family are on a low income. YOU paid the extra $400.
Living in the UK I can honestly say that people are not "denied" care because of their age or disability under the NHS. Most NHS patients are elderly because it is the elderly who need the most care! That really is an utter pile of hogwash invented by some anti-Obama nut to scare people.
New Labour Voter - but its not all about you is it? What about the people who can't afford to live under a private system? Are you going to take the American attitude and say "to hell with them?" I hope not, thats not what we Brits are about.
If you are lucky enough to be able to afford BUPA cover/private fees then good for you but many can't and many, who have pre-existing problems, etc wouldn't even get cover under a US style system.
And incidentally I have never used my private health cover which comes with my job. Can't be bothered with all the form filling. the NHS has not let me down yet.
Devonian - I agree that things do need changing in the NHS. But they can be easily changed.
What do they think would happen if the NHS was abolished? Taxes would NOT go down (whatever the Tories say, they'd just waste the money on something else, like their own expenses claims, tax cuts for the rich or pointless wars). Private healthcare would not necessarily become more affordable, as the private healthcare companies would have the monopoly on the market and so could charge what they want (the NHS forces private insurance premiums DOWN in order to attract customers away from the NHS). My mum remembers the pre-1948 days when sick people couldn't afford to go to the doctor and children would die. She can remember her own mother screaming in pain and not being able to seek treatment because they couldn't afford doctors' fees. Is that what they want to go back to?
And with private healthcare you still have all the hidden charges of having to pay for drugs, deductibles etc, which could result in low wage earners having to go without their care as they can't afford the £50 or whatever it costs for a doctor's visit.
The NHS needs improving but without it an awful lot of people in the UK would be in an awful lot of trouble.
"Of course not. Many whinged about it and then said in a huff, "I'm off to Spain/Protugal/Australia/etc", until they really needed it. Ooops, cancer, old age, etc. Then they run back, pronto."
Lol indeed. I notice how people will complain until they are ill and need it and can't afford to pay exorbitant hospital bills in which case its the best system in the world . . .
John Q - you already pay for other people's healthcare through your insurance premiums. All those emergency room visits by people whose untreated conditions have gotten so serious that they need expensive treatment and then struggle to pay? Thats your money which covers it. Had they been able to get treatment earlier it would have cost you a lot less. A friend of mine in the US who is uninsured was rushed to hospital last year and the bill came to $1200. It was reduced to $800 as her family are on a low income. YOU paid the extra $400.
Living in the UK I can honestly say that people are not "denied" care because of their age or disability under the NHS. Most NHS patients are elderly because it is the elderly who need the most care! That really is an utter pile of hogwash invented by some anti-Obama nut to scare people.
New Labour Voter - but its not all about you is it? What about the people who can't afford to live under a private system? Are you going to take the American attitude and say "to hell with them?" I hope not, thats not what we Brits are about.
If you are lucky enough to be able to afford BUPA cover/private fees then good for you but many can't and many, who have pre-existing problems, etc wouldn't even get cover under a US style system.
And incidentally I have never used my private health cover which comes with my job. Can't be bothered with all the form filling. the NHS has not let me down yet.
Devonian - I agree that things do need changing in the NHS. But they can be easily changed.