Safe in whose hands?

But I firmly believe that it should still be free at the point of access.

But I don't see why the state shouldn't fund it. Why should companies be making profit from actually providing services; they have plenty of opportunity to take profit from every other aspect of the NHS.

I forgot to add 'beyond retirement' to 'continue working'

Last night we watched a tv programme about rock and roll and one of the artists featured was Dick Dale. In the late sixties/early seventies he developed colorectal cancer and retired from music for several years. He suffered from many health problems including diabetes, renal failure and damaged vertebrae but had to continue performing in order to meet his medical bills. He died in March aged 81. He was American.

Do we really want the British people to have to continue working in order to pay medical bills?

The NHS was set up to provide free healthcare for everyone. Things have moved on. We are living longer and new cures and treatments have been discovered so we need
to make improvements. But I firmly believe that it should still be free at the point of access.

I know my view won't be popular. They definitely need to start charging people who do not turn up for appointments and do not let the surgery know. Im sick of waiting 5 weeks for a GP appointment and when I get there, seeing a sign that says. 60 hours of GP's time wasted as x amount of folk were no shows. I bet charging even £10 for a no show would solve alot of this and at the same time would put some money back into the system. Maybe not a vast amount, but it would free up appointments for other people. I think the NHS is at breaking point.

I'd vote for a party which put a few grans in each NHS department and allowed them to look for small savings. I know I could find many. Today I received my bowel testing kit, which I have done and returned every time so why did they need to write and tell me they were going to send it? So very many small things which would add up to so much more efficiency and savings. We need to start at the bottom and work up.

This short report from the Kings Fund might challenge some of the assertions made on here (and support others). What do others think?

www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/articles/big-election-questions-nhs-international-comparisons

Auto-correct has taken out my commas, hope that makes sense!
I must try to turn it off.

It is and I can never understand why with its immense purchasing power, the NHS pays more for drugs than other health institutions or even the general public does for non-prescription drugs.

Thanks, Oops.

But I don't see why that requires a rethink on how we pay for our NHS.

I understand that you think that the NHS is wasting money (and if you're worried about the price of pharmaceuticals just wait until the US pharmaceutical companies get going after Brexit..) but that is a systemic problem, not a funding problem, isn't it?

I'm in two minds about the NHS and out-sourcing. Some of the areas I have heard about which have been outsourced are more efficient and patients are full of praise at their treatment and the short waiting times. And free at the point of delivery, of course as they are NHS..
A friend has been attending a clinic which is, she tells me, outsourced totally to a German company and excellent according to her. What will happen to that though, post-Brexit?

Perhaps not-for-profit organisations are the way forward?
Welsh Water is a not-for-profit organisation and perhaps all water companies should be run like that too.

We do need to have a re-think on how we fund our healthcare Oopsminty, there are many inefficiencies in procurement and even scandals where loopholes allow unscrupulous providers to 'rip off' the NHS (in effect stealing money from the sick).

*Could you explain what your thinking is behind these statement, Ooopsminty?

Are you saying that we shouldn't be investing in the NHS? If so, why not?*

I'm saying we need to rethink how we pay for our healthcare.

Just google how European countries fund their healthcare and you'll see what I mean.

There is a vast amount of waste and mis-use. The NHS is ripped off with prices of drugs.

Here is one example

www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/news-and-analysis/news-in-brief/cma-investigates-1600-price-increase-of-liothyronine-over-eight-year-period/20206079.article?firstPass=false

Just one small example of what goes on.

I'm not going to explain any more. Google. See what's wrong with the NHS

It will be a very brave politician who tries to implement any changes though because as a population we are blind to its faults.

Until, of course, a loved one suffers

Greta I would agree that the National Health Service requires "upgrading". However, the principle that the service should be free to all at the point of delivery has to remain as central to the service. I also believe that remains central to the thinking of the vast majority of people who reside in this country.

Health should not be dependent on wealth. However, I find that has now become part of what the Tory Party would wish to see, even if they dress that up as otherwise.

However, as an ex NHS worker, it cannot continue as is, forever.

A political party could throw billions at it and it wouldn't help

Could you explain what your thinking is behind these statement, Ooopsminty?

Are you saying that we shouldn't be investing in the NHS? If so, why not?

Greta logic has nothing to do with politics at present it’s 100% emotion and we are very vulnerable

There are many areas where we lag behind the rest of Europe, cancer treatment, childcare, housing. But in order to address those issues we must leave Europe. Logic?

Those are of course the issues most people are concerned about. I don't believe any party will sort it, despite promises. We need a new model national health.

And in case anyone asks for a link re: cancer diagnosis/survival rates, there are numerous to be found.

Here's just one

breastcancernow.org/about-us/media/statements/response-new-report-showing-uk-lags-behind-europe-in-cancer-diagnosis-treatment-survival

Can't answer with one word.

However, as an ex NHS worker, it cannot continue as is, forever.

A political party could throw billions at it and it wouldn't help

1947 was a different world. More people, more sophisticated equipment, drugs etc etc

We need to look to the EU as to how we fund

We languish at the bottom of Europe with our cancer diagnosis and survival.

It was a fabulous idea but isn't working.

Labour itself began privatising certain aspects so all the blame cannot be laid at Conservative's door

We see the Labour Party described on this forum as Marxist, Trotskyists, Communist or extream left. However, in my view and experience of working often with many in the broader Labour movement, the vast majority of them are even less than hard left.

It should also be remembered that it was a hard left Labour government in 1945 that gave Britain the National Health Service. That government also gave Britain a nationalised rail system along with all utility services and the Welfare State.

Many of those Services it is now demanded should be returned to National ownership.

Support our NHS. I have had fantastic treatment. Stopping waste would be a start.

You are going to open a can of worms politics will be involved impossible not to be.

Do you believe in NHS yes or no...then YES.

Who do I think will deliver better care, keep our institution then that’s political, for me anyone other than Trotsky lot! I’m not anti Labour Party but sadly the Labour Party doesn’t exist any longer. I’m anti Trotsky or if easier to understand Trotskyism,which, means I am anti Anarchy versus Achievement Politics.