BPX026: In Sickness and in National Health

[cutmymilk]

Be even slightly ill in the US (I was bitten by a spider) and go to a doctor, look at the bill, and you will be glad for the NHS. Luckily I had travel insurance. Private ongoing insurance is waaaay more than what we pay out for NI contributions so we would all be worse off personally.

The only difference is that people who can't afford the insurance wouldn't be going to the doctors any more so the waiting times will be shorter. If you want poor people to have to suffer that then sure, get rid.

[Asura]

Be even slightly ill in the US (I was bitten by a spider) and go to a doctor, look at the bill, and you will be glad for the NHS. Luckily I had travel insurance. Private ongoing insurance is waaaay more than what we pay out for NI contributions so we would all be worse off personally.

The other problem is that even if you have insurance, you might not be able to pay at the point-of-care. For instance, if I was in the USA and had an injury that put me in hospital for a week, I might come out with a bill in the thousands of pounds. Sure, I can claim it back, but that's little comfort if I don't have the money to pay for the treatment in the first place.

[randombs]

Is that only for travel insurance? I've seen companies that pay for you and companies that need you to pay and then claim later.

[JazzFunk]

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/nhs-trust-facing-backlash-over-staff-transfers-1-9076672

They announced this a coupla weeks back. Innit funny how they've just announced an NHS pay rise in the news but if this gets fast tracked through we will lose our NHS status and likely see none of it. Trouble at' mill.

See, these people are sneaky, deaky, freaky freaks. Weasels.

But I'll shurrup now, this is only the beginning.

[JazzFunk]

https://goo.gl/images/21QEQ1

Chief exec.

[fishbowlhead]

I think its time for the entire NHS, every single one of you. To mass strike all at once. Shut the country down if you need to.

Ensure that the NHS stays the NHS and will never be in a position to be sold off to yank farma, ever.

[Asura]

Ensure that the NHS stays the NHS and will never be in a position to be sold off to yank farma, ever.

The problem is that people in the UK don't appreciate strikes anymore. If the NHS did that, people would just be angry at them.

[fishbowlhead]

The problem is that people in the UK don't appreciate strikes anymore. If the NHS did that, people would just be angry at them.

People on mass are stupid and don’t know what they want or is good for them the majority of the time.

It’s drastic measures now or loose the nhs. It’s really that simple, black or white.

No one will act though. Zero backbone for principals for the greater good people now days.

[randombs]

The problem is that people in the UK don't appreciate strikes anymore. If the NHS did that, people would just be angry at them.

At first, I couldn't see a problem with people getting angry at the NHS. The NHS doesn't have an 'image' to uphold in the same way a business does. It's not like people who need medical help will go private after a strike.

However, if selling off the NHS was down to a vote then all that anger could cause them to vote in favour of selling it off.

[QualityChimp]

The problem is that people in the UK don't appreciate strikes anymore. If the NHS did that, people would just be angry at them.

That's so true.

Imagine if your employer said you could retire at a certain age, with a set retirement package and a certain workload.
Then, after you've started your career and started down a path, your employer keeps moving the retirement age further and further back, freezes your pay for years with no rises allowed, slashed your pension and increased your workload year on year.

That's what's happened with teachers.

However, when they dare to call a strike, all they get is abuse from the parents exclaiming how thoughtfully inconvenient it is having to rearrange childcare for one day.

Every time the NHS strike, people stomp around saying "They're risking lives!"

[fishbowlhead]

Well see how everyone likes not standing up for the NHS and having the slightest idea of how it needs to be run when they have their health care ripped away, £300 inhalers, pills they need now cost £500 a box. All that equipment they previously got for free taken back.

Not to mention all those kiddies people like popping out like candy. Start sticking £ signs on the cost of giving birth and watch the birth rate in the country plummet like a lead balloon.

[fishbowlhead]

As if you need any more proof that yank pharma should be expelled from Europe entirely.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/04/curing-disease-not-a-sustainable-business-model-goldman-sachs-analysts-say/?amp=1

Got a debilitating desiese? Your never getting a “cure”, because that’s just not profitable.

[monel]

I wasn't going to post in this thread but may as well. I've had mixed experiences with the NHS... came across a couple of bad doctors and specialists for both me and a close family member. But, the NHS is a valuable service which should be defended at all costs. However for whatever reason people in this country don't seem to unite and fight for important causes. I think the loss of free higher education was a tragedy and hope with all my heart that the NHS survives the current government.

[Asura]

I think the loss of free higher education was a tragedy and hope with all my heart that the NHS survives the current government.

I don't know what to think about the higher education situation. I paid for mine and will be paying off my loan for much of my life. That being said, it was always an accepted thing as I was growing up, and my higher education contributed to my career (as opposed to some people who spend tons on a degree and end up working at Costa).

As I've said before on here, I believe better education (along with being well-traveled) solves much of the world's ills. That being said, I think free higher education couldn't work with society the way it was in the 2000s when I was at uni, because there was the perception that everyone went to college after GCSE, and everyone went to uni after A-Levels, unless you were going in the military or family business, despite the fact that courses had a high dropout rate and too many people left uni with "pass" degrees which weren't much use to them. There was just an expectation that everyone should pursue a degree, when some people just aren't suited to it.

[monel]

You make some very good points. I just found it a bit unfair that politicians who had all received a free education in their time introduced tuition fees and loans.