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The NHS

Harv

Harv

TS Member
What are your opinions on the National Health Service?

There's alot of controversy surrounding the NHS; is it being run properly? Should healthcare be more like the American system? How much money should it be given?

I for one love the principle of Britain's primary health service. I think we have a first class care for all those in our country but the way it is being run lately does make me question whether the right decisions are being made about it...

What do all of you think? :)
 
I think you must scour the interwebs to find the most controversial subjects of the moment and make topics about them.

Some people just want to watch the world burn.

The NHS is a good idea on the whole, in my opinion. But it does seem to be being ruined by mis-management and target catching, instead of patient care. Nothing to do with the actual care practitioners, they just want to make you better, but more to do with the managers.
 
Hey! Nothing wrong with a good debate to keep the mind sharp. Sharp as blades in some member's cases. But no, this one struck me as interesting on the bus journey this morning. *scuttles away before battleaxes are drawn*.
 
The NHS is the single greatest achievement of this country that I can think of. Socialised healthcare has saved millions of lives and decreased human suffering in this country in a way that nothing can compare.

Unfortunately, it is under threat. We have seen back-door privatisation taking place with parts of our most essential institution chipped off and handed over to private businesses. These businesses have no incentive to treat unprofitable diseases and their only interest is to make profit and cut costs, putting quality of care in serious risk.

We've already lost most of our dental care and opticians to the private sector, we literally can't afford to let other areas of the NHS to be turned into profit driven businesses, and further to this, we should abolish prescription charges, re-introduce free eye tests, ensure NHS chiropody is widely available, restore free dental care and provide everyone with the choice of an NHS dentist.
 
Research the figures who voted in more privatisation.

If that doesn't show you top level politics is rotten to the core, nothing will.

Also, if want an NHS left, vote this pillock out... you know the one who basically just said, I wont make an informed judgement on Europe, you can have a referendum about 20 years too late now we are absolutely tied into it, regardless of the consequences, but ONLY if you vote me in again, as my own success is way more important than that of the country.

This lecherous idiot is presently in charge of your health. Vote Tory? You are an idiot. #getcorrected

No more excuses.
 
The NHS is one of the greatest things within the country. It's a shame it's under threat, those working within the NHS are doing a fantastic job.
 
It's far from flawless, but given that life is both expensive and miserable, it's absolutely essential and one of the only things that makes me proud to be British.
 
The NHS is probably the best thing to have been created in the UK since World War 2. It was founded on three principles: "that it meet the needs of everyone"; "that it be free at the point of delivery"; and "that it be based on clinical need, not ability to pay". It's debatable whether it still meets those criteria now, but I believe that the way things are now is the best way of doing it, with the vast majority of treatment being free. I'm against the privatisation of the NHS on the principle that as it is such an important national institution, and is used by everybody at some point in their lives, it deserves to be kept in public hands and not be run for profit by businesses. Yes, the NHS needs reform, but not so that it's carved up and dished out to businesses. Patient care should be the main priority, and I'm concerned that the NHS is too management-focused right now. This is what needs to change.
 
Aneurin Bevan was a man with a vision of a better future, 65 years on it is being killed off by money hungry self centred idiots.

Aneurin Bevan must be turning in his grave.

If I knew the lib dems were going to get into bed with them fat cats tories, i would of stopped voting LD and voted labour.

I think LD has put themselves out of the running for government for at least 60 years.
 
I agree with everything you said Delta, except for the part where you said you felt you should have voted Labour. Unfortunately where Labour was originally the party that introduced the NHS, since Thatcher they have been behind privatisation, admittedly not on quite this scale or this fast, but they still are essentially supporters of it.

Greens aren't though.... ;)
 
Speaking as someone who works in the beast that is the NHS, enjoy it while it lasts kids as it probably aint got long left.

Who-ever thought putting control of the NHS into GP's hands was an idiot.
 
The NHS does a fantastic job for the British Public, and certainly costs Tax Payers a lot less than it would cost for people to take out private medical insurance.

That being said, NHS does cost a lot of money to run, and with people living longer, more diseases being curable and a growing population, there is only so far that money can stretch and tough decision need to be made to keep it.

Getting the balance correct is impossible, cut managers, means Doctors spend more time managing, increase managers so doctors can do less managing means extra costs and less doctors. There is a good balance but finding it is very difficult.

I know there is a lot of members who work for the NHS, and I would like to say Thanks for the effort and work they put in, and I hope they continue to mange to deliver a high level service even in the challenging times we find ourselves in, and the bigger challenges in the future

Ian
 
Or Tax the people at the very top of society? The big corporation owners, the banks, the land owners who have been the same families since the Norman invasion?

People are so ready to sacrifice what helps the poor and vulnerable with cuts to institutions such as the NHS and not to secure it's future through fairer taxation of the people who have everything. It's always baffled me.
 
Actually, that's a good call Meat Pie, the same families really have been in control since 1066 and I think it's time for them to support services such as the NHS. On a different topic, though, I do feel that the NHS does not receive enough credit; all we seem to hear in the tabloids is that A&E departments have ridiculous waits, doctors and nurses mistreat patients, etc. In reality, the job done is so incredible and fantastic; so a personal thanks to any members involved with the NHS. :)
 
Ive worked in the NHS for the past 15 years and yes, its in a terrible state now - no longer is patient care the key consideration but meeting targets, politics and paper filling is. The number of people now employed just to do all these various reports, KPI's, targets, reports to Dept of Health, NHS agencies, Monitor, CQC and god knows who else.

Then there is the risk to jobs something which never existed in the NHS before. Then there is the pay freeze until 2014 and the increase in pension contributions which effectively means NHS staff have had a pay cut of around 15% over the past 4 years.

In order to save the NHS politicians need to butt out, immigration needs to be controlled, and there should be more emphasis on patient care and less on reports filling in.
 
Yeah bloody immigrants.... Coming over here, taking up jobs as doctors and nurses that we desperately need.

Selfish gits. ::)
 
People moan that people can come here, get free medical care that they wouldn't get in their home nation, then leave again.

But I'm proud that this country realises health and health care is a universal right, no matter how much they've paid into the 'system'. If how much you put in beforehand had anything to do with it, only the rich would get the best care. Which is exactly what's going to happen with the government getting their way.
 
Right I've been busy for a few days making up the hours I lost on Monday because of the teachers wanting an extra day off but that subject has already been done.

Now then the good old NHS, the worlds largest money pit. I can only judge it by the service I have received.
I ring up my doctors 8:00 am in the morning and after a lengthy debate with the receptionist who somehow decides whether or not I'm ill enough to see a doctor even though she has no medical training whatsoever, I can normally get an appointment that day. So that's good and in general it works, I'm happy with that. (apart from the little hitlers)

Then the other week I cut my hand, not bad but deep enough it ain't going to heal on its own, 5 hours in A&E later and it gets glued back together by the main A&E consultant whilst the nurses carry on with their coffee. Why does it need to be the main man? Surely a nurse or junior doctor could do a bit of supergluing. So that department is not fit for purpose in my opinion, badly managed by someone.

And this is the problem, the NHS is too big, too institutionalised, to expensive and run by muppets, a bit like a very large BBC.
Is it a good idea, yes, does it function well, not really, is it managed well, no.

And that is the reason I don't trust it for my family and pay for private Heath care.
 
What a wonderful luxury that is that you can afford private healthcare.

I know my both my Dad and my Sister, amongst countless people I know would no longer be around if it wasn't for the NHS as they (or I even) could never afford private insurance (and nor should we have to). It's not perfect and it will always need improving, but it's one of the most competent services I have ever used.

And yes it is expensive for the nation, but it's worth every penny.
 
The NHS is why I have scars on my arm that look like lumpy millipedes from hell. It's nice of them to stitch me up, but next time, I'd rather you not have the trainees do it.

Hugs and kiss's

Matt! xxx
 
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