GillT57 thanks for responding, I really would like to hear why you feel you want to remain in the EU. It would be very interesting to debate this with you. Please do list your reasons, I really am interested to know why you made your choice.
You have been kind enough to read my extensive postings today, and comment. I am happy to read yours. It is the only way we will come to understand each others viewpoint. We may still agree to disagree, but that's OK too.
It is interesting that although you have paid into the NHS through NI all your working life, you are happy to allow those who have not contributed to the cost of running our NHS access to treatment. This is magnanimous of you. Just a question, will you feel the same when the NI has to be increased to mirror the actual modern day cost. Will you be still be happy to give a free service to those who have not paid? There are thousands of Health Tourists as they are known who come to Britain for the purpose of using our NHS, not because they are poor, but because they can get away with not paying for expensive treatment carried out by first class medical staff.
I am not suggesting that people who need treatment don't get it, I merely suggest that it is something that has to be paid for and if you have not paid NI with the exception of children and dependents who are legally exempt then your most likely not a British Citizen and should pay for your treatment.
Now you are going to say, what about those who cannot pay? There would have to be some sort of assessment of means and a bill forwarded to their home Government if they are not British Citizens.
If we want a first class Health Service it must control the income and the outgoings. You cannot expect the medical staff to judge or need to care about anything other than medical needs.
Administration and control of payment for treatment for those who are not insured, or not British citizens is surely a sensible control when running a large scale service such as healthcare.
Your explanation of your view on this is not clumsy at all it is very diplomatic and skilfull in my view. Sadly I have to disagree with you that calling foul is what I think your implying I am doing. What I am suggesting is that fair play (to continue the analogy) must prevail.
Health tourist come to Britain for all sorts of treatment. Taking the service from a British citizen, and burdening our NHS with a heavy cost for a service that they not entitled to.
Now I understand that we are living in a 'caring' society, but the reality is that for every person who does not pay for what they receive, either through NI or by invoice, diminishes the service for all legitimate patients and threatens the effectiveness of the service.
Sadly yet again the Government is to blame for poor service, etc. No they are not in my view. Each NHS Trust is run by very highly paid executives because the "manage" a complex twenty four hour service environment. They employ more professional people than any other organisation, they are the biggest employer in the Country. They deal with hundreds of thousands of people in multiple disciplinary services every week. This cost money. Where does it come from, our NI is one source, but our taxes are the other. We must start to live in the real world.
This is not as subtle or as skilfull as you were with me, so please forgive me if what I say seems raw. My view is that we have to stop putting an unrealistic romanticised view on caring.
If anyone wants to see the reality of 'caring' nip into your nearest old people's ward. The nursing staff there will fill you in on the reality.
Caring in reality depends on money, how much you have in the pot determines how many staff you can have, this affect patient/carer ratio's and how much time the carer has to spend with the patient.
How much you have to pay those carers/nursing staff/medical professionals etc determines all sorts of issues, like staff retention, standards, sickness/absence levels. All contributing factors to a well run stable health service or any other organisation.
A friend of mine, ran a business, she was Christian and ran the business on Christian principles of caring for her staff, trusting her staff, treating everyone with fairness, being open and honest with her staff and complete transparency about the business with her staff, suppliers etc.
She went bust, because, every area where trust and honesty were involved, she was robbed, either of money, or time, or she was lied to and deceived.
She asked me why, when she had cared for everybody. My answer was that she was not playing on an even playing field (keeping up the analogious topic) she was playing fair, but the other weren't.
Sorry wandering again. I really would like to see your list.
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