Originally Posted by Ignitionnet (Post 35174997)

The NHS is a truly bizarre thing in many ways, not least of which that it is most similar to how health care was provisioned in communist countries. That it is considered so sacrosanct by many is another point, nearly rivalled by how utterly unviable it is.

Originally Posted by Damien (Post 35175091)

How is it unviable? It's worked for 50 or so years?

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet (Post 35175211)

Clearly because it's 'worked' in the past it's fine now? :confused:

We're the only non-communist nation with a nationalised health service paid for out of general taxation for a reason Damien. If it were so good do you not think everyone else would be doing it rather than single payer insurance based schemes?

Despite the money pumped into it our patient outcomes are frankly abysmal. The NHS is too big, too inefficient, we should stop with the nostalgia and accept that the rest of the world may have a point in not following our example and copy theirs - more best practise as measured by patient outcomes versus funding levels, less 'beloved NHS'. People live too long and spend too much of their lives drawing from the system without contributing to it in taxation to try and pump NHS funding up yet further to compensate for inefficiency and frankly it's rude to tax payers to accept inefficient operation and burn their money on supplying them an expensive, sub-standard health service. If a government were to actually grasp the nettle and put the case across rather than simpering over the NHS and saying how wonderful it is for all its flaws perhaps we could progress.

Change the funding method to socialised insurance rather than general progressive taxation, it's a horrid burden, change the method of operation away from the current system where the service seems to manage many of the inefficiencies of scale while failing to realise the economies, incentivise people to take private healthcare through the tax system instead of punishing them for it.

None of this is rocket science but the 'beloved NHS' is instead going to get some weird half-way house with debatable results for either efficiency or patient outcomes.

And relax.

Originally Posted by Maggy J (Post 35175282)

To many Chiefs not enough Indians?

Or rather where are the old fashioned matrons who made anyone's life hell if they didn't perform to her very high standards?

Originally Posted by Maggy J (Post 35175294)

I know but I don't think that they are as terrifying as the originals who where phased out..I doubt that the modern Matrons can make a cleaner,consultant or a nurse quake in their boots.

It's impossible to go back in time.Maybe tearing it down and starting all over again is the only way to resolve the NHS issues.

Originally Posted by martyh (Post 35175306)

to be honest Maggie i doubt that in todays world a "Hattie Jacques" type of matron would be allowed

Originally Posted by Maggy J (Post 35175322)

Which is why the NHS is doomed..A public institution like the NHS needs someone who has medical knowledge,strong opinions,high standards,excellent logistics skills and the ruthlessness to impose their will.

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet (Post 35175211)

Change the funding method to socialised insurance rather than general progressive taxation, it's a horrid burden, change the method of operation away from the current system where the service seems to manage many of the inefficiencies of scale while failing to realise the economies, incentivise people to take private healthcare through the tax system instead of punishing them for it..

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet (Post 35175211)

Clearly because it's 'worked' in the past it's fine now? :confused:

We're the only non-communist nation with a nationalised health service paid for out of general taxation for a reason Damien. If it were so good do you not think everyone else would be doing it rather than single payer insurance based schemes?

Originally Posted by Will21st (Post 35176058)

I would also call to attention the fact that Germans pay about 14-17 percent of their gross wages for health care alone.That's a lot of money... just saying. :)

Originally Posted by heero_yuy (Post 35176318)

Total government revenue: £650 billion, NHS budget £97 billion

Makes a total of, tarar! 15% That's also quite a lot of money. ;)

Originally Posted by Damien (Post 35175834)

Oh I thought you meant public healthcare itself wasn't working. My bad. I am in favour of finding other ways but countries like France pay more for their healthcare.