Forum Topic

Keep our NHS public

If this is of interest to anyone, there is a petition from Keep our NHS public entitled:Sajid Javid must rebuild our NHShttps://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0017x2bPity it does not mention specifically to stop the privatisation of the NHS....But the number of vacancies is really frightening!  :-( :-( :-(

Ivonne Holliday ● 1095d11 Comments

Martine, I would agree that the French, German and Spanish healthcare are excellent.  In the US, a totally different system and extremely expensive if you have insurance and prohibitive if you do not.I survived thanks to the NHS and my son, who was born very prematurely, was magnificently looked after by them. Sadly, in the last decade or so, the influx of privatisation in the NHS has had serious repercussions (how many GP practices have been "sold" to private companies recently?)  Also, it is all very good for governments to say we have invested £xxx in the NHS which means absolutely nothing.  It is not a question of throwing money at the NHS, there must be a plan on how it is spent - preferably not paying private companies.Hospitals are in dire need of maintenance, there are some 100,000 vacancies - it is total madness!

Ivonne Holliday ● 1094d

Ivonne, the friends who live abroad are those who I have kept in touch since when we all lived in Birmingham.  They have gone off to Germany and Switzerland.  Another did emigrate to the USA and one of her children is now a doctor in the US.  I have Japanese friends and have never heard them criticise the healthcare in their country.  My French family have never expressed envy at the NHS and I have never heard them express criticism of French healthcare either. Reorganisation, that’s down to the experts but I do not believe the current system cannot be improved.

Martine Guy ● 1094d

That sounds good!  What sort of reorganisation would you like to see?Interesting, of friends and family of yours who live abroad...  Where are they?  The US?

Ivonne Holliday ● 1094d

@Ivonne 20.53At least you got it Ivonne ...

Sue Hammond ● 1094d

I don’t want more money thrown at the NHS until reorganisation takes place to stop waste and abuse of the system.  If you can’t be bothered to turn up for a G.P. appointment, why shouldn’t you be given a fine.  If you turn up at A&E for a really trivial thing or dial 999 making a hoax call, why shouldn’t you be fined?  
Of the friends and family of mine who live abroad, I have never heard anyone complain about their country’s health system or say they miss the NHS.

Martine Guy ● 1094d

"Alternative petition idea: Keep Our NHS For Those Who Have Paid Into It"And limit the amount you get out of the NHS to the amount that you have paid in over your life? Once the deposit gets back to zero, then so do you?

David Ainsworth ● 1094d

I agree Matt, those were the core principles.I suppose that many people are complaining that many foreigners are coming here and taking advantage of the free NHS.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1094d

We don't need to privatise the NHS although a bit of private enterprise in it would help. We are spending huge amounts in it already & there is unlimited demand for it & the costs go up every year as we come up with more improvements.The only way to get more money in it is to introduce personal insurance policies.We all contribute, except those unable to do so. Personal responsiblity for your own health is introduced into the equation - drink like a fish or smoke like a chimney or gorge yourself on too much food costs you not us taxpayers.There is a huge amount of people out there who could afford it & would pay to get a better service. Don't believe me then look at the French system and they are much more left-wing than we are.Labour invented this unaffordable below average system.They live off peoples fears & milk it for all it's worth.

Paul Rolink ● 1094d

When it was launched by the then minister of health, Aneurin Bevan, on July 5 1948, it was based on three core principles: 1) that it meet the needs of everyone. 2) that it be free at the point of delivery. 3) that it be based on clinical need, not ability to pay.nothing in there about if you haven't paid you don't get help.

Matt Palmer ● 1094d

That is a possibility but, by the way it is going, I think we will not have an NHS for much longer.Do you have any statistics as to how many people who do not contribute to the NHS are abusing it?

Ivonne Holliday ● 1095d

Alternative petition idea: Keep Our NHS For Those Who Have Paid Into It

Sue Hammond ● 1095d