Whats the point of the NHS?

Dolph said:
To counter your anecdote, I would bring in gp opening hours and the weekend death rates differences to highkight the failure to respond to the needs of the patientd vs the staff.

This is not to say you cannot get good care with the nhs, but it is far too variable and poorly focused in many areas.
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Yeah, but saying it's poorly focused and saying patients are treated with contempt are two different things. One is true because the goalpost are continually being moved so keeping the focus in the correct place is nigh on impossible. Different government, different focus, even different management, different focus. Just look at all the money that was spent on NHS Direct, now it been swapped for 111. In essence it does the same thing but millions have been blown giving it a facelift to dupe the public into believing things are being improved, while actually costing a blinkin fortune for something that as yet still doesn't work in some areas of the country.

Your comment on patients being treated with contempt is just nonsense. The patients needs within the resources that are available are always first. Lets not forget that while NHS staff are pinned back to 1% increments, the MP's that screw with the system for political brownie points are snuffling up 11%. And yet the majority of staff give it their all.

Anyway, I'm supposed to be recuperating so I'm signing off to this one.

Merry Xmas, and a happy and healthy New-year everyone... Hope Santa is good to you all..:):):):)
 
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Hikari Kisugi said:
I think one of the major issues now, is that the NHS still tries to do everything. Medical science has progressed much in the last sixty years and splitting patients into medical and surgical as we always did harps back to a bygone era.

Treatment is NOT there waiting. Treatment is run at full capacity for most of the time, so the service is efficient. Treatment unless emergency in nature is waited for, and often for significant periods.
We do less tests than othr nations, we have less followup, as we cant afford to pay for it.
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As you say though, if it is an emergency you will get it regardless of cost. Whilst in countries like the US you will tend to receive emergency treatment they will demand payment afterwards which can bankrupt people, even in some cases if they have insurance. That's not something that will happen here.

I also understand what you say that yes we have fewer tests etc and you're right, we can't afford it as a country. This harps down to inefficiencies and abuse mostly but that's another topic entirely.

The point is though, the NHS is there for everyone that has entitlement to use should they require it. It doesn't matter if you don't have a job, if you're too young to have one or if you're retired they will still treat you. This isn't the case in most countries without state medical care.
 
Do holiday makers to Britain need Medical Insurance?
I watch Benidorm ER and that is an eye opener how much people have to pay if they haven't got the correct insurance.
 
Dimple said:
Do holiday makers to Britain need Medical Insurance?
I watch Benidorm ER and that is an eye opener how much people have to pay if they haven't got the correct insurance.
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Non EU residents are identified at admission and billed. How many actually pay is another matter.
 
I think the NHS is great because quite simply - I would NOT be alive today if it were not for great doctors, nurses, OTs, consultants & physios! Most of it is documented online by newspapers lol.

The NHS is run by people - that is the flaw. Some people get it right, some wrong, some in the wrong order or style due to being run off their feet. Especially at this time of year in A&E because unfortunately lots of drunken idiots outweigh the people who need it more such as yourself.

Your attitude makes all the difference in this situation. Please and thank you get overlooked when fed up. Manners cost nothing and everyone deserves respect until they deserve none.

It never cost me anything either although I cost you lot over £1 million apparently!
Although, like you, I have to pay for prescriptions. :)

I know you're not having much of a rant about anything other than prices, I was just generalising as I see it a lot and I don't like it. I do agree to a point though - frontline staff can get a little sloppy and need pulling back into line but that's a management issue.
 
As a side note - I would be completely stuffed if we had to pay for our own insurance etc and mine would be through the roof due to the 'potential' issues when I'm older!!
 
Minstadave said:
Non EU residents are identified at admission and billed. How many actually pay is another matter.
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It is only recently the onus for identifying them has actually been put on those responsible for the task. Will be interesting to see how much difference it makes when people are actually accountable.
 
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