Healthcare - NHS/Private

[DodgyAgent]

Bloody hell - I agree with DA again!

I must be ill or something....

There is only one thing for it then

Accompanied Suicide

[ZARDOZ]

I am sorry but you are completely missing the point. A service is as good as its worst employee not its best.

That's not really true is it? The productive ones carry the workshy, it's called the Pareto effect, whereby in most cases 20% of the workforce are responsible for 80% of the outputs. Therefore any organiastion tends to be only as good as it's best employees.

The irony is that the 20% are unlikely to include anyone spending the day posting on Bulletin Boards, but even more ironic is the apparent inability of those indignent at the efficiency of others, to be able/willing to see their own lack of productivity.

[DodgyAgent]

That's not really true is it? The productive ones carry the workshy, it's called the Pareto effect, whereby in most cases 20% of the workforce are responsible for 80% of the outputs. Therefore any organiastion tends to be only as good as it's best employees.

The irony is that the 20% are unlikely to include anyone spending the day posting on Bulletin Boards, but even more ironic is the apparent inability of those indignent at the efficiency of others, to be able/willing to see their own lack of productivity.

Fair points though I maintain that in the private sector you are still only as good as your worst employee. It may be different for monopolies and large corporates but where there is genuine consumer choice it does not take much to p*** off your customer and send them elsewhere.

[ZARDOZ]

Ok, let me move the debate forward. I think the intentions of the NHS are good, and although there are some failings there are a lot of successes. Ironically, the current failings are connected to past success, as people as a result of the NHS are living longer.
We have an ageing population, that is really clogging up the system and taking resource from other areas. We have a feckless contingent, who, eat, drink, smoke (sometimes all of the above) themsleves to death. They sit at computer terminals and do no exercise ;-). Obesity and associated diseases for example is a just one (needless) MASSIVE burdon on the NHS.


PS: Did you know that the USA spends more per head on healthcasre than the UK, yet I think most would agree it has a worse standard of care.

[formant]

PS: Did you know that the USA spends more per head on healthcasre than the UK, yet I think most would agree it has a worse standard of care.

I think the US has a much higher standard of care. It's just a lot less accessible to the average person and likely to leave the (many) uninsured bankrupt. Wouldn't consider that preferable obviously.

[ZARDOZ]

I think the US has a much higher standard of care. It's just a lot less accessible to the average person and likely to leave the (many) uninsured bankrupt. Wouldn't consider that preferable obviously.

Perhaps I should rephrase it then, on average the standard of care in the US is poorer than in the UK. Lower life expectancy being one indicator of this. The USA spends more per head on healthcare than anywhere else in the world.

[formant]

Perhaps I should rephrase it then, on average the standard of care in the US is poorer than in the UK. Lower life expectancy being one indicator of this.

I got what you were saying.

And I agree.

Fancy hospital environments aren't of much use if the average person can't afford to have their health looked after.

[sasguru]

Perhaps I should rephrase it then, on average the standard of care in the US is poorer than in the UK. Lower life expectancy being one indicator of this. The USA spends more per head on healthcare than anywhere else in the world.

But the average standard of care in the UK is lower than most of Western Europe.

[kingcook]

Any recommendations for private health care?

I was looking at WPA, their prices seem OK.

BUPA seems a bit expensive, as does Simply Health.

[psychocandy]

I was looking at WPA, their prices seem OK.

BUPA seems a bit expensive, as does Simply Health.

Yeh. £78/mnth for WPA for me, mrs, son - not bad. BUPA was £200+