Ill and in pain? Take out a mortgage

Well we knew that before the last election.

Totally agree. The Tories didn't want the NHS to be formed in 1947 and they've trying to destroy it ever since. When they finally realised it was too popular to attack directly they started to privatise it by stealth. Now they don't even try to be stealthy. They're selling it off in chunks.

Ilovecheese

Well we knew that before the last election.

Yup. And people voted for them anyway. Putting immigration and a blue passport before the NHS.

Has anyone ever seen the medical bills that American people put up on Facebook sometimes? I remember being horrified when I learned how much debt young people in America ended up with after going to university, never dreaming the same would happen here. And now people are sleepwalking into the same situation with medical bills.

The American bills are horrifying. They even charge set amounts for specific periods spent comforting people. If we don't stand up against the destruction of the NHS this will be us shortly.

When DH was first diagnosed with cancer I joined a support group on Facebook which had mainly American members. Their stories were appalling; the ones with no insurance were losing all their savings and their homes and the ones with insurance were being told they couldn't have the treatment their consultant had recommended because it wasn't on the company's approved list, or even that they couldn't be treated by the consultant they wanted.

People here have no idea what could happen, it's not just raising a few thousand pounds for an operation - it could get much worse than that.

I firmly believe that the privatisation of the NHS was on the tories agenda right from the beginning.

I have just had a private op - the wait would have been intolerable on the NHS - I could not walk across the room without crutches/shower/ dress properly because of the pain I was in - I live alone - no-one here to help me. What choice did I have but to eat into my savings? I kept thinking about those who have no savings and felt guilty - but what would you do? I am now able to walk.

Luckygirl3

I have just had a private op - the wait would have been intolerable on the NHS - I could not walk across the room without crutches/shower/ dress properly because of the pain I was in - I live alone - no-one here to help me. What choice did I have but to eat into my savings? I kept thinking about those who have no savings and felt guilty - but what would you do? I am now able to walk.

You shouldn't feel guilt, you did what the successive Tory administrations and the people who voted for them, forced you to do. I hope you are recovering well and feeling a lot better. Frankly, getting older and watching the slow privatisation of the NHS frightens me. I just cannot fathom why people vote for more of the same.

You should feel no guilt at all Luckygirl. You did what's right for you. You used your savings to improve the quality of your life. It's just a pity that that was necessary but, if I could afford it, I'd do the same.

Of course you should pay if you have the wherewithal.

But make no mistake, if this is allowed to continue, there will be a two class system in this country, where the poor who even now have worse health outcomes will suffer even more.

We have come a long way from our belief in health for all.

Whitewavemark2

Of course you should pay if you have the wherewithal.

But make no mistake, if this is allowed to continue, there will be a two class system in this country, where the poor who even now have worse health outcomes will suffer even more.

We have come a long way from our belief in health for all.

Another aspect to consider.

A friend who was about to undergo complicated surgery which carried above average risks but which was necessary in order to give her QOL and without which life would've been pretty miserable, requiring a lot of home-care and confinement, mused to her consultant-surgeon that she'd wondered how much such an operation would cost if she were under the USA health-care system. He told her bluntly that she most likely would not be offered such surgery regardless that she could afford it. American surgeons are very wary of being sued for malpractice so are, naturally, wary of carrying out complicated procedures. Ultimately, that has the effect of them becoming less experienced in their chosen field (when I lived in Norway I was told by my Norwegian doctor that we have some of the finest surgeons in the world).

If the NHS goes, expertise will be lost too.

She had the surgery, and it was successful.

I'm not sure those who have the most to lose understand quite what they are choosing when they vote Tory.

The press will do the Tories job for them as they did for Brexit and say that the U.K. can no longer afford a NHS etc.

“UK National newspapers are controlled (75% of circulation) by just 4 billionaire right wing men- including Russian Oligarch Baron Evgeny Lebedev.

A Viscount, two Sirs & one Baron.

All are non domiciled. Ultimate power. No responsibility.” None dependent on the NHS.

This

“OUS health insurance giant, Centene, is now the largest single provider of NHS GP care in England. A company that even the Daily Mail has called “profit greedy”.

They are starving the NHS of investment while selling the services to US corporates.”

WWM2

Thank you! That's the kind of information I come to GN for.