It has been interesting reading all the posts, thank you for answering my question.
I am going to say what I think, but first of all let me say that none of what follows is in any way a criticism of anyone on this thread, we all have to make the right decision for ourselves and our families based on what is right at the time.
But I think that private healthcare is an abomination. Those who say you should be able to spend your money how you like and be able to buy better healthcare, what would you say to the people in the queue that LadyGracies’s husband was able to avoid, those people who maybe went blind because they didn’t have enough money to prevent it? And Blossoming, who got the expensive scans and rehabilitation paid for by private health insurance. If she needed them for her health, why were they not available to everyone, regardless of whether they had health insurance or not? And grandMattie’s mum did jump the queue. The people who couldn’t pay had to wait 18 months at least to get the treatment she was able to get straight away.
And the argument that private patients pay for the NHS. I read the article you posted NellG, thank you. But in my view that pre-supposes that a private stream has to exist. It doesn’t. Instead of a few people paying for superior treatment, use our taxes to make sure everybody gets the best treatment they can. Raise more tax if necessary. We should not have to rely on crumbs from the rich man’s table.
If you have more money, you can chose to get a front row seat at the theatre or Wimbledon, or whatever. You can choose a nice hospital room with lovely curtains if you like. Good luck to you. But the fifth biggest economy in the world needs to be able to look after all its citizens’ health equally. Having more money than the next person shouldn’t allow you to choose health over illness. I know this is probably impossible, but we should try.
I also think you shouldn’t be able to pay for a better education, but that’s a whole different thread!