Funding our NHS

[Ray Scully]

Is their light at the end of the tunnel. Are our MP's about to adopt a cross party collegiate approach to finding a sustainable long term solution. Will those of the golden generation who are major beneficiaries pay more into the scheme. ???

[towny44]

There was an interesting comment from a nurse interviewed about Brexit this week, she said that without foreign nurses the NHS would struggle, however the vast majority of A&E patients were immigrants. Should we also tax them more?

[Ray Scully]

however the vast majority of A&E patients were immigrants.

Interesting assertion, which i admit to finding puzzling. Would you please be so kind as to direct me to your source
TIA

Ray

[towny44]

however the vast majority of A&E patients were immigrants.

Interesting assertion, which i admit to finding puzzling. Would you please be so kind as to direct me to your source
TIA

Ray

As I said I believe this was a comment made by a nurse during last weeks BBC news item about what the country thinks of Brexit with one year to go. However I am not 100% certain, but that was certainly her views of the situation in her hospital.
Why is this puzzling to you Ray, our immigrant population in Huddersfield is probably less than 10%, but they seem to make up a far higher percentage of the A&E, outpatients and doctors surgery visits.

[Ray Scully]

however the vast majority of A&E patients were immigrants.

Interesting assertion, which i admit to finding puzzling. Would you please be so kind as to direct me to your source
TIA

Ray

As I said I believe this was a comment made by a nurse during last weeks BBC news item about what the country thinks of Brexit with one year to go. However I am not 100% certain, but that was certainly her views of the situation in her hospital.
Why is this puzzling to you Ray, our immigrant population in Huddersfield is probably less than 10%, but they seem to make up a far higher percentage of the A&E, outpatients and doctors surgery visits.

John
A cursory glance at some stats for Manchester suggests that the main recipients of A&E services are the elderly followed by young children. suggesting patient ethnicity would broadly be British.

[towny44]

however the vast majority of A&E patients were immigrants.

Interesting assertion, which i admit to finding puzzling. Would you please be so kind as to direct me to your source
TIA

Ray

As I said I believe this was a comment made by a nurse during last weeks BBC news item about what the country thinks of Brexit with one year to go. However I am not 100% certain, but that was certainly her views of the situation in her hospital.
Why is this puzzling to you Ray, our immigrant population in Huddersfield is probably less than 10%, but they seem to make up a far higher percentage of the A&E, outpatients and doctors surgery visits.

John
A cursory glance at some stats for Manchester suggests that the main recipients of A&E services are the elderly followed by young children. suggesting patient ethnicity would broadly be British.

Why do you assume that Ray? Don't immigrants grow old or have children?

[Mervyn and Trish]

Is their light at the end of the tunnel. Are our MP's about to adopt a cross party collegiate approach to finding a sustainable long term solution. Will those of the golden generation who are major beneficiaries pay more into the scheme. ???

Back to the original question...... we did. Or at least I did during 45 years at work. And during that time and since I have only spent one night as a hospital inpatient, have never been in an ambulance, and rarely visit my GP. I also pay privately for dental care. So I reckon I'm still in credit.

And to the second question, nobody has ever said we will ban immigration. Just that we should have control of it. I take that to mean that where we have skills shortages we will be free to admit people from the EU and beyond to fill them.

[Ray Scully]

Is their light at the end of the tunnel. Are our MP's about to adopt a cross party collegiate approach to finding a sustainable long term solution. Will those of the golden generation who are major beneficiaries pay more into the scheme. ???

Back to the original question...... we did. Or at least I did during 45 years at work. And during that time and since I have only spent one night as a hospital inpatient, have never been in an ambulance, and rarely visit my GP. I also pay privately for dental care. So I reckon I'm still in credit.

And to the second question, nobody has ever said we will ban immigration. Just that we should have control of it. I take that to mean that where we have skills shortages we will be free to admit people from the EU and beyond to fill them.

Mervyn, up to a few years ago we enjoyed your fortunate state of health. However it didn't last, we now pay 1K for holiday insurance and have got season tickets at our local surgery.
As for the level of immigration and being aware of the need and who will be controlling the levels,I would only expect cosmetic change

[oldbluefox]

I read an interesting article about the French health system, hailed amongst the best in the world, and how they fund their medical care. They seemingly have public health insurance at €10 per month which entitles you to a 70% discount on health fees - visit to the doctor €6.60, cardiologist consultation €14.17, filling €5.78-€14.46, root canal treatment €28.20. Full article here. It's an interesting insight and (Ray) for seniors who are 65 or older, or individuals with chronic illnesses, the services are fully covered. And everybody is expected to pay!!!

Maybe we need a fresh look at how we fund our NHS, other than by taxation and maybe if we stopped the abuse there would be more resources available to those who genuinely need it. I cannot help feeling irked when I see how many no-shows there are for appointments.

[GillD46]

The DNA’s are appalling. It was not uncommon for me, when I worked in General Practice, to have HALF my clinic not attend, yet not bother let us know. Even my husband, as a GP, could have LOADS of DNAs. All wasted appointments that could have been used by those needing to be seen.

[david63]

You can sort out the "no shows" fairly easily. When you book an appointment to pay £10 - refundable when you turn up.

The only problem with such a system would be the public outcry - especially by those who abuse the system.

[Manoverboard]

Those on benefits couldn't ... and probably wouldn't ... pay so if they are the main offenders there would be little point in paying a refundable deposit. Making charges a la Francais is deffo the best option as far as I am concerned.

[barney]

I think it's about time that they were brave enough to admit that the whole thing needs looking at from top to bottom.

A bit like the EU, the NHS has morphed into something that probably wasn't the original intention.
With an ever aging population (by the way Ray, immigrants also age), the way it is funded needs looking at.

A bit like Merv, I've been very fortunate (so far) with my health.
I think my record for not needing a GP was something like twenty years and I don't reckon I've been more than ten times in my entire life.
When my knee eventually gave way, my private insurance paid for the replacement.
But, I am aware that as I get older and older, my needs will change.

Whatever is proposed will be controversial but I'd start from the premise that we are a very wealthy country and that much of the funding is already there, sloshing about in the Treasury.
We GIVE away £21 billion every year.
£8 billion to the EU (net)
£13 billion in the Foreign Aid budget
It would be unpopular to cut foreign Aid altogether but cutting back must be an option.

As the song says, It's all about the money and the NHS needs more.
Then, with additioanl funding, it also needs an overall of it's purpose.

[david63]

Those on benefits couldn't

Why not if they get it back. Might mean that they have to wait another week to buy a new iphone
Or if those on benefits are offenders and not in a position to pay the deposit and they don't turn up for appointments then take it out of their benefits - simples

I think it's about time that they were brave enough to admit that the whole thing needs looking at from top to bottom.

It would probably be better if it was looked at from the "bottom up" rather than the "top down".

[Stephen]

Those on benefits couldn't

Why not if they get it back. Might mean that they have to wait another week to buy a new iphone
Or if those on benefits are offenders and not in a position to pay the deposit and they don't turn up for appointments then take it out of their benefits - simples

I think it's about time that they were brave enough to admit that the whole thing needs looking at from top to bottom.

It would probably be better if it was looked at from the "bottom up" rather than the "top down".

Only if you're qualified though

[Mervyn and Trish]

Sweden have a system of very modest feed to access various health services. The fees are small but sufficient to deter the time wasters looking for hangover cures etc

[oldbluefox]

Thirty nine no-shows last month in the physio dept at our local hospital and fifteen in the cardio rehab dept. It's about time we took a firmer line with time wasters and the feckless ones who are wasting health professionals' time and cause lengthening waiting lists.
Pleased to see the NHS are to stop prescribing over the counter medicines which are cheap enough to buy. I can't believe people expect a prescription for items such as paracetamol, eye drops and sun cream (except those with long term issues).

[david63]

It's about time we took a firmer line with time wasters and the feckless ones who are wasting health professionals' time and cause lengthening waiting lists.

Three strikes and your out should solve the problem one way or another

[towny44]

Our local ambulance trust says that 33% of 999 calls do not need emergency treatment, we need to educate everyone about using the NHS correctly. The backstop if that fails is to charge everyone who calls 999 and only those that were genuine get refunds; a similar charge for any visit to A&E should also be considered.
If that was applied my guess is that A&E could operate with a lot less staff than those currently claiming to be overstretched.

[Onelife]

Over the years l have been a greatful recipient of the services provided by our much loved NHS... so to keep me ticking over l would suggest we all cough up an extra 2p in the pound in basic income tax.

If you belive public surveys most tax payers would be willing to contribute a penny or two more....with of course the assurance that it would be ring fenced solely for this purpose. If the standing Government is willing to give this assurance then l see it as a vote winner not a vote loser.

Of course if the government really wanted to find money to get the NHS back on its feet it could stop the ludicrous amounts of money dished out on child bennifit (let the buggers starve l say) naah! But paying universal child bennifit to everyone irrespective of financial status is absolutely nuts.

If you disagree and wish to reply please post FAO, OBF....Squeak! Squeak!

[Ray Scully]

Over the years l have been a greatful recipient of the services provided by our much loved NHS... so to keep me ticking over l would suggest we all cough up an extra 2p in the pound in basic income tax.

If you belive public surveys most tax payers would be willing to contribute a penny or two more....with of course the assurance that it would be ring fenced solely for this purpose. If the standing Government is willing to give this assurance then l see it as a vote winner not a vote loser.

Of course if the government really wanted to find money to get the NHS back on its feet it could stop the ludicrous amounts of money dished out on child bennifit (let the buggers starve l say) naah! But paying universal child bennifit to everyone irrespective of financial status is absolutely nuts.

If you disagree and wish to reply please post FAO, OBF....Squeak! Squeak!

[Stephen]

Over the years l have been a greatful recipient of the services provided by our much loved NHS... so to keep me ticking over l would suggest we all cough up an extra 2p in the pound in basic income tax.

If you belive public surveys most tax payers would be willing to contribute a penny or two more....with of course the assurance that it would be ring fenced solely for this purpose. If the standing Government is willing to give this assurance then l see it as a vote winner not a vote loser.

Of course if the government really wanted to find money to get the NHS back on its feet it could stop the ludicrous amounts of money dished out on child bennifit (let the buggers starve l say) naah! But paying universal child bennifit to everyone irrespective of financial status is absolutely nuts.

If you disagree and wish to reply please post FAO, OBF....Squeak! Squeak!

Got it in one Keith

[towny44]

Onelife, Child benefit is no longer universal and has not been since 2013, any family where a parent earns more than £50,000pa starts to have their benefit reduced and when their income hits £60,000pa they receive no benefit.
However back to the threads main issue, I am unwilling to pay more money in until the way we operate the NHS is modified, and we see people acting more responsibly in their demands from the NHS, boozers, drug adicts, smokers, obese and general misfit idiots should not expect the NHS to sort out their lifestyle choices. Once that is sorted then if the NHS still needs more I will willingly pay extra.

[Meg 50]

My daughter is the Optician's receptionist and yesterday they had umpteen no shows.
If they are told in advance they can fill the gap with emergencies/ walk ins, but not if they just don't show up.

Yesterday's clinic was an eye health clinic, so twice the length of a standard sight test - so a dreadful waste of time

[Meg 50]

I was under the impression that the NHS was covered by our NI payments?

So is it like the Road tax - going nowhere near the roads?