The reform party has agreed to continue the triple lock

ronib

A google search suggests that Reform wants to remove waiting lists for patients by using the private sector. Vouchers for private care will be given if a gp can’t be seen within 3 days. Also for seeing a consultant. Sounds good to me.

Google needs to keep up.

The voucher scheme was part of the 2024 Reform election "Contract" which was withdrawn just months later.

A spokesperson for Reform UK distanced itself from these proposals, saying: Reform UK formally and publicly dropped the 2024 manifesto in October 2024, and does not reflect our current health policies.

We are currently in the process of developing our healthcare policy ...

There is nothing about NHS policy for England on Reform's website so I can only assume it is still being developed.

As Reform changes its Head of Policy frequently, three in less than two years, Simon Marcus, Zia Yusuf and now James Orr, who knows?

This is also nothing new, many NHS patient are referred into the private sector to lessen waiting times, the NHS pick up the tab, no need for a “voucher system”

ronib

Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Denmark, Italy. Abu Dhabi has exceptional care. DAR

All for differing reasons, Switzerland has one of the costliest living expenses and high taxes. As does Denmark. I have no idea about Italy but if the system is anything like Spain then it’s paid towards and it does seem those living in the Med countries live healthier lives so perhaps no so many people requiring the type of healthcare we need here.

I have no idea about Japan or Abu Dhabi.

Out of interest, have you or close friends/family used the healthcare systems in the Countries you mention?

GrannyGravy13

valdali totally agree, friendships are very precious

Dont believe anything word they say. What they say and what they do are two different things. They already said they will make the NHS work like the US Insurance Model that will mean most ordinary pensioners will end up bankrupt, poor heakth care or dead. I wouldn't vote Reform if they were one of only two choices.

MaggsMcG

Dont believe anything word they say. What they say and what they do are two different things. They already said they will make the NHS work like the US Insurance Model that will mean most ordinary pensioners will end up bankrupt, poor heakth care or dead. I wouldn't vote Reform if they were one of only two choices.

Ordinary people, not just pensioners.

Yes Cossy a relative has used German healthcare and she is well treated - better than when she lived here.

ronib

You have not changed my mind. Your comments on each country are not very accurate but a convenient way of saying what you want to prove…. DAR

Why would you think I was attempting to change your mind ronib? I was simply adding facts to balance a prejudice. More for others than for you as I doubt you actually read it

I did read it but reading doesn’t constitute blind acceptance. DAR

ronib

Yes Cossy a relative has used German healthcare and she is well treated - better than when she lived here.

Thank you.

Amazingly, I have friends living in Turkey and they’ve (had to) us Turkish healthcare, and without exception found it to be very good.

Just out of interest, did your relative pay?

I have a close friend who lives in Spain, she’s paying £60 per month into a fund that will allow her to qualify for the Spain’s equivalent of our NHS, whilst also paying £130 a month for excellent private healthcare, she’s early sixties.

However, even with both she still had to pay for both her knee replacements.

Her Mum lives next door to her and has lived there for 45 years and also receives excellent healthcare.

Btw, we will never get better NHS care when we have shortages of new hospitals (promised by BJ I believe), not that the new buildings alone would suffice as we have a huge shortage of staff across all levels, especially Nurses.

I believe that there’s a shortage of some 30,000 nurses across the UK and a need for approx 50,000 doctors, however for doctors there’s also a massive shortage of training contracts.

For nurses alone, the bill for agency nurses is around £2b a year.

How to fix this? 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes of course my relative pays a monthly amount for health care in Germany but I have an inkling that she was paying a substantial amount in UK taxes when working here. She is probably better off in Germany? Cossy

Published Reform policy.

Reform will abolish Indefinite Leave Remain, rescind existing awards and introduce a 5 year renewable visa for migrants with higher salary thresholds.

How will that affect nurses and other health care workers?

ronib

Yes of course my relative pays a monthly amount for health care in Germany but I have an inkling that she was paying a substantial amount in UK taxes when working here. She is probably better off in Germany? *Cossy *

Thank you

Graphite

Published Reform policy.

Reform will abolish Indefinite Leave Remain, rescind existing awards and introduce a 5 year renewable visa for migrants with higher salary thresholds.

How will that affect nurses and other health care workers?

We will have even less than we have now!

If there was ever a time NOT to vote for Reform, it must be now.

Can anyone enlighten me regarding health care provision, in countries using the private model, for those born with long term needs?
I understand that in the USA that any child born with significant needs is uninsurable, so the parent must seek funding from charities, churches etc for any operations, pharmaceuticals or therapies required.
We on gransnet might have GC or other family / friends for whom this might be important. I have some experience of Special Education ( a school for children with severe and complex needs) and many of our children were supported heavily by the NHS .
I don't know the current situation, but I was aware of a Turkish boy brought to England for medical treatment and special schooling, as this was not available where they lived.
It was a win- win for us , as he was a delightful child, and his parents were medical professionals, who were quickly appointed to the local hospital.

Again, you haven’t checked out the facts ronib
Germans generally pay a higher overall rate of tax and social security contributions than residents of the UK. While top income tax rates are similar (around 45%), Germany’s comprehensive social security system—covering healthcare, pension, unemployment, and long-term care—results in a higher overall charge.
Unless your relative is not paying tax at the level he/she should be, or is retired, therefore what you say cannot be the case. If in doubt, google it for yourself to confirm.

My relative is retired and very relieved to be living away from the UK.
My news channels seem to be saying that the UK has the highest increase in income tax …. Casdon

Cost of living is 20 percent lower in Germany than in UK.

Highest increase is not the same as highest tax rate. UK comes way down the list of highest tax rates.

Casdon

Again, you haven’t checked out the facts ronib
Germans generally pay a higher overall rate of tax and social security contributions than residents of the UK. While top income tax rates are similar (around 45%), Germany’s comprehensive social security system—covering healthcare, pension, unemployment, and long-term care—results in a higher overall charge.
Unless your relative is not paying tax at the level he/she should be, or is retired, therefore what you say cannot be the case. If in doubt, google it for yourself to confirm.

Someone in the UK earning 30,000 a year would pay tax of £3,486. The tax rate is 20%.

www.thesalarycalculator.co.uk/salary.php

Someone in Germany earning the Euro equivalent would pay tax of £9,345. The tax free allowance is lower and the graduated tax rate 31.1%.

salaryaftertax.com/de/salary-calculator

Here the NIC rate is 8%.

According to accountants Price Waterhouse Cooper:

In Germany, Pension Insurance is 18.6%, Unemployment Insurance 2.6%, Health Insurance 14.6%.

taxsummaries.pwc.com/germany/individual/other-taxes#:~:text=Social%20security%20contributions%20in%20Germany%20are%20levied,an%20income%20ceiling%20of%20EUR%20101%2C400%20annually

I read too in the PWC document that Real estate transfer tax is levied at 3.5% to 6.5% of the consideration on ALL conveyances of German property.

People insist that the UK is a high tax country. It isn’t.

ronib

Yes Cossy a relative has used German healthcare and she is well treated - better than when she lived here.

I should hope so. Germans pay more for healthcare than in the UK - and, yes, I used and paid for the German healthcare system for many years. I don't need to rely on something a relative tells me. Even so, the system isn't perfect. People in some areas (particularly cities) can wait ages to be seen by a GP and social care/rehab for the elderly is struggling, just as it is in the UK.

Casdon

Again, you haven’t checked out the facts ronib
Germans generally pay a higher overall rate of tax and social security contributions than residents of the UK. While top income tax rates are similar (around 45%), Germany’s comprehensive social security system—covering healthcare, pension, unemployment, and long-term care—results in a higher overall charge.
Unless your relative is not paying tax at the level he/she should be, or is retired, therefore what you say cannot be the case. If in doubt, google it for yourself to confirm.

Correct! Germans pay more for health and social care. What they receive is usually better, but not always. The crucial issue is that they pay more.