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NHS Privatisation

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago

If it did happen

Would it be such a bad idea if it was done right and focussed on streamlining the top heavy admin and management?

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By *ynecplCouple
over a year ago

Newcastle upon Tyne

It is the sort of business where no matter whether it was public or private there would be a lot of management and administration jobs. So no difference. Also people go on about the NHS being privatisation yet it has always had a lot of private elements to it right from the day it was set up.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Could be some whacky advertising on ambulances

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By *ustBoWoman
over a year ago

Somewhere in Co. Down

It would be awful and people who couldn't afford health care would end up dying because of it. And the if you think privatising would make the ones at the top less than you are just fooling yourself.

The NHS may not be perfect but it's a hell of a lot better than other places .Look at the south of Ireland over €60 to go see your GP, you then pay full whack for your meds as well if you are on regular meds then you can get set fee which was over €100 .All privatisation will do is make those already struggling a lot worse off.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

There is one simple problem with privatisation! It shifts the primary goal of the NHS, which is providing a health service to all, to creating profit! In my eyes an absolutly abhorrent idea!

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By *annaBeStrongMan
over a year ago

wokingham


"It would be awful and people who couldn't afford health care would end up dying because of it. And the if you think privatising would make the ones at the top less than you are just fooling yourself.

The NHS may not be perfect but it's a hell of a lot better than other places .Look at the south of Ireland over €60 to go see your GP, you then pay full whack for your meds as well if you are on regular meds then you can get set fee which was over €100 .All privatisation will do is make those already struggling a lot worse off. "

This basically

Those at the top will sell you a pipe dream because it doesn’t effect them. Those making the decisions already have private healthcare, the NHS could disappear and it would make no difference to them.

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By *ilverjagMan
over a year ago

swansea


"Could be some whacky advertising on ambulances "

Actually you could be on to something there even under the present situation. I wonder if companies would pay for advertising space on ambulances. Maybe a sticker on the door like:

AMBULANCE SPONSORED BY WHOEVER

A COUPLE OF WORD OF THEIR BUSINESS

LOOK US UP AT WWW DOT WHOEVER

I see such ads on roundabouts in my area, where you pay the local authority to allow you to place an advertising board on a particular roundabout, with the company having exclusivity of that roundabout. A sponsor could have exclusive right to advertise themselves on an ambulance. Not only would the sponsoring companies costs be tax deductible, but also put their company in very good light as they demonstrate their support for an organisation as worthy as the NHS. If any NHS staff on here get a promotion for making the suggestion, that's one you owe me.

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By *nliveneTV/TS
over a year ago

Selby

I always wonder why GP's/surgeries are private and not NHS owned?

Saying this i'm not saying shouldn't exist private GP surgery.

What i see is NHS as a big cake surrounded by big licking tongues

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By *edheadjMan
over a year ago

High Wycombe

The Tories would use it to line their pockets, whilst is plebs would suffer the consequences

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It's already happening before our eyes and we've only got ourselves to blame, eventually the NHS will cease to exist.

We already live in a country where there is a big divide between the rich and the poor. Can you imagine how heartbreaking it would be to choose whether you could afford treatment for yourself or child. Our self worth would be decided on the best health insurance we could afford and our death would be dependant on that too.

Every country in the world should have a system like ours, if only we had people in power who cared about it too.

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By *iamondCougarWoman
over a year ago

Norfuck! / Lincolnshire

Many other countries have looked/tried and failed to emulate our NHS system. It is a true British institution we should be proud of.

Unfortunately it has become the victim of its own success and no matter how much money we pour into it the black hole is far too deep.

The healthcare needs of our ever growing population is outstripping the funds and services available. In the not too distant future I’m pretty sure privatisation will kick in to some areas and yes, it will cost you dearly!

Use it …. Don’t abuse it!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

NHS already outsources to the private sector. As a public sector organisation it is typically top heavy with senior administrators and bureaucrats, and hampered by lots of feel good policies. Just the same as education and policing, and the military to an extent. All this detracts from the amazing work done by most of the front line up to middle management staff. However, the NHS in particular is a self defeating organisation. the better it gets at taking care of people, the more people there will be to take care of and it simply can't keep up.

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By *orksRockerMan
over a year ago

Bradford

[Removed by poster at 12/11/21 07:36:50]

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By *orksRockerMan
over a year ago

Bradford

If I said anything other than "Privatisation is a very bad idea", this comment will go on for a very long time and I will get angrier and angrier.

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By *acey_RedWoman
over a year ago

Liverpool

If? It's already happening. Virgin now run loads of services and areas have started to implement offers of paying for an online GP appointment.

Yes it would be bad. Any "streamlining" would be to cream greater profits off the top, not to save the general public any money or improve care. I've worked in parts of the NHS where services have been contracted by private providers and their equipment is poorer quality than the NHS and their procedures are less strict. They only replace things when they really have to rather than when it's advised to because everything is about profit.

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By *acey_RedWoman
over a year ago

Liverpool


"I always wonder why GP's/surgeries are private and not NHS owned?

Saying this i'm not saying shouldn't exist private GP surgery.

What i see is NHS as a big cake surrounded by big licking tongues "

It's a bit of a weird one. They're technically mini businesses run by the partners but they're not totally private. Their pay is still regulated by the government, they can't advertise or sell their practice as a business and they can't have shareholders. It's a bit of a weird inbetween.

I personally think they still do it because it keeps the GPs responsibile for the practice being financially viable which is kinda shitty for GPs in more rural areas and I imagine it does impact access to a GP in those areas.

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By *adja_lazloCouple
over a year ago

Solihull


"If it did happen

Would it be such a bad idea if it was done right and focussed on streamlining the top heavy admin and management?"

all ready has began, MiL went for a scan to an American company with their own private building on NHS site

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By *heRazorsEdgeMan
over a year ago

Wales/ All over UK

You just have to look at everything else that ha been privatised “to become more efficient”… Post offices, Train services, Utilities…. Can anyone show me where it’s not ended up with minimal service provision with profit being the only driver?

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By *ellhungvweMan
over a year ago

Cheltenham

The “problem” with the NHS (as with any large org) is that working practices get stuck in a rut over time and that inertia is almost impossible to change. What was once good practice slowly gets superseded but things stay as they were. This isn’t an attack on the NHS or it’s staff - just an observation about human nature and “privatising” the NHS won’t change that.

If we want to make proper use of the NHS then we should probably be moving to a full 24 hour healthcare system - for example why are theatres empty overnight? I get there are resource constraints with beds etc but that can be fixed. The bigger issue will be that surgeons will not want to work at night. It

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By *inBridgendCouple
over a year ago

Llanelli

Admin is one of the most important things - that is getting the right person to the right place at the right time for the right treatment. Taking an American model would be a disaster (as shown recently when lots of ppl have lost health insurance when losing their jobs). The private system undermines and takes resources from the core NHS and actually has all the same constraints when it comes to it (I know that from experience). I don’t begrudge the drop NHS staff their pay - while it may seem a lot they are under constant public scrutiny. While it has major issues we should protect the NHS as the alternative is much worse!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

When people think NHS, they think 'hospital'

It is so much more than that and it needs to be fought for, not sold off for profit

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"The “problem” with the NHS (as with any large org) is that working practices get stuck in a rut over time and that inertia is almost impossible to change. What was once good practice slowly gets superseded but things stay as they were. This isn’t an attack on the NHS or it’s staff - just an observation about human nature and “privatising” the NHS won’t change that.

If we want to make proper use of the NHS then we should probably be moving to a full 24 hour healthcare system - for example why are theatres empty overnight? I get there are resource constraints with beds etc but that can be fixed. The bigger issue will be that surgeons will not want to work at night. It

"

The more specialised the service/procedure, the harder that becomes as consultant level is in short supply. I have on occasion gone private to avoid long NHS waiting lists and seen exactly the same consultant that I would eventually have seen with the NHS. That seems bizarre to me, a bit loike politicians have MP interests and private interests that may conflict. How topical am I?..

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Loike?....like

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By *otsossieMan
over a year ago

local, but not too local

Anyone with a pre-existing condition would be screwed, as would the less well off.

I had a quote to continue the cover I was getting from a previous employer and it was more than my mortgage!

There is already a lot of privatisation within the NHS. The problem is that it distracts from providing care and you start chasing profits and targets.

Any money going to shareholders isn’t going towards care.

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By *iman2100Man
over a year ago

Glasgow

I used to work in a government department that was privatised. The Conservative government said they could do it all cheaper, quicker and better using private sector consultants. So they started the process of closing it down after a period of stoning the public department for being useless.

What they subsequently found was the private sector had no idea of the plethora of non core service tasks placed on the public body by the Govt which made it "inefficient".

The private sector also did not have the expertise needed for the specialist designs the Govt required and after a few years the public bodies reformed to do their work again.

The NHS already has huge areas that are fully private. GP surgeries for example. Do they run super efficiently? Well when they do well its the "XYZ Medical Partnership". When they cock up its the "NHS". Govt employees cannot win when a Conservative government, funded by big business, is in power.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Privatisation leads to a poorer service as the providers are focused on making a profit. This is usually done by cutting wages and heads. Look at some of the failures of companies who have taken over certain services at hospitals

As for privatisation of the whole NHS, just look at health care costs in the USA. We need to fight to protect the NHS as we own it and not the Tories

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It's already happening people just aren't aware. The tories have sold off various elements to their private friends and have been slicing bits off it for a good while now.

The NHS constantly being judged to be not sustainable (even before covid) was the beginning of the idea of privatisation being planted in our heads so that when it does arrive its not a massive shock.

I would have said covid issues and the patient backlog would have been the straw that broke the camals back but looking at people's reaction to the NHS workers I think it actually had the opposite effect and the public would go mental if the tories tried to take it away. A few years ago I think they could have done it and potentially got away with it......I mean it seems they get away with everything else anyway.

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

It's not if,its when.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"

Op i hope you never are in the position of calling an ambulance , and before they despatch it to you , they check ypur credit rating .

"

Could be worse, could be like my partners father, collapse in the front garden on a cold rainy day with chest pains and difficulty breathing, call 999 and be told an ambulance may be there in 5 hours.

I really don't believe privatisation is the answer but the NHS is not an institution to be envied, it is a barely functioning dinosaur where people don't die because they can't afford treatment, they die because the service can't afford treatment.

We will not solve the problems all the time we idol worship the NHS like some kind of sacred cow. Are many doctors and nurses absolute heroes for how hard they work and putting up with awful working conditions? Sure they are. Are they all? No, absolutely not. As anyone who has been employed for more than 5 minutes in any government organisation will tell you, there are those that know what they're doing, those that work hard and get things done and then a bunch of people who know one knows how they're still employed and why they have the power and influence they do. When you employ millions of people like the NHS you will have tens of thousands of people like this. They don't need privatising, they do need to get away from the job for life, old boys network that is endemic in government run intuitions. Sadly, like all long term companies, they have an embedded culture that is incredibly hard to change.

In industry I've seen companies bought out and massive cultural changes take place, I've seen others where this is attempted but fails and in a few years the old culture is back. It only ever works where the old management is removed and new bought in. Cannot see this ever happening with the NHS.

Mr

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By *heRazorsEdgeMan
over a year ago

Wales/ All over UK


"

Op i hope you never are in the position of calling an ambulance , and before they despatch it to you , they check ypur credit rating .

Could be worse, could be like my partners father, collapse in the front garden on a cold rainy day with chest pains and difficulty breathing, call 999 and be told an ambulance may be there in 5 hours.

I really don't believe privatisation is the answer but the NHS is not an institution to be envied, it is a barely functioning dinosaur where people don't die because they can't afford treatment, they die because the service can't afford treatment.

We will not solve the problems all the time we idol worship the NHS like some kind of sacred cow. Are many doctors and nurses absolute heroes for how hard they work and putting up with awful working conditions? Sure they are. Are they all? No, absolutely not. As anyone who has been employed for more than 5 minutes in any government organisation will tell you, there are those that know what they're doing, those that work hard and get things done and then a bunch of people who know one knows how they're still employed and why they have the power and influence they do. When you employ millions of people like the NHS you will have tens of thousands of people like this. They don't need privatising, they do need to get away from the job for life, old boys network that is endemic in government run intuitions. Sadly, like all long term companies, they have an embedded culture that is incredibly hard to change.

In industry I've seen companies bought out and massive cultural changes take place, I've seen others where this is attempted but fails and in a few years the old culture is back. It only ever works where the old management is removed and new bought in. Cannot see this ever happening with the NHS.

Mr"

The NHS’s current problems all stem from one issue.. Chronic underfunding of health and social care by the Conservative government

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By *iman2100Man
over a year ago

Glasgow


"It's already happening people just aren't aware. The tories have sold off various elements to their private friends and have been slicing bits off it for a good while "

True. Every Conservative government has the same 5 point process.

1. Identify a public service you want to privitise for your business associates to profit from.

2. Criticise unmercifully and unjustifiably the Govt service.

3. Announce that this is "unacceptable and the government is determined to solve it"

4. Announce privitisation is the solution and implement it.

5. Whatever the failings of the new scheme announce it is working great.

Job done!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Always been private and we had no choice

It was a American friend who tippled me on to it bare with me hear

Americans can ither pay for health care them selfs or pay a monthly premium to a health insurance policy ever month who fit the bill if say something gose wrong

Well we also pay health insurance it’s called national insurance to technically we paying a health care insurance policy

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By *ad NannaWoman
over a year ago

East London

I've had operations and procedures done by Practice Plus Group and Care UK, working with the NHS.

Look them up on Google.

We're already being treated by private companies.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

If NHS offered personal private care, would the money paid in for privatisation raise the wage of the medical staff and better working conditions?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"

The NHS’s current problems all stem from one issue.. Chronic underfunding of health and social care by the Conservative government "

This is a massive part of the problem, arguably the biggest part but it certainly isn't the only part.

Mr

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By *esthetic21Man
over a year ago

Birmingham/Bristol

I already have private healthcare.

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By *ackandtheunicornCouple
over a year ago

liverpool


"If it did happen

Would it be such a bad idea if it was done right and focussed on streamlining the top heavy admin and management?

all ready has began, MiL went for a scan to an American company with their own private building on NHS site"

Same for me. Had an MRI and had to fill out forms before hand to say the NHS will be footing the bill (think it was something like £8k).

Also had surgery which was done in private hospital. Must have cost a fortune, but it was very nice.

NHS should never be privatised. But I do think it should divert its focus from treating people to preventing people getting sick. A massive proportion of problems people have are caused by lifestyle and diet, so can easily prevented.

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By *nliveneTV/TS
over a year ago

Selby


"I always wonder why GP's/surgeries are private and not NHS owned?

Saying this i'm not saying shouldn't exist private GP surgery.

What i see is NHS as a big cake surrounded by big licking tongues

It's a bit of a weird one. They're technically mini businesses run by the partners but they're not totally private. Their pay is still regulated by the government, they can't advertise or sell their practice as a business and they can't have shareholders. It's a bit of a weird inbetween.

I personally think they still do it because it keeps the GPs responsibile for the practice being financially viable which is kinda shitty for GPs in more rural areas and I imagine it does impact access to a GP in those areas. "

That's exactly my thought , is really weird, i only can see it as big cloud, and in my opinion this only shows that NHS since long time ago have been private in some way and i believe brexit is behind NHS privatisation, is just a question of time till this happen

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By *1bttmMan
over a year ago

Shoreditch east London

I work for the NHS.....and there's a lot of wastage on every level. But the thing that really gripes me is the lack of responsibility "we all have" as patients. I say that collectively because recently the unit I work in had out of 20 appointments only 16 show. So 20% failed to attend. Not even a phone call to explain why. And it wasn't a case of they weren't aware because they attended initially for pre assessment/covid test. But day of actual treatment they failed to show. This happens on a daily basis all over in every hospital and every dept. The money this costs is just 1 out of many things that should be addressed.

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By *immyinreadingMan
over a year ago

henley on thames

Let’s not get too worked up about something that isn’t going to happen.

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By *immyinreadingMan
over a year ago

henley on thames


"I work for the NHS.....and there's a lot of wastage on every level. But the thing that really gripes me is the lack of responsibility "we all have" as patients. I say that collectively because recently the unit I work in had out of 20 appointments only 16 show. So 20% failed to attend. Not even a phone call to explain why. And it wasn't a case of they weren't aware because they attended initially for pre assessment/covid test. But day of actual treatment they failed to show. This happens on a daily basis all over in every hospital and every dept. The money this costs is just 1 out of many things that should be addressed.

"

That’s really unfortunate behaviour. And it is partly driven by the fact that such behaviour is free for the individuals in question and they suffer no consequences for behaving like that ... simply rebook and turn up if they feel like it. If they had paid, or if there was a financial or logistical penalty for not turning up, then they might behave differently.

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By *nliveneTV/TS
over a year ago

Selby


"Let’s not get too worked up about something that isn’t going to happen. "

While we all say , No To NHS Privatisation , the private sector says, Watch Me

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By *immyinreadingMan
over a year ago

henley on thames


"If it did happen

Would it be such a bad idea if it was done right and focussed on streamlining the top heavy admin and management?

all ready has began, MiL went for a scan to an American company with their own private building on NHS site

Same for me. Had an MRI and had to fill out forms before hand to say the NHS will be footing the bill (think it was something like £8k).

Also had surgery which was done in private hospital. Must have cost a fortune, but it was very nice.

NHS should never be privatised. But I do think it should divert its focus from treating people to preventing people getting sick. A massive proportion of problems people have are caused by lifestyle and diet, so can easily prevented. "

I agree that prevention is cheaper and better, but politically it is different to achieve, as it runs the risk of being seen as “nanny state” if you encourage people to be more active, eat better, pack in smoking, drink sensibly etc.

I would like to see that sort of education pushed more into the schools, kids growing up with a better understanding of how the body works, and how lifestyle impacts long term health, mobility etc.

A lot more use to the average person than studying King Lear. Tools for living

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By *1bttmMan
over a year ago

Shoreditch east London


"I work for the NHS.....and there's a lot of wastage on every level. But the thing that really gripes me is the lack of responsibility "we all have" as patients. I say that collectively because recently the unit I work in had out of 20 appointments only 16 show. So 20% failed to attend. Not even a phone call to explain why. And it wasn't a case of they weren't aware because they attended initially for pre assessment/covid test. But day of actual treatment they failed to show. This happens on a daily basis all over in every hospital and every dept. The money this costs is just 1 out of many things that should be addressed.

That’s really unfortunate behaviour. And it is partly driven by the fact that such behaviour is free for the individuals in question and they suffer no consequences for behaving like that ... simply rebook and turn up if they feel like it. If they had paid, or if there was a financial or logistical penalty for not turning up, then they might behave differently. "

But its that kinda attitude that prevails as we have all been ingrained "it's a free service". I could list so many things that no-one ever thinks about and been told on many occasions by patients of the what they're entitled too. It's quite shocking to see how "we" ourselves will contribute to the demise of the NHS.

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By *immyinreadingMan
over a year ago

henley on thames


"I work for the NHS.....and there's a lot of wastage on every level. But the thing that really gripes me is the lack of responsibility "we all have" as patients. I say that collectively because recently the unit I work in had out of 20 appointments only 16 show. So 20% failed to attend. Not even a phone call to explain why. And it wasn't a case of they weren't aware because they attended initially for pre assessment/covid test. But day of actual treatment they failed to show. This happens on a daily basis all over in every hospital and every dept. The money this costs is just 1 out of many things that should be addressed.

That’s really unfortunate behaviour. And it is partly driven by the fact that such behaviour is free for the individuals in question and they suffer no consequences for behaving like that ... simply rebook and turn up if they feel like it. If they had paid, or if there was a financial or logistical penalty for not turning up, then they might behave differently.

But its that kinda attitude that prevails as we have all been ingrained "it's a free service". I could list so many things that no-one ever thinks about and been told on many occasions by patients of the what they're entitled too. It's quite shocking to see how "we" ourselves will contribute to the demise of the NHS."

There are things that can be done to discourage this sort of behaviour, but they would be unpopular and add more bureaucracy.

Eg appointments being free but cancellation charges being applied if people simply don’t turn up. Or being out to the back of the line if you cancel without warning.

But completely agree, when a service is free then some people take it for granted and don’t treat it with the same value as they might if they had paid for it. People are unlikely to do a no-show at a restaurant if they have paid a deposit, for example.

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By *ervent_fervourMan
over a year ago

Halifax


"If it did happen

Would it be such a bad idea if it was done right and focussed on streamlining the top heavy admin and management?"

I cant honestly see how it could be done right. Profits would leak out, more peoplenwojld be disenfranchised from vital services they couldn't afford, amd the taxpayer would still bee footing the bill.

So. We still pay for it(twice if we can afford), lots of people can't use it, corporations snd shareholders laugh all tbe way to the bank with our money.

And it's a bit big, so any guff about streamlining management will never happen.

Wouldnt fall for another Tory lie. Especially when it's gone, it's gone forever.

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By *ilverjagMan
over a year ago

swansea

I think that privatising the NHS would be an extremely bad idea primarily because, the organisation would out of necessity need to be run as a profitable business before investors would even look at it. This could mean that decisions regarding patient recovery and well being are taken on the likelihood of patients making a speedy recovery, rather than on the odds of survival with extra care and treatment being made available.

Since taking on the role of caring for my mum, I've built up a lot of contacts, and connections in the NHS, and I'm not a popular guy with certain elements of the profession because, I know too much! The avoidable wastage I've witnessed has been nothing short of incompetence on the highest level, which if allowed to happen in a private company such as mine, bankruptcy would be the result.

From ward manager down, the majority of the staff are fantastic, it's the soft cocks in suits upstairs, as they have been described to me, who need to get their act together.

I could hog this thread with what I've learned but, a notable example is that the nursing profession are supposed to get six weeks annual leave, but when they apply for it, they get told they can't have the dates they want. So they resign and go with a nursing agency, earn a higher rate for the job, and get the holidays they want when they want. All they have to do is put any extra into a private pension pot, and they are laughing all the way bank. Cut out the middle men who are running nursing agencies, and how much money would that save I wonder??? And that's just in one area alone.

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By *nliveneTV/TS
over a year ago

Selby


"If it did happen

Would it be such a bad idea if it was done right and focussed on streamlining the top heavy admin and management?

all ready has began, MiL went for a scan to an American company with their own private building on NHS site

Same for me. Had an MRI and had to fill out forms before hand to say the NHS will be footing the bill (think it was something like £8k).

Also had surgery which was done in private hospital. Must have cost a fortune, but it was very nice.

NHS should never be privatised. But I do think it should divert its focus from treating people to preventing people getting sick. A massive proportion of problems people have are caused by lifestyle and diet, so can easily prevented.

I agree that prevention is cheaper and better, but politically it is different to achieve, as it runs the risk of being seen as “nanny state” if you encourage people to be more active, eat better, pack in smoking, drink sensibly etc.

I would like to see that sort of education pushed more into the schools, kids growing up with a better understanding of how the body works, and how lifestyle impacts long term health, mobility etc.

A lot more use to the average person than studying King Lear. Tools for living "

But this definitely is not a cause to let NHS to the hands of the private sector!

All those actions like education and penalties for patients and staff who don't comply , they can be implemented by the NHS itself.

What hapen in reality is that the NHS is a big resource of money that the private sector will never give up . As is more than well know any country that have their National Health Care Service in private hands , in reality this they still have the support of government . No illusion that when NHS become private they will keep receiving money from government.

In the end it becomes more expensive to all of us the NHS, and more lucrative for the private owners and political parties.

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By *ervent_fervourMan
over a year ago

Halifax

Do you think it should be OP? And if so, why?

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By *immyinreadingMan
over a year ago

henley on thames


"If it did happen

Would it be such a bad idea if it was done right and focussed on streamlining the top heavy admin and management?

all ready has began, MiL went for a scan to an American company with their own private building on NHS site

Same for me. Had an MRI and had to fill out forms before hand to say the NHS will be footing the bill (think it was something like £8k).

Also had surgery which was done in private hospital. Must have cost a fortune, but it was very nice.

NHS should never be privatised. But I do think it should divert its focus from treating people to preventing people getting sick. A massive proportion of problems people have are caused by lifestyle and diet, so can easily prevented.

I agree that prevention is cheaper and better, but politically it is different to achieve, as it runs the risk of being seen as “nanny state” if you encourage people to be more active, eat better, pack in smoking, drink sensibly etc.

I would like to see that sort of education pushed more into the schools, kids growing up with a better understanding of how the body works, and how lifestyle impacts long term health, mobility etc.

A lot more use to the average person than studying King Lear. Tools for living

But this definitely is not a cause to let NHS to the hands of the private sector!

All those actions like education and penalties for patients and staff who don't comply , they can be implemented by the NHS itself.

What hapen in reality is that the NHS is a big resource of money that the private sector will never give up . As is more than well know any country that have their National Health Care Service in private hands , in reality this they still have the support of government . No illusion that when NHS become private they will keep receiving money from government.

In the end it becomes more expensive to all of us the NHS, and more lucrative for the private owners and political parties.

"

I didn’t say that this was a reason for privatisation. I have a couple of simple suggestions of stuff that the NHS could do right now, but pointed out that they would be unpopular and add even more bureaucracy

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By *oly Fuck Sticks BatmanCouple
over a year ago

here & there

I’m a firm believer in paying a deposit for a dr’s appointment - token amount like £5 or £10 when you make one (I know that’s not a small amount if you don’t have it). It’s instantly refunded when you attend.

Our surgery had 670 missed appointments last month!!

Mr.

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago


"Do you think it should be OP? And if so, why? "

I’m not saying it should

What I’m saying is

If it was

Maybe the money wasted would be channelled into the appropriate areas.

There’s too many sit in offices justify their existence by sending the odd e mail now and again

Go to hospital at the weekend

You only find frontline staff

No office bods

Can’t all be playing a vital role can they?

And the money owed to the NHS by the surgery’s done here to people from other countries is now in the billions

I’m sure a private company would be chasing this up a little more urgently

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"There is one simple problem with privatisation! It shifts the primary goal of the NHS, which is providing a health service to all, to creating profit! In my eyes an absolutly abhorrent idea! "

Absolutely agree… and having worked NHS, private in UK and America… it won’t get rid of the useless management layers. All it will do is make it impossible for the poorer in society to be treated fairly…

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By *olmateMan
over a year ago

west mids


"It would be awful and people who couldn't afford health care would end up dying because of it. And the if you think privatising would make the ones at the top less than you are just fooling yourself.

The NHS may not be perfect but it's a hell of a lot better than other places .Look at the south of Ireland over €60 to go see your GP, you then pay full whack for your meds as well if you are on regular meds then you can get set fee which was over €100 .All privatisation will do is make those already struggling a lot worse off. "

I work in NHS.

I highly endorse your argument.

Sadly, I experience so much abuse to NHS system both from fake patients (who fake their symptoms) and from medical staff (who do unnecessary investigations and request £1000s worth tests) just to feel safe from legal implications.

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By *immyinreadingMan
over a year ago

henley on thames


"I’m a firm believer in paying a deposit for a dr’s appointment - token amount like £5 or £10 when you make one (I know that’s not a small amount if you don’t have it). It’s instantly refunded when you attend.

Our surgery had 670 missed appointments last month!!

Mr."

I agree, and have used that tool myself I’m other business settings. But I can see uproar at the suggestion that people have to pay to secure an appointment, even though the money is refunded if they turn up. It would be represented as a barrier to poor people getting medical attention. And it gives you the arse-ache of collecting the money and refunding it, a drain on time. But there must be a solution along these lines.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"There is one simple problem with privatisation! It shifts the primary goal of the NHS, which is providing a health service to all, to creating profit! In my eyes an absolutly abhorrent idea! "

Couldn't have put it better myself!

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By *nliveneTV/TS
over a year ago

Selby


"If it did happen

Would it be such a bad idea if it was done right and focussed on streamlining the top heavy admin and management?

all ready has began, MiL went for a scan to an American company with their own private building on NHS site

Same for me. Had an MRI and had to fill out forms before hand to say the NHS will be footing the bill (think it was something like £8k).

Also had surgery which was done in private hospital. Must have cost a fortune, but it was very nice.

NHS should never be privatised. But I do think it should divert its focus from treating people to preventing people getting sick. A massive proportion of problems people have are caused by lifestyle and diet, so can easily prevented.

I agree that prevention is cheaper and better, but politically it is different to achieve, as it runs the risk of being seen as “nanny state” if you encourage people to be more active, eat better, pack in smoking, drink sensibly etc.

I would like to see that sort of education pushed more into the schools, kids growing up with a better understanding of how the body works, and how lifestyle impacts long term health, mobility etc.

A lot more use to the average person than studying King Lear. Tools for living

But this definitely is not a cause to let NHS to the hands of the private sector!

All those actions like education and penalties for patients and staff who don't comply , they can be implemented by the NHS itself.

What hapen in reality is that the NHS is a big resource of money that the private sector will never give up . As is more than well know any country that have their National Health Care Service in private hands , in reality this they still have the support of government . No illusion that when NHS become private they will keep receiving money from government.

In the end it becomes more expensive to all of us the NHS, and more lucrative for the private owners and political parties.

I didn’t say that this was a reason for privatisation. I have a couple of simple suggestions of stuff that the NHS could do right now, but pointed out that they would be unpopular and add even more bureaucracy "

I don't think any measures taken they would be unpopular if are fair

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By *immyinreadingMan
over a year ago

henley on thames

This reminds me of the Harry Enfield character in the pub, ranting about what he would say “oi, no!” if a particular outcome happened.

So people are getting angry about what would happen if something that won’t happen happens.

There’s enough real shit going on in the world without inventing things to get worked up about.

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By *olmateMan
over a year ago

west mids


"It's already happening before our eyes and we've only got ourselves to blame, eventually the NHS will cease to exist.

We already live in a country where there is a big divide between the rich and the poor. Can you imagine how heartbreaking it would be to choose whether you could afford treatment for yourself or child. Our self worth would be decided on the best health insurance we could afford and our death would be dependant on that too.

Every country in the world should have a system like ours, if only we had people in power who cared about it too."

That said, 40% of NHS is already privatised.

And you and everyone who has said that the poor will be disadvantaged by the privatisation are 100% true.

And yes the divide would widen between the so call rich and poor.

The death rate would increase (mostly those dying who won't be able to afford expensive treatment and regular medicines)

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By *nliveneTV/TS
over a year ago

Selby


"I’m a firm believer in paying a deposit for a dr’s appointment - token amount like £5 or £10 when you make one (I know that’s not a small amount if you don’t have it). It’s instantly refunded when you attend.

Our surgery had 670 missed appointments last month!!

Mr.

I agree, and have used that tool myself I’m other business settings. But I can see uproar at the suggestion that people have to pay to secure an appointment, even though the money is refunded if they turn up. It would be represented as a barrier to poor people getting medical attention. And it gives you the arse-ache of collecting the money and refunding it, a drain on time. But there must be a solution along these lines. "

If NHS goes private how poor people will get medical attention

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By *immyinreadingMan
over a year ago

henley on thames


"If it did happen

Would it be such a bad idea if it was done right and focussed on streamlining the top heavy admin and management?

all ready has began, MiL went for a scan to an American company with their own private building on NHS site

Same for me. Had an MRI and had to fill out forms before hand to say the NHS will be footing the bill (think it was something like £8k).

Also had surgery which was done in private hospital. Must have cost a fortune, but it was very nice.

NHS should never be privatised. But I do think it should divert its focus from treating people to preventing people getting sick. A massive proportion of problems people have are caused by lifestyle and diet, so can easily prevented.

I agree that prevention is cheaper and better, but politically it is different to achieve, as it runs the risk of being seen as “nanny state” if you encourage people to be more active, eat better, pack in smoking, drink sensibly etc.

I would like to see that sort of education pushed more into the schools, kids growing up with a better understanding of how the body works, and how lifestyle impacts long term health, mobility etc.

A lot more use to the average person than studying King Lear. Tools for living

But this definitely is not a cause to let NHS to the hands of the private sector!

All those actions like education and penalties for patients and staff who don't comply , they can be implemented by the NHS itself.

What hapen in reality is that the NHS is a big resource of money that the private sector will never give up . As is more than well know any country that have their National Health Care Service in private hands , in reality this they still have the support of government . No illusion that when NHS become private they will keep receiving money from government.

In the end it becomes more expensive to all of us the NHS, and more lucrative for the private owners and political parties.

I didn’t say that this was a reason for privatisation. I have a couple of simple suggestions of stuff that the NHS could do right now, but pointed out that they would be unpopular and add even more bureaucracy

I don't think any measures taken they would be unpopular if are fair

"

It could happen. For example, another poster mentioned the number of cancellations at his practice and suggested collecting deposits and returning them if people turn up.

Immediately, that would mean that people can only book an appointment if they have the money for a deposit, so the proposal would be unpopular.

And it would leave the practice with extra admin to do, collecting and returning deposits.

The suggestion might need a tweak, but you can see how an idea like this would attract ire

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By *immyinreadingMan
over a year ago

henley on thames


"I’m a firm believer in paying a deposit for a dr’s appointment - token amount like £5 or £10 when you make one (I know that’s not a small amount if you don’t have it). It’s instantly refunded when you attend.

Our surgery had 670 missed appointments last month!!

Mr.

I agree, and have used that tool myself I’m other business settings. But I can see uproar at the suggestion that people have to pay to secure an appointment, even though the money is refunded if they turn up. It would be represented as a barrier to poor people getting medical attention. And it gives you the arse-ache of collecting the money and refunding it, a drain on time. But there must be a solution along these lines.

If NHS goes private how poor people will get medical attention "

The nhs won’t go private. Nobody is proposing this

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Conservatives know too well that threatening the NHS’s promise of free healthcare at the point of access would be political suicide.

More importantly there needs to remain a continuity of care for the elderly, which would prove difficult if the NHS was to be run by the mindsets geared more towards profit than care.

It’s a very complex process which would have a massive impact across all sectors incl. the pharmaceutical companies, etc.

We must support the NHS since it’s what makes Britain great.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"I work for the NHS.....and there's a lot of wastage on every level. But the thing that really gripes me is the lack of responsibility "we all have" as patients. I say that collectively because recently the unit I work in had out of 20 appointments only 16 show. So 20% failed to attend. Not even a phone call to explain why. And it wasn't a case of they weren't aware because they attended initially for pre assessment/covid test. But day of actual treatment they failed to show. This happens on a daily basis all over in every hospital and every dept. The money this costs is just 1 out of many things that should be addressed.

That’s really unfortunate behaviour. And it is partly driven by the fact that such behaviour is free for the individuals in question and they suffer no consequences for behaving like that ... simply rebook and turn up if they feel like it. If they had paid, or if there was a financial or logistical penalty for not turning up, then they might behave differently.

But its that kinda attitude that prevails as we have all been ingrained "it's a free service". I could list so many things that no-one ever thinks about and been told on many occasions by patients of the what they're entitled too. It's quite shocking to see how "we" ourselves will contribute to the demise of the NHS."

Ah, but it is much easier to blame the Tories or management or wasteful practice of others than it is to consider our own behaviour and wonder what the effect would be of all 70 million people in the country behaved the way we do. We all tend to be far more forgiving of our own behaviour than that of others.

Mr

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By *atnip make me purrWoman
over a year ago

Reading

There are models that do privatisation well - Switzerland for example and those who don't - America. Costs need to be controlled and everyone must sign into it so that risk is spread. Obama was right on this but then didnt tackle the insurance companies who make bloated profits.

I think increased privatisation is inevitable. What we need to avoid is a bad health issue causing bankruptcy as it does in the states. There needs to be some sort of cap. I had this in the states as we had us military health insurance. There was a cap of $3,500 in a year after which everything then is covered 100%. We as a family had unfortunately several major health crises whilst living in the states and without the cap would have lost everything.

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By *etamax197t6Man
over a year ago

preston

"if" it happens?

it already has, they're 88billion in debt now after taking that dodgy 11 billion loan.

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By *ervent_fervourMan
over a year ago

Halifax


"I’m a firm believer in paying a deposit for a dr’s appointment - token amount like £5 or £10 when you make one (I know that’s not a small amount if you don’t have it). It’s instantly refunded when you attend.

Our surgery had 670 missed appointments last month!!

Mr."

Unpopular. But if people could afford then that would save a shedload. Takes away the problem of people taking the piss, certainly.

Only other issue would be coming up with a truly fair way of refunding people if there was a genuine reason for missing one.

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By *immyinreadingMan
over a year ago

henley on thames


""if" it happens?

it already has, they're 88billion in debt now after taking that dodgy 11 billion loan."

When people refer to privatisation, they are thinking of end users having to pay for services.

Nobody is proposing that free service be abolished.

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By *nliveneTV/TS
over a year ago

Selby


"I work for the NHS.....and there's a lot of wastage on every level. But the thing that really gripes me is the lack of responsibility "we all have" as patients. I say that collectively because recently the unit I work in had out of 20 appointments only 16 show. So 20% failed to attend. Not even a phone call to explain why. And it wasn't a case of they weren't aware because they attended initially for pre assessment/covid test. But day of actual treatment they failed to show. This happens on a daily basis all over in every hospital and every dept. The money this costs is just 1 out of many things that should be addressed.

That’s really unfortunate behaviour. And it is partly driven by the fact that such behaviour is free for the individuals in question and they suffer no consequences for behaving like that ... simply rebook and turn up if they feel like it. If they had paid, or if there was a financial or logistical penalty for not turning up, then they might behave differently.

But its that kinda attitude that prevails as we have all been ingrained "it's a free service". I could list so many things that no-one ever thinks about and been told on many occasions by patients of the what they're entitled too. It's quite shocking to see how "we" ourselves will contribute to the demise of the NHS.

Ah, but it is much easier to blame the Tories or management or wasteful practice of others than it is to consider our own behaviour and wonder what the effect would be of all 70 million people in the country behaved the way we do. We all tend to be far more forgiving of our own behaviour than that of others.

Mr"

Is far more easier to blame us i would say.

We all pay to the government to take care of NHS , they are the ones in control of the country , they are the ones who they make promises in election times , they definitely are responsable for what is happening in the NHS

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By *immyinreadingMan
over a year ago

henley on thames


"I work for the NHS.....and there's a lot of wastage on every level. But the thing that really gripes me is the lack of responsibility "we all have" as patients. I say that collectively because recently the unit I work in had out of 20 appointments only 16 show. So 20% failed to attend. Not even a phone call to explain why. And it wasn't a case of they weren't aware because they attended initially for pre assessment/covid test. But day of actual treatment they failed to show. This happens on a daily basis all over in every hospital and every dept. The money this costs is just 1 out of many things that should be addressed.

That’s really unfortunate behaviour. And it is partly driven by the fact that such behaviour is free for the individuals in question and they suffer no consequences for behaving like that ... simply rebook and turn up if they feel like it. If they had paid, or if there was a financial or logistical penalty for not turning up, then they might behave differently.

But its that kinda attitude that prevails as we have all been ingrained "it's a free service". I could list so many things that no-one ever thinks about and been told on many occasions by patients of the what they're entitled too. It's quite shocking to see how "we" ourselves will contribute to the demise of the NHS.

Ah, but it is much easier to blame the Tories or management or wasteful practice of others than it is to consider our own behaviour and wonder what the effect would be of all 70 million people in the country behaved the way we do. We all tend to be far more forgiving of our own behaviour than that of others.

Mr

Is far more easier to blame us i would say.

We all pay to the government to take care of NHS , they are the ones in control of the country , they are the ones who they make promises in election times , they definitely are responsable for what is happening in the NHS"

So government’s fault if people abuse the system as is being described?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I think it’s good to have that safety net for everyone to know that if we need free healthcare, we have it. And we don’t have to worry about going to A&E and wonder if our health insurance is up to date or if we do have enough money in the bank to afford that.

I think the American system is shocking and it’s all about money, unfortunately sometimes circumstances can change from day to night.. so it becomes about if you are rich then you are fine…

Having said that, the NHS waiting list is kinda shocking. So if I can go private, I will.

I’m currently going private for my situation and yes it’s costing money, but at least I get to dictate more or less when and where and who.

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By *ellhungvweMan
over a year ago

Cheltenham


"I’m a firm believer in paying a deposit for a dr’s appointment - token amount like £5 or £10 when you make one (I know that’s not a small amount if you don’t have it). It’s instantly refunded when you attend.

Our surgery had 670 missed appointments last month!!

Mr.

I agree, and have used that tool myself I’m other business settings. But I can see uproar at the suggestion that people have to pay to secure an appointment, even though the money is refunded if they turn up. It would be represented as a barrier to poor people getting medical attention. And it gives you the arse-ache of collecting the money and refunding it, a drain on time. But there must be a solution along these lines. "

I agree - the overhead in collecting it would be a lot higher than most people think.

I do wonder how many of these appointments are missed because the date/time is just not that convenient for people. When I was working on the office I pretty much never went to the Drs because I couldn’t get an appointment at a time that suited me. The only time I have missed an appointment is when I couldn’t get there in time due to work issues. If the NHS regularly worked out of “normal” hours then I think a lot of these issues would disappear.

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By *egasus NobMan
over a year ago

Merton

What will happen is create a problem, to solve a problem, so you can sell patches, to create a future problem. profit.

Every night TV ad for a problem you don't have.

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By *nliveneTV/TS
over a year ago

Selby


"I work for the NHS.....and there's a lot of wastage on every level. But the thing that really gripes me is the lack of responsibility "we all have" as patients. I say that collectively because recently the unit I work in had out of 20 appointments only 16 show. So 20% failed to attend. Not even a phone call to explain why. And it wasn't a case of they weren't aware because they attended initially for pre assessment/covid test. But day of actual treatment they failed to show. This happens on a daily basis all over in every hospital and every dept. The money this costs is just 1 out of many things that should be addressed.

That’s really unfortunate behaviour. And it is partly driven by the fact that such behaviour is free for the individuals in question and they suffer no consequences for behaving like that ... simply rebook and turn up if they feel like it. If they had paid, or if there was a financial or logistical penalty for not turning up, then they might behave differently.

But its that kinda attitude that prevails as we have all been ingrained "it's a free service". I could list so many things that no-one ever thinks about and been told on many occasions by patients of the what they're entitled too. It's quite shocking to see how "we" ourselves will contribute to the demise of the NHS.

Ah, but it is much easier to blame the Tories or management or wasteful practice of others than it is to consider our own behaviour and wonder what the effect would be of all 70 million people in the country behaved the way we do. We all tend to be far more forgiving of our own behaviour than that of others.

Mr

Is far more easier to blame us i would say.

We all pay to the government to take care of NHS , they are the ones in control of the country , they are the ones who they make promises in election times , they definitely are responsable for what is happening in the NHS

So government’s fault if people abuse the system as is being described? "

If NHS was in the private for sure all those issues described whould have been sorted out. Saying this yes government is responsible because is the one who designed the system . If there's actions that they need to be taken so they must implement them

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By *nliveneTV/TS
over a year ago

Selby


"What will happen is create a problem, to solve a problem, so you can sell patches, to create a future problem. profit.

Every night TV ad for a problem you don't have.

"

So true

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By *ervent_fervourMan
over a year ago

Halifax


""if" it happens?

it already has, they're 88billion in debt now after taking that dodgy 11 billion loan.

When people refer to privatisation, they are thinking of end users having to pay for services.

Nobody is proposing that free service be abolished. "

We'll still be losing more money, so end users amd non users alille will still be paying more.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"If it did happen

Would it be such a bad idea if it was done right and focussed on streamlining the top heavy admin and management?"

In the 1980s I was a nurse on a&e. Thatcher's government introduced Extra management, in my view just to allow them to cream off the funding, they just did admin that didn't contribute to medical work

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By *ustamanMan
over a year ago

weymouth


"There is one simple problem with privatisation! It shifts the primary goal of the NHS, which is providing a health service to all, to creating profit! In my eyes an absolutly abhorrent idea! "

This

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"There is one simple problem with privatisation! It shifts the primary goal of the NHS, which is providing a health service to all, to creating profit! In my eyes an absolutly abhorrent idea!

This "

Yep I agree. It's a socialist idea being run by right wing capitalist government

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"If it did happen

Would it be such a bad idea if it was done right and focussed on streamlining the top heavy admin and management?"

Done right for who? It sure ain't gonna be the end users. There is already a 2 tier system with private and NHS. Its fast moving more to private. Would be very interested to know how many patients have given up on waiting 12 months + for hip replacements and just paid the 10 grand to get it done quickly.

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By *nliveneTV/TS
over a year ago

Selby


"If it did happen

Would it be such a bad idea if it was done right and focussed on streamlining the top heavy admin and management?

all ready has began, MiL went for a scan to an American company with their own private building on NHS site

Same for me. Had an MRI and had to fill out forms before hand to say the NHS will be footing the bill (think it was something like £8k).

Also had surgery which was done in private hospital. Must have cost a fortune, but it was very nice.

NHS should never be privatised. But I do think it should divert its focus from treating people to preventing people getting sick. A massive proportion of problems people have are caused by lifestyle and diet, so can easily prevented.

I agree that prevention is cheaper and better, but politically it is different to achieve, as it runs the risk of being seen as “nanny state” if you encourage people to be more active, eat better, pack in smoking, drink sensibly etc.

I would like to see that sort of education pushed more into the schools, kids growing up with a better understanding of how the body works, and how lifestyle impacts long term health, mobility etc.

A lot more use to the average person than studying King Lear. Tools for living

But this definitely is not a cause to let NHS to the hands of the private sector!

All those actions like education and penalties for patients and staff who don't comply , they can be implemented by the NHS itself.

What hapen in reality is that the NHS is a big resource of money that the private sector will never give up . As is more than well know any country that have their National Health Care Service in private hands , in reality this they still have the support of government . No illusion that when NHS become private they will keep receiving money from government.

In the end it becomes more expensive to all of us the NHS, and more lucrative for the private owners and political parties.

I didn’t say that this was a reason for privatisation. I have a couple of simple suggestions of stuff that the NHS could do right now, but pointed out that they would be unpopular and add even more bureaucracy

I don't think any measures taken they would be unpopular if are fair

It could happen. For example, another poster mentioned the number of cancellations at his practice and suggested collecting deposits and returning them if people turn up.

Immediately, that would mean that people can only book an appointment if they have the money for a deposit, so the proposal would be unpopular.

And it would leave the practice with extra admin to do, collecting and returning deposits.

The suggestion might need a tweak, but you can see how an idea like this would attract ire "

Yes defenitly i see your point and you right on that but that will happen even worst if NHS was in private hands. We all probably remember when smoking become not allowed in enclosed public areas , it was an unpopular measure today is just normal, if one is catch somoking in thise areas will get a penalty . If i don't pay my council tax after the third remaining letter they will send me to court or they will send someone to in to my house to get anything that can cover the value that i own ... so many other examples of measures that were unpopular and today are more than acceptable and reasonable. But with NHS looks like is diferent and the only diference is just that , how much the political system wants to privatise due this be a big source of income fir both private and political parties.

And to mention most all countries in the world they have like us a free universal health care system

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By *immyinreadingMan
over a year ago

henley on thames


"It's already happening people just aren't aware. The tories have sold off various elements to their private friends and have been slicing bits off it for a good while now.

The NHS constantly being judged to be not sustainable (even before covid) was the beginning of the idea of privatisation being planted in our heads so that when it does arrive its not a massive shock.

I would have said covid issues and the patient backlog would have been the straw that broke the camals back but looking at people's reaction to the NHS workers I think it actually had the opposite effect and the public would go mental if the tories tried to take it away. A few years ago I think they could have done it and potentially got away with it......I mean it seems they get away with everything else anyway. "

Lots of Tory bashing, but it was labour that ramped up the level of privatisation.

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By *naswingdressWoman
over a year ago

Manchester (she/her)


"You just have to look at everything else that ha been privatised “to become more efficient”… Post offices, Train services, Utilities…. Can anyone show me where it’s not ended up with minimal service provision with profit being the only driver?"

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By *rMojoRisinMan
over a year ago

Sheffield

What do you mean “if?”

Private companies take billions out of the NHS, every year!

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By *agerMorganMan
over a year ago

Canvey Island

To put things into perspective between NHS/Private.

I had to self-fund private treatment, the breakdown is this;

Consultation x 3 @ £150

Nasal Endoscopy - £130

Hospital usage - £99

MRI Scan - £450

Total; £1,129

I had to pay that, no private health insurance, all because the NHS said I should go private.

Yet the MRI scan was done at an NHS hospital. Go figure that out..

The problem with the NHS right now is that it’s become heavily overdone with middle management and pointless managers, cut that out and that’s a huge cost saving right there, on top of that, it’s become a political cow that’s been fought over time & time again. It needs a drastic overhaul.

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By *1bttmMan
over a year ago

Shoreditch east London


"I’m a firm believer in paying a deposit for a dr’s appointment - token amount like £5 or £10 when you make one (I know that’s not a small amount if you don’t have it). It’s instantly refunded when you attend.

Our surgery had 670 missed appointments last month!!

Mr."

My whole point and that's just 1 surgery. Nationwide that will be a huge amount of non attendance.

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By *atnip make me purrWoman
over a year ago

Reading


"I think it’s good to have that safety net for everyone to know that if we need free healthcare, we have it. And we don’t have to worry about going to A&E and wonder if our health insurance is up to date or if we do have enough money in the bank to afford that.

I think the American system is shocking and it’s all about money, unfortunately sometimes circumstances can change from day to night.. so it becomes about if you are rich then you are fine…

Having said that, the NHS waiting list is kinda shocking. So if I can go private, I will.

I’m currently going private for my situation and yes it’s costing money, but at least I get to dictate more or less when and where and who.

"

If you have good insurance, healthcare is excellent in the states. You get referred quickly to specialists and can get even elective procedures quickly. What's horrendous is the bill after.

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By *hunderace...Man
over a year ago

Dudley

I lived in Australia for 10yrs and used the health system quite a lot, its part publicly and privately funded and far superior to the NHS here.

There's no shortage of GP surgeries, staff are paid better in comparison, nothing in the way of waiting times for referrals and treatments and new hospitals are built as their population growth demands.

If we here want a health system that's going to be there when we need it then the only answer is to follow Australia's Medicare system.

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By *ervent_fervourMan
over a year ago

Halifax


"To put things into perspective between NHS/Private.

I had to self-fund private treatment, the breakdown is this;

Consultation x 3 @ £150

Nasal Endoscopy - £130

Hospital usage - £99

MRI Scan - £450

Total; £1,129

I had to pay that, no private health insurance, all because the NHS said I should go private.

Yet the MRI scan was done at an NHS hospital. Go figure that out..

The problem with the NHS right now is that it’s become heavily overdone with middle management and pointless managers, cut that out and that’s a huge cost saving right there, on top of that, it’s become a political cow that’s been fought over time & time again. It needs a drastic overhaul. "

Getting rid of the post of Hralth minister might be a possible solution in depoiticising it somewhat.

Same with Education.

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By *ophieslutTV/TS
over a year ago

Central

It would be atrocious. The average life expectancy in the USA is lower than the UK because of their private health system.

Happy to die younger? . Go for it

Why have money that could fund more care instead be paid as profits, for shareholders? It's sick

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

We said the same about Gas, water and electric and look where that got us!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Are you fucking kidding me?!?

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By *hunderace...Man
over a year ago

Dudley

Most people seem to be only making comparisons to the USA in an all or nothing kind of way, Aussie Medicare is like a mixture of the both...

I'm a diabetic and in the 10yrs had quite a lot of attention, cataract operations, a 3 week stay in hospital through cellulitis, mri scans, regular 3 monthly quarterzone injections for a year for a crushed vertebrae and regular diabetic check ups... none I paid for directly except in my tax at the end of the financial year.

I wanted only 3 months to get my cataracts done...

People at times complain about the NHS waiting lists etc, it needs a massive amount of funding which the government cannot supply.

Its no use waving the flag of totally free treatment when your waiting years for treatment.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Most people seem to be only making comparisons to the USA in an all or nothing kind of way, Aussie Medicare is like a mixture of the both...

I'm a diabetic and in the 10yrs had quite a lot of attention, cataract operations, a 3 week stay in hospital through cellulitis, mri scans, regular 3 monthly quarterzone injections for a year for a crushed vertebrae and regular diabetic check ups... none I paid for directly except in my tax at the end of the financial year.

I wanted only 3 months to get my cataracts done...

People at times complain about the NHS waiting lists etc, it needs a massive amount of funding which the government cannot supply.

Its no use waving the flag of totally free treatment when your waiting years for treatment. "

You mean "choose not to" not "cannot"?

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By *hunderace...Man
over a year ago

Dudley


"Most people seem to be only making comparisons to the USA in an all or nothing kind of way, Aussie Medicare is like a mixture of the both...

I'm a diabetic and in the 10yrs had quite a lot of attention, cataract operations, a 3 week stay in hospital through cellulitis, mri scans, regular 3 monthly quarterzone injections for a year for a crushed vertebrae and regular diabetic check ups... none I paid for directly except in my tax at the end of the financial year.

I wanted only 3 months to get my cataracts done...

People at times complain about the NHS waiting lists etc, it needs a massive amount of funding which the government cannot supply.

Its no use waving the flag of totally free treatment when your waiting years for treatment.

You mean "choose not to" not "cannot"? "

£210bn spent just on the pandemic alone..? I'd say we haven't got much.

The fact is regardless we've lived a charmed life here as far as social benefits and free treatments go, its not wrong to part fund the NHS privately and tbh unless this happens I can't ever see it getting better but only worse.

With an ever increasing population and medical advances allowing us a longer life our system is at bursting point.

We either precariously stand on the old post WW2 values that were vital at that time or we move with the times and except change.

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By *heGateKeeperMan
over a year ago

Stratford

I haven’t read the whole thread but it’s a far more complex conundrum that simple ‘privatisation’.

Some may remember the Circle Health fiasco. Most won’t have even known that it took place.

There are too many factions of the system which operate in silo but are fundamental heavily dependent on one another. The NHS is an umbrella term and there is too much inconsistency in systems and processes across departments in the same building, let alone organisations miles apart.

The development of integrated care systems is potentially a step towards more effective collaboration and systemisation but is some way off reaching the end goal.

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By *acey_RedWoman
over a year ago

Liverpool


"The “problem” with the NHS (as with any large org) is that working practices get stuck in a rut over time and that inertia is almost impossible to change. What was once good practice slowly gets superseded but things stay as they were. This isn’t an attack on the NHS or it’s staff - just an observation about human nature and “privatising” the NHS won’t change that.

If we want to make proper use of the NHS then we should probably be moving to a full 24 hour healthcare system - for example why are theatres empty overnight? I get there are resource constraints with beds etc but that can be fixed. The bigger issue will be that surgeons will not want to work at night. It

"

Surgeons so work at night. Emergency surgery takes place 24 hours a day. It's just not realistic the have elective surgery running 24 hours too. It isn't just the surgeons that would need to work more, it would be all the other theatre staff, cleaners, ward staff, porters, stores, the sterilisation and decontamination unit, the admin staff to fill those lists, the surgeons secretaries would have more discharges to write, the health records staff would have more notes to pull, etc, etc. The tax payer simply isn't willing to pay what it would take to increase elective surgery and outpatient capacity to 24 hours. It would more than double our running costs.

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By *inky-MinxWoman
over a year ago

Grantham


"If it did happen

Would it be such a bad idea if it was done right and focussed on streamlining the top heavy admin and management?"

It is happening slowly.

But if it was done correctly I’d be happy.

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By *inky-MinxWoman
over a year ago

Grantham

The chances of it being done correctly are zilch though

The NHS does not need more money. It needs better management and fewer layers of it.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"The chances of it being done correctly are zilch though

The NHS does not need more money. It needs better management and fewer layers of it."

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