Free at the point of use?

LadyGracie

If we hadn't paid for private health care DH would have gone blind.
If you're lucky enough to live in an area where the NHS works well that's good.
In our area of Wales it is poor.

That is a disgrace, LadieGracie, and is exactly what I meant when I said that I can't blame people for paying if they are desperate. It is also why I think that it is grossly unfair to have a two-tier system. If everyone got treatment on the basis of need rather than chequebook, you might not have been put in that position, and you shouldn't have been, as you have already paid for the NHS through your taxes.

I agree that how people spend their money is 'up to them', but I also think that private healthcare should be fully costed, and not include access to NHS facilities, whether these be drugs, staff or hospitals. I also think that staff who are trained at public cost should have to work exclusively in the NHS sector, at least until the cost of their training has been repaid.

easybee I don't object to people paying for private rooms or fancier curtains, but I do object to those who can afford it being able to push the less well-off back down the queue, possibly meaning that their illnesses become a lot more serious because of the resulting delays in treatment.

If we hadn't paid for private health care DH would have gone blind.
If you're lucky enough to live in an area where the NHS works well that's good.
In our area of Wales it is poor.

The only medical care I have received has been via the NHS and it has been excellent; no long waiting times or difficulty accessing appointments. If I had paid I would have had a private room and pretty curtains, no better care. If people choose to spend their money on private care that is up to them; frequently it comes as a perk on people's salaries.

The NHS contracts for a significant number of procedures and operations per year with the private sectors at negotiated rates. They have done this for years to cope with waiting lists and at the moment the private sector is being more than helpful.
Whether people should pay or not for private healthcare is up to the individual.

I agree in principal but I think that they system is skewed. Private wings in NHS hospitals where those that pay get the benefit of NHS investment and expertise so they actually get the best of both worlds. I've had private treatment and the consultant gave me NHS prescription drugs straight out of the cupboard, in an NHS hospital. Go figure.

If I needed an operation say, and by paying for it I could have it done quicker, then yes, I would if I could afford it.

No different to paying for private education for your children if you can afford it and choose to do so.

If I had earned the money, why should I not spend it as I wish? No point in suffering if that could be avoided.

We choose to spend our pension money on private healthcare. We are not wealthy and do not have extra tv packages, smart phone contracts, big holidays etc. The money this saves is better spent on our health, in our opinion.
Everyone has a choice as to how they spend their income.

I believe in freedom to spend you money how you wish, so wouldn't get rid of a private system altogether, but think that if we are going to have a two tier system then they should be entirely separate. A private system should train its own staff, build its own hospitals and not rely on the NHS (which is paid for with public money) at all.

I particularly dislike the system under which consultants use NHS clinics and hospitals to see private patients, who can 'jump the queue' by paying for an initial consultation. To me, that is really wrong, although if a patient is desperate (eg at risk of long-term damage if they stay in the queue), I can't honestly blame them for doing it, so long as they don't claim to be 'freeing up a space' for an NHS patient. They are absolutely not doing that, they are pushing ahead.

Life isn’t fair is it? If you have the means then yes access private care if you need it. Personally I probably couldn’t afford it and not sure I’d even feel comfortable if I could.

I do not believe in dictating how people decide to spend their income.

We have Private Healthcare and we also pay for Private Healthcare for our staff (all of which is taxable)

Ultimately, I think healthcare, like education, should all be state run, with no private healthcare or education. This way, it would be essential for those in power / the wealthy to maintain standards so their families don't lose out. I know it is unrealistic and won't happen, but... it is the only way equality is possible.