Healthcare - NHS/Private

[sasguru]

You don't have to wait a week to see a GP.

What's worked in the 3 practices I've used in London since the stupid on the day appointment system has come in, is going to the actual practice at the time the doors open and getting an appointment. You then tend to be seen first.

If you phone them up and can get through the receptionist job is to put you off. I was actually told by two of my old GPs that I had to inform the receptionist that I had to be seen that morning if I phoned so I worked out how to get round the dragons was to turn up in person.

The point still stands.
Why should people have to go through hoops to see a GP?
Luckily I'm reasonably healthy so far, so if for the 1 or 2 occasions I need to see a GP a year, I pay about £150 in exchange for my total convenience, that seems a small price to pay to me.

[d000hg]

And this is exactly how the left defend their precious citadel. They make it so big that any failures are written off as small fry!

No, it's simply how things work. You always have to talk in terms of percentages and statistics for meaningful comparison. If NHS has 10X more patients than BUPA but 100X more complaints, that is bad. If they have 5X as many complaints, they're better.

[formant]

But Germany doesn't have its own CUK

The debate about the scandal in the NHS should not sidetracked and diluted by the left and therefore allowed to become a tit for tat of negative anecdotes about private care.

Furthermore Using your fellow lefties' argument about percentage of failure then if you do wish to pursue this line (anything to protect the status quo of the NHS eh?) then let us see you put your anecdotes into some proper perspective.

So what percentage of private healthcare patients are let down and killed compared to private healthcare patients?

You actually think privatisation is the magic pill? It would all be fluffy from there? For something as big as a country's health care system, I can assure you that privatisation wouldn't change the overall quantity of f***-ups. It hasn't in any other sector.

But no doubt, the NHS as it is is in a dire state. It needs serious intervention. It doesn't need privatisation (as you can see, other countries do very well with state-run health care).

[DodgyAgent]

You actually think privatisation is the magic pill? It would all be fluffy from there? For something as big as a country's health care system, I can assure you that privatisation wouldn't change the overall quantity of f***-ups. It hasn't in any other sector.

But no doubt, the NHS as it is is in a dire state. It needs serious intervention. It doesn't need privatisation (as you can see, other countries do very well with state-run health care).

Where did I say the NHS needed privatising?
This privatisation thing is created as the evil alternative should anyone dare to challenge the NHS. It is all part of the socialist manipulation process.

[sasguru]

I believe Germany like most Euro countries has a public-private partnership type system.
At least that was the case when I had to know this a few years ago working in pharma.

[gingerjedi]

Having had both private and NHS treatment for the same condition the only difference I could tell was a nice room and a bill for £1500 when going private, everything else was exactly the same.

The NHS ward wasn't nice mind, groaning old feckers wandering around dragging their catheter bags along the floor and being woken up every hour by 2 surly nurses who chose to use their native language rather than English... still, I could put up with that for 1500 quid!

[minestrone]

The NHS ward wasn't nice mind, groaning old feckers wandering around dragging their catheter bags along the floor and being woken up every hour by 2 surly nurses who chose to use their native language rather than English... still, I could put up with that for 1500 quid!

Sounds a bit like client co.

[DodgyAgent]

Having had both private and NHS treatment for the same condition the only difference I could tell was a nice room and a bill for £1500 when going private, everything else was exactly the same.

The NHS ward wasn't nice mind, groaning old feckers wandering around dragging their catheter bags along the floor and being woken up every hour by 2 surly nurses who chose to use their native language rather than English... still, I could put up with that for 1500 quid!

My brothers cancer was missed by the NHS yet discovered and treated privately. I thought this was taking cost cutting to a bit too far

[lilelvis2000]

Where did I say the NHS needed privatising?
This privatisation thing is created as the evil alternative should anyone dare to challenge the NHS. It is all part of the socialist manipulation process.

I thought you were referring to privatization when you said...

The so called virtue of the NHS is now unravelling because it has been protected from criticism and change.

Break it up I say.

[formant]

Where did I say the NHS needed privatising?
This privatisation thing is created as the evil alternative should anyone dare to challenge the NHS. It is all part of the socialist manipulation process.

As you may have noticed, I'm about as 'leftie' as they come, but I sure don't think the NHS in its current state is defensible. I think the Staffordshire case is outrageous, as is the general quality (and availability!) of care. I don't think "it's free" is an excuse.

Privatisation would be an 'evil alternative' - for various reasons. But it's by no means the only alternative.