Reply to: Healthcare - NHS/Private

[psychocandy]

FFS. Even the private hospitals are at it now!!!!

Took Mrs to private appointment today (left site early). Waited and waited. Turns out the soddin' doctor wasn't even there - she'd been on maternity leave for 7 weeks yet the useless buggers let us sit there for 45 minutes!!!! Worse thing was the staff there didn't give a stuff....

Seriously, considering billing the useless buggers for my time. After all, you can guarantee if you don't show for a private appointment you'll get an invoice in the post.

Ain't happy either cos now Mrs has got to find someone else and wait for another appointment!!!!!

[formant]

I pay between €650-€800 per month depending upon how much I earn in a year and thats not even private, its what is called '"Law-enforced health insurance" (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) known as sickness funds' which I beleive is a lot compared to the UK...

The rate is 15.5% of your (taxable?) income.
As we can't tell what percentage of our tax and NI contributions fund the NHS, I'd say it may not be that much more that what people pay here.
I have generally found the German health care system to be worth its rate. Something I can't say for the NHS.

[darmstadt]

I pay between €650-€800 per month depending upon how much I earn in a year and thats not even private, its what is called '"Law-enforced health insurance" (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) known as sickness funds' which I beleive is a lot compared to the UK...

[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+

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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]

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]

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.

[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]

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]

Bloody hell - I agree with DA again!

I must be ill or something....

There is only one thing for it then

Accompanied Suicide

[psychocandy]

So just because your "other half" is so dedicated and works hard then that makes everything OK does it? We should accept the failings of the NHS and just put up with the service they give just because some of the workers are dedicated to their jobs?

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

Bloody hell - I agree with DA again!

I must be ill or something....

[DodgyAgent]

My other half is a Nurse. She got up at 5:30 am this morning to start her shift, she will be back about 10pm the lazy fecker. During this time she will have to deal with some violent patients, and some abusive families whose sense of entitlement is endless. She will get little thanks. She might get a 20 minute break if she's lucky. All that for about £15 an hour, but then she doesn't do it for the money. How you have the front to critisize that is beyond me, I doubt you've ever had to work hard?

So just because your "other half" is so dedicated and works hard then that makes everything OK does it? We should accept the failings of the NHS and just put up with the service they give just because some of the workers are dedicated to their jobs?

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