Should the NHS be abolished

[sp1214]

With well over 1 million people working in the NHS and many more in contract services should there be a rethink of what we pay in enormous taxes to keep it afloat?

A possible alternative would be to issue each UK citizen with a fixed amount that could be used to treat themselves at a private hospital or clinic. If a person requires more than the norm they would be able to use the unwanted portion from relatives or friends. The total expenditure on a new scheme would be far less than the current NHS and also there would be less abuse.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7306779.stm

[R1Geezer]

Just halve the budget and fire 90% of the penpushers. The NHS is a classic public sector black hole, full of empire building managers, there's more clerks than beds for Christ sake!

[RevFunk]

I have to laugh when people say the NHS is "free"

[jake-the-peg]

A private hospital is a business with shareholders that make a profit.

How do you conclude that this would be cheaper for the same services?

Show us your maths.

[RevFunk]

Probably because anything "nationalised" is run appallingly lol

[R1Geezer]

Public sector workers generally believe the job exists in order to provide them with a job. It's actual function is secondary. As the rev says the NHS is appallingly inneficient. I'm not saying it should be privatised but it should certainly run as if it was trying to be as effeicient as possible.

[jake-the-peg]

Oh like our excellent rail service and the private water companies that declare doughts when the sky's thunder and their pipes leak?

Or had you forgotten about all them?

[jake-the-peg]

http://www.photius.com/rankings/who_world_heal th_ranks.html

The U. S. health system spends a higher portion of its gross domestic product than any other country but ranks 37 out of 191 countries according to its performance, the report finds. The United Kingdom, which spends just six percent of gross domestic product (GDP) on health services, ranks 18th

The NHS is something to be really proud of

[kev1]

My wife went for her 3 yearly breast cancer check up last wednesday and they detected a microscopic growth in one breast, she has the operation a week this friday.

Doesn't sound too appallingly run to me.

[RevFunk]

Horses for courses.

Glad you had a good experience, I wont tell you about my friends dad who died due to negligence and the NHS settled out of court or about the time I visited a friend and their were dirty syringes in the bed

[jake-the-peg]

This seems to be pretty much the situation.

The NHS service is very variable, my wife too was treated recently by top people in a fabulous hospital quickly and efficiently.

There seems to be a real lottery in where you live. The challenge is bringing all the sites up to best practice.

One thing I know is that I wouldn't like to hand it over to Richard Branson and his ilk knowing he'd be looking to make a big fat profit out of it.

Railways and water supplys are one thing, the health service is another!

[Velvetee]

The concept of a NHS is wonderful and years ago it was amazing. I now think it has gone completely to pot. I would feel very scared having an NHS operation, for fear of contracting one of the superbugs.

The NHS does need to stay, as there are many people who could never afford private healthcare. Maybe a new scheme should be introduced, where those wishing to go private, should have their National Insurance contributions put into a private healthcare scheme and the patient would then pay the balance themselves.

Also, people who do not pay taxes or National Insurance or who do not have permanant residency to this country, should not be allowed to use the service free of charge. If you go to any other country in Europe, then free healthcare for non residents is not available

[jake-the-peg]

Contrary to popular opinion, Velvetee. Those without residence in the UK *cannot* come to get free treatment on the NHS.

Foreigners have to have been here for a qualifying period.

There are exceptions such as Emergency treatment following an accident, communicable diseases such as TB etc.

People with refugee status and humanitarian protection qualify.

Asylum seekers who have been turned down do not

[Androcles]

Reduce the number of bureaucrats, go to defined contribution pensions and bring back good old Matron!

[RevFunk]

And deter people from going to casualty with a splinter in their finger or a headache.

FFS lol

[Androcles]

That's what Matron does, Rev Funk!

[jake-the-peg]

Of course if you reduce the number of managers in the NHS you won't know if they're doing a better job because there will be nobody measuring it!

Nobody will know where the free beds are so nobody will know where to send patients. Ordering of supplies will go to pot, facilities will break down and not be repaired etc. etc.

The NHS is one of the worlds largest organisations and without sufficient administrative and managerial backup it would grind to a very rapid halt.

Seems like a lot of people want to wave a magic wand and cut spending without having to worry about the detail and the consequences.

Not surprised though there is not shortage of people looking for easy answers to difficult questions

[Androcles]

True, Jake. but as the man said, "Costs are like lawns, you have to keep mowing them". Nobody said no bureaucrats, but the NHS has too many and spends too much on Management Consultants. What is the ratio of Patient facing staff to non patient facing staff? That is what needs to be monitored and kept under control. And nobody said it was easy! But in the very large organisation like the NHS, it can easily get to the point where areas generate a life of their own and it is almost impossible for the management to keep the degree of control necessary, due to complexity.

[kev1]

What should be abolished is the confidence trick known as PRIVATE medicine the biggest con merchants of all who call themselves BUPA

Bloody hell we cant afford that our shareholders wont stand for it you will have to get it done on the national health

I cant be the only one that saw the documentary