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NHS again

(145 Posts)
Mishap Wed 31-Dec-14 13:15:08

I know that there is a huge amount wrong with the NHS, but just yesterday my OH and I were thinking about how it has kept him alive and reasonably active for many years now on a massive cocktail of drugs for his PD and his heart. He was thinking about the cost of all these drugs if he had had to pay for them.

Someone we know moved to the US on retirement, but had to move back because he started with PD and could not afford the drugs (even with insurance) to keep him as fit as possible.

ninathenana Thu 22-Jan-15 11:37:23

Should the title of the thread be changed ?

I came to comment on a situation my friend has in connection with NHS. But having read the last page it's become "the political debate slanging match !

POGS Thu 22-Jan-15 11:41:34

Yes you are correct, I am sorry.

Ariadne Thu 22-Jan-15 11:42:45

This always happens - if it's not politics, it's religion with people defending their various stances. I have been guilty of it too but my views aren't as entrenched as some people's.

It is, however, an open forum, so I suppose one lets the entrenched ones get on with it and keep returning to the OP in the hope of re establishing the discussion. Doesn't always work, though...

gillybob Thu 22-Jan-15 12:01:53

I would define "ordinary" people as being normal/usual grumppa.

If all parties could somehow get together and agree that we all want what's best for the future of the NHS. Set up a standard rate of financing (which would be agreed by all parties) and subject to reviews by an independent panel.

Eloethan Thu 22-Jan-15 13:03:23

In the original post, Mishap, whilst appreciating that there are many problems with the NHS, expressed her feelings of appreciation of it. She then compared the situation here to that in the US.

The NHS is a political issue and it is natural that some contributors will comment accordingly, especially when the original poster mentioned something that has a political dimension.

Nelliemoser Thu 22-Jan-15 13:45:13

Eloethan Re your post of Thu 22-Jan-15 01:56:32
I fully agree with your point about the aims and motivation of the Conservative party.

I wish somone on GN who is a conservative voter would one day actually discuss the issues of privelege and inequality and explain why they do not feel a more financially and socially equal society might be a fairer and happier place.

gillybob Thu 22-Jan-15 13:52:47

Are you saying that members of the other parties do not enjoy priviledge Nelliemoser?

Do either of the main parties really understand the "normal" working person. You know, the ones that go to work 9-5 or whatever and earn "normal" wages? I very much doubt it. None of them really want a fair society if it means they will have to give anything up.

soontobe Thu 22-Jan-15 14:59:51

Nelliemoser, isnt that want communist countries try and do and fail? Really badly?
Though I agree with you that this country is going too wide in its spread of wealth.
But apparently this is partly because jobs in the UK are going either lower or higher, with not anything like as many in the middle as it once was, so says the Financial Times.
[sometimes conservative voter]

soontobe Thu 22-Jan-15 15:01:59

www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6a8544ae-9d9e-11e4-8ea3-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3PYwyLwKy

gillybob Thu 22-Jan-15 15:19:51

I can't open the link soontobe I keep getting a subscription page. Could be just my computer though.

Apparently by next year (2016) 1% of the world population will have accumulated as much wealth as the other 99% put together, which is shocking.

soontobe Thu 22-Jan-15 15:28:11

Uk economy shows shift to low skilled jobs, reasearch finds, is the name of the article.

Basically it says that jobs in the UK are , and have beem going into much more of a hour glass figure, ie more highly skilled jobs available in the UK, and more low skilled jobs, with a lot less jobs in the middle compared to years ago, becuase of improvements in technology.
Which I suppose helps to increase the feeling and actual reality of poeple on high wages, and people on low, with nowhere like as many in the middle as before.

[I did pay up to a few free articles a month to the online Financial Times, a few years back, and I seem to be able still to get them for some reason].

Eloethan Thu 22-Jan-15 16:19:22

grumppa One of the definitions of ordinary is "normal, standard, typical". I use the term "ordinary people" to describe those that have a level of wealth that is not "extraordinary" ("beyond what is ordinary or usual"), and not in any classist or derogatory sense.

rosequartz Thu 22-Jan-15 17:35:26

I think the distances some people have to travel to access A&E is a problem, and the fact that people in England have to pay for car parking at hospitals is shocking. Someone who is sick or is visiting a sick child should not have to worry about finding money for the meter.

I must say DH and I have had very good treatment so far - perhaps we are lucky. DB had a terrible hospital stay (amounting to negligence imo) a few years ago but has just received wonderful treatment at a different hospital.

Deedaa Sun 25-Jan-15 21:42:58

DH just spent four days in hospital. He managed to get onto the cancer ward for the last two days. It is like a different world in there, the staff are lovely and nothing is too much trouble. We didn't expect him to be out till Monday because there wouldn't be a doctor in over the weekend, biut they managed to find one yesterday and also managed to put together the drugs he needed in spite of the pharmacy being closed. Or were they just so keen to get rid of him? grin

Mishap Sun 25-Jan-15 22:33:59

Glad he is home now.

durhamjen Sun 25-Jan-15 23:46:47

Needed the bed, Deedaa.
Glad he is home. Even if the cancer ward is nice, home is still better.
Are cancer wards just more efficient than the others?
I remember when my husband was going for radiotherapy, they told us that if we could not get a disabled parking space, just to park in the multistorey next to the department and just pay for one hour. If it took longer it would be their fault if we got a ticket and they would pay for it.

durhamjen Mon 26-Jan-15 11:55:37

This is interesting. Will the government now admit it is destroying the health service? I am not holding my breath. They'll probably be praising themselves for giving the NHS more money.

www.pulsetoday.co.uk/your-practice/practice-topics/employment/gps-to-be-offered-incentives-to-delay-retirement-under-10m-strategy-to-solve-workforce-crisis/20009021.article

durhamjen Mon 26-Jan-15 14:05:59

There's a petition to put Nye Bevan on the £20 note.

https://t.co/M9wWjj2Q20

JessM Mon 02-Feb-15 21:11:52

Four years ago I commented that the NHS was probably as good as it was going to get. It will be very interesting to see what happens to NHS England once the current batch of outsourcing of services plays out. The electorate have not really had much of a taste of it yet I think. Be interesting to compare in a few years, differences between England, Wales and Scotland - as only England is having the outsourcing and reorganisation treatment.

The NHS is a treasure - we get better + cheaper healthcare than the vast majority of other countries. My MIL passed away a couple of weeks ago. She had a lifetime filled with health problems and the NHS saved her life countless times, replaced both knees and hips, kept her heart going long, long after its shelf life was expired. The NHS also provided her with carrier bags full of drugs and dressings every year and provided her with district nurses to do her leg dressings. The GP used to visit when requested. Paramedics attended (for free! You'd have to pay in lots of countries) just after her death and, according to my sister in law they were kind, helpful and respectful. Where else would you get all that?