Anyone aware of this!!!

[Octopus]

One of my (foreign) customers flew his father over last week so he could benefit from the NHS "as he was here on holiday".

 

[trev]

You'd probably not be surprised if those names were very well known Jay, they'll most likely be the very same ones who will benefit most from the creeping privatisation of the NHS that they are forcing on to us.

 

[Adam W]

The point of this model is the end user doesn't notice any difference apart from a better service. The hospital doesn't have to become self-funding by charging patients, selling advertising space or letting McDonalds open up in the foyer, the same money that would have been spent on it under the NHS is given to the private company who become accountable, so money is saved by things like spending £99 on a dishwasher which does what it needs to instead of £5500 because someone has won a contract to supply it and can charge what they want. This money can be spent on other things, like medicine.

I don't see how anyone can argue that NHS managers and accountants are better suited to running a hospital than doctors and nurses, private sector or otherwise.

Personally I would welcome a more Victorian approach to schools, where the teachers are in charge and the kids do as they're told otherwise they get the cane. Obviously under the same model it would still be free to the end user as it is now.

 

[jaypp]

One of my (foreign) customers flew his father over last week so he could benefit from the NHS "as he was here on holiday".

That explains the need for 'airport tax' then!!

 

[Octopus]

So how does it work in Germany then? They don't have the NHS, but they spend twice what we do on health - do they embrace the private sector?

 

[trev]

One of my (foreign) customers flew his father over last week so he could benefit from the NHS "as he was here on holiday".

I've never denied that health tourism exists, we all know it does but what is your answer to it?
Mine is very simple, no one who is not a resident here gets in to the country without adequate health insurance.

 

[jaypp]

deleted

 

[Octopus]

I've never denied that health tourism exists, we all know it does but what is your answer to it?
Mine is very simple, no one who is not a resident here gets in to the country without adequate health insurance.

I don't think there is on answer. My misses works in the NHS and they often get "tourists" - but she has no idea if they pay up later or not. You can't ask a woman in labour to wait can you, and often they are out the same day!

 

[Octopus]

If the NHS wants to save money it should our source procurement to Sainsburys or Tesco's - those guys know how to drive down purchase prices, whereas public sector buyers haven't got a clue.......

 

[jaypp]

I've never denied that health tourism exists, we all know it does but what is your answer to it?
Mine is very simple, no one who is not a resident here gets in to the country without adequate health insurance.

My thoughts exactly. Travel insurance is a fraction of the cost of a flight (on a decent airline anyway!)

Edit: I have posted previously about this and am not against people, no matter where they're from, getting treatment if needed. It is a 'drop in the ocean'

Think this could go on and on and I type too slow!!! will keep watching peoples opinions as we all seem to want the same thing really

 

[Adam W]

How do other countries do it? As you say, you can't turn away a pregnant woman giving birth, or someone who's unconscious at the side of the road can't tell you if they've got the money to pay.

 

[davesparks]

If she's that far gone on her pregnancy what's she doing taking a holiday in a foreign country?
I thought established medical advice was that pregnant women should avoid long distance travel, especially overseas and/or by air?

 

[UNG]

Apply the same theory to education and we're all back in Victorian England.

Better discipline and an understanding of what respect actually is wouldn't be a bad thing

I don't think there is on answer. My misses works in the NHS and they often get "tourists" - but she has no idea if they pay up later or not. You can't ask a woman in labour to wait can you, and often they are out the same day!

A mate of mine had an accident at a peage in France his daughter was taken to hospital kept in overnight and was not discharged until the bill was paid and the longer you delayed the bill went up as they couldn't use the room for another patient until she was discharged

 

[trev]

Better discipline and an understanding of what respect actually is wouldn't be a bad thing

Discipline by fear is nothing but fear, nor is it respect. It is the job of parents to teach their children what is acceptable and what is not, a school's job is to educate.
How about this, a teacher in our school was what I'd call cane happy, even the most minor infractions would be violently punished. Eventually, after a series of complaints the police got involved and he was prosecuted for assault on several children.
This prosecution resulted in a conviction and a jail term. Discuss.
Another thing, suppose I don't like the way your child is behaving. Is it acceptable for me to beat him or her? If not, why is it acceptable for a teacher to do so?
Regarding the Victorian thing. The good old days, rickets, diptheria, cholera, child prostitution, no workplace laws etc etc. Great wasn't it?

 

[Adam W]

As with most things it's about striking a balance - unfortunately now we seem to have a generation of parents who not only can't be bothered to bring up their children with a sense of discipline but seem to think it's the schools' responsibility to do everything from toilet training them to teaching them to integrate into society without so much as a raised voice while the little terrors run amok with the full backing of the parents and grandparents.

Same with benefits - no government can be seen to take a line so hard as 'you had the kids, now you figure out how you're going to bring them up and pay for them', but at the same time making having as many children as possible a career option is unsustainable and irresponsible.

Same with the NHS - 'taking a percentage of earnings from those deemed to be able to afford it to pay for free healthcare for all' might be a socially responsible idea, but it has to be remembered someone has to pay for it. Those who rarely use the service will only be comfortable paying in so much, so the service needs to be restricted to those entitled to it, ie the natural percentage of the population who need it so much they are genuinely unable to pay into the system (the disabled), without increasing that population by shipping them in from other countries just for the healthcare (health tourism), malingerers using the NHS as a form of free entertainment without paying anything in, or those who get drunk and fall over then expect the NHS to pick up the pieces.