NHS - Still free after election?

Their loyalties will stand with whomever they think can get into government. They simply sit on the dogs tail. Personally I think Clegg has lost it.

Oh I didn't look at the seat thing! Blimey

Dead heat in the Ashcroft and Guardian polls today, even with the number of seats.
273 each for Tory and Labour. If it stays like that, Cameron has no hope of getting a majority.
It would also be interesting to see where Libdem loyalties really stand if they both have the same number of seats.

Yes, a frightening thought isn't it whitewave.

Almost immediately after the Tories came to power in 2011 they past an act allowing NHS hospitals the ability to use 49% of NHS hospital beds and theatre time for private patients.

This is wrong at every level.

1 Who paid for the equipment, etc - the taxpayer
2 Of course waiting times will be compromised - to say that they won't is utterly ridiculous.
3 Allowing 10% of the UK population 49% of the total access to the NHS facilities is morally wrong.
4 Who pays for the training of the staff?

Wait and see what happens in the next 5 years if the Tories gain a majority

Well done Dr John Dean

In April 2013 the Guardian reported on the controversial government decision to allow foundation trusts to earn 49% of their income from private patients - it had been previously capped at 2%. Many people in the medical and nursing profession protested that this significant change would have implications for NHS patient care, but their views were dismissed as being alarmist.

The I today reports on an article in the BMJ written by Dr John Dean, a senior cardiology consultant at the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust. He had in the past supplemented his main income with private work but stopped doing so because he said he came to realise the "direct adverse effects" it had on the NHS. He said that it deprives the NHS of consultants' hours and he also warned that private practice creates "a perverse incentive" to increase NHS waiting times.

He went on to say:

"I realised that, in all conscience, I could not go on with it. No matter how high I set my own moral and ethical standards I could not escape the fact that I was involved in a business where the conduct of some was so venal, it bordered on criminal - the greedy preying on the needy".

Granjura, Switzerland and Japan share top place now.

Whe the Tories came in, we had the best record of all OECD health services.
This is what the coalition has done to the NHS.

www.onmedica.com/NewsArticle.aspx?id=eda0f55c-052c-476a-98f6-0e16a8907221

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/general-election-2015-jeremy-hunt-5640463

Libdems have been asked to vote for the NHA candidate.

I know - I live there ;)

No-one goes to private school, so the influent and richer parents do ensure the education system is good, for their kids... and for all.

The same basic health care is available for all- extra insurance if for things like TVs, single room and other luxuries.

Do I live in a Communist country? Ahaha no, not at all- au contraire. But as in Northern countries, there is an awareness but a good education and health for all, with good apprenticeships in all the trades as well as academic educ- is essential for a balanced and happy society. A happy society where young people feel they can access better jobs and prospects via hard work- benefits all- including the better off.

gran you are right that is true for so many living here, but it isn't true for every country - where there is a form of social contract which ensures greater fairness and equality amongst it's citizens and where the happiness factor is at its highest.

Why should people who can afford to by-pass the NHS at the flick of a credit card bother about it? Same for education, and social services.

(don't shoot me ... this is not my view at all- but the reality for those we know who by-pass all State Services. Why should they care about classes of 32+ mixed ability, when their kids go to schools with 15 max and extra support. Or when they can just phone their Consultant direct via their expensive insurance and get an appointment for the next day at the private clinic and an operation the day after...???)

Another lot that have left it late to say anything.
American doctors use the NHS as a good example of a health service and are worried about what the coalition is doing to it.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/03/us-and-british-health-specialists-support-the-nhs

The NHS wasn't ignored by labour. Having been criticised for building lots of new hospitals under PFI, it's difficult to see how that is ignoring the NHS.

Cameron and his old school pals are working their way to privatisation of the nhs by stealth. Labour will wax lyrical about how they brought about the nhs which is indeed true but the question should be what have they done for it lately as it was pitifully ignored under them. They want Ailsa style insurance based system. And yes the bus in Scotland is devolved but the money we receive is based on England's nah spending so the less spent there the less our receives.

www.pulsetoday.co.uk/home/election-2015/

This article looks at all the election pledges by the main parties and whether they stand up to scrutiny.

www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/political-news/gerada-quits-nhs-england-to-be-able-to-speak-out-on-nhs-privatisation/20009881.article

I think they tried to shut her up by giving her a job at NHS England. Hope she hasn't left it too late to quit.

I cant stand seeing something I have written that is not exactly right, so have to repost.
I meant I am not going to change my mind on this if the situation remains the same.

You mean, if either of them actually wins the election...?

I asked 'when?' because you said the NHA will renegotiate PFI, not would.

At the same time the Green party does?

When?

NHA will renegotiate PFI.

In that case, I will not read yours. Why would I pm you?

You are welcome to pm me privately dj if you wish, but I am not going to repeat myself on gransnet.

No. My choice. I have read one of your links in the last 3 weeks. I am not going to change my mind on this.