What Are Your Views On This?

[youngmafbog]

I'm undecided although I dont think the argument "It is privatizing the NHS" holds much weight.

I think it would give many the care they need and indeed the many would spend it wisely but what about those who dont? This may not just be just being frivolous (although I'm sure a few would spend it on beer & fags) but what if your about to be cut off or evicted, surely the temptation would be to pay off those bills with money intended for treatment?

Wouldn't a voucher scheme to approved outlets be a better idea? That gives everyone choice but choice to spend it on the 'correct' items.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/patients-will-decide-how-they-spend-nhs-money-78n752tdl?_ga=2.210817173.1611510907.1523862760-1767925106.1523862760

[Old_Geezer]

Sounds awful. One pays for the service not for a payout to spend elsewhere. It would probably mean the end of the NHS because patients will insist on their bill being fully paid when in house NHS should be better value for the NHS, and thus the people who fund it. If people want to privately insure themselves in addition to contributing to the nation's system, then they're free to do so.

[youngmafbog]

OG, you are aware that the NHS does use the services of local private hospitals because it is cheaper?

My mother was there with me only this morning.

[Old_Geezer]

Cheaper and thus either worse or with underpaid poorly treated staff as a result. Value is more important than cost, as is paying and treating staff well rather than washing one's hands of the responsibility and going with the cheapest quote.

[cassa333]

A lot of those with mental health issues or dementia wouldn't know what was good for them if you rattled the tin in front of them. How on earth is this going to work?

[woofgang]

I think its a good idea. People are not idiots and there are many people who have got very clear ideas about what treatments that they want and what they do not. Currently they can only have what they are offered and can only be offered what is available. I would extend the "agreement of a doctor" to "agreement of a qualified health professional" I think there may be an issue around how much money any individual may be entitled to and what it is intended to cover....can/would it be set up to cover only certain illnesses and disabilities. Many people with long term illnesses may know more about the condition than a non specialist health professional, including their GP and it must be very annoying for them to have read solid research on what works best only to be told that its not available to them.

[woofgang]

Cassa, people won't HAVE to manage their own budgets and I suspect that people who aren't competent to do so won't be allowed to.....maybe if they have someone with a health LPA they could manage it for them?