Would you support the doctors' strike.

“On average, Scotland paid £400 more in tax per person to the UK Treasury than elsewhere in the UK last year . . . . .the fourth highest revenues of the 12 countries and regions of the UK, after London, the South East and East of England." Nicola Sturgeon, 11 March 2015

You may of course argue that Nicola Sturgeon could be a little biased in her statement, however the official figures are around to be checked.

No tuition fees in Wales? Wrong

Immigrants say they want to live in England because they are taught the UK is called England , and more want to live in countries in Europe than here anyway

The people in England suffer no more than the rest if the country

Please don't let's get into divisive arguments about this.

Google "tax revenue from Scotland" anniebach and the top result is a PSDF called "HMRC tax receipts split between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland"

It may take you a while to find all the information you need.

Trying to make everything 'personal' is idiotic, things are just the way they are, and any Gnetters who live in Scotland, Wales and NI are lucky to have the advantages in the NHS, nothing personal at all, just that we are disadvantaged here in England, and nothing to do with government policy, as it was the same under Labour, NHS in England cannot cope properly with the huge population.

Rubbish mcem
If Scotland, Wales and NI can afford to give free prescriptions for all, and free university places ( no tuition fees) then who exactly is funding this largesse? Certainly not JUST the people in those countries,and if Scotland ever goes it's own way, the taxes will go up massively for those who live there. The truth is that people in England get a raw deal, and have done for quite a while now.Add to that that all immigrants, from both EU and all other countries in the world, want to live in England and it's no wonder we have a long wait for a doctor etc.True, a lot of these people are paying tax and NI, but many are not, especially when out of a job, and needing benefits ( one of the things Cameron is trying to change.) The population here is huge, and the NHS has to do things differently here, which was the answer I was originally commenting on.

Ab I'm just thinking back to some of the patronising remarks which appeared during the discussions on the Scottish referendum and I'm sure that you and I wouldn't want to revisit that.
There are times when we have to wonder just how 'united' this kingdom is.
A country gets the policies of the government it elects. Let's practise patience!

Mcem, seems England gives money to Wales, Scotland and N Ireland, wonder where the taxes go from these three countries

So in your world finding something unpleasant equals being outraged? Overreaction?
Stupid remark?
Democracy dictates, to some extent, that a country gets the political policies of the government it elects.

What has scrip charges to do with this? And yes England has a larger population and a larger dip in the pot , or does Wales have the same to spend on NHS as England ?

So sports injuries do not affect A & E ?

My comment was, that the population in England is vast!

I believe there are no prescription charges in Scotland and Wales, which is wonderful if you live there, but here in England no such luck unless of pension age.

Sigh! Always somebody ready to be outraged.I was replying to ab who lives in Wales.

Well it is eminently possible that the Scottish government may in future add a penny or two to income tax . I am happy with that if an element of ring-fencing can be introduced. The Scottish government has very different priorities to Westminster's and rightly so.
I find your use of 'we' and 'them', along with the implication that the English millions are doling out their cash to Wales and Scotland, very unpleasant.

The stupid remark you made was to do with people playing sport at the weekend.

Westminster allows money for Scotland and Wales, and they use it as they want ( we may be giving them too much!)
think of the millions who live in England ab and it gives you a clue as to why we operate differently.

Anya, why is it stupid to acknowledge a mother of a doctor sharing her knowledge ?

I blame the gardeners myself for all that extra demand on A and E at weekends
The only answer is for us all to pay a little more tax. It would be peanuts compared to the cost of individual private medical insurance.
Some of my older relatives are in BUPA and they pay many thousands a year for the privilege. And of course that only covers a few things - consultant appointments and planned operations basically.

If people played sport at the weekends instead of drinking until they fell down or got into fights there would be fewer admissions then, and they would be fitter and healthier as a bonus - whuich would mean less pressure on the NHS.

I am curious as to why this battle is happening only in England's NHS, Wales and Scotland have settled agreements in their NHS

So hummingbird - and I ask this in all sincerity - what would your son prefer? More time off or more money?

If quality time to spend with his family, then we obviously need to train and/or recruit more doctors. TBH I think this is the problem. We simply don't have enough GPs, nurses and other essential staff.

BUT it takes time and money to train and retain quality staff. So one way or another it all comes down to money in the long run, and how the NHS is to be financed in this age of huge demand.

I don't want to see it broken up, but how can continue to support it when there is just so much demand? And it's just so unfair too. A 10-year old boy with cerebral palsy who lives locally had to pay privately £11,000 for an operation to help him walk. He now has to pay privately for physiothery, all money raised by his parents, because the NHS won't fund it. When I think of the £1,000,00 an hour going to treat type 2 diabetes I can't help but think that £11,000 is a drop in the ocean.

I'm neither for not against the junior doctors strike. But we need some overall workable strategy for the NHS as we simply cannot fund it any more without some radical new thinking.

That is just plain stupid Annie - sorry but really?

We needed the knowledge of someone who knows of the work of so called junior doctors hummingbird , good post

My son has just become a hospital consultant. He is a father of two, with a hefty mortgage on a very modest house, and drives a ten year old car. So up to last September, he was a 'junior' doctor. He worked regular weekends, without compensatory days off in the week. He worked regular long night shifts, finishing on Monday morning after seven nights on, and then straight back to normal day shifts from Tuesday. Christmas? At work. Easter? You've got it, at work. Parents evenings? 'Sorry, the list ran over, don't know when I'll be home'. Throughout his training, I've been constantly enraged by the shameful treatment of these caring, hardworking and under-appreciated professionals, and would actively discourage anyone thinking of medicine as a career. More power to their elbow.