Healthcare. Is this he thin edge of the wedge?

Used to be the case that if you were on benefits then you had to tell the relevant dept if you had a period in hospital and they would reduce your payments presumably because you weren't shelling out for food etc. Don't know if that's still the case.
Whenever my husband has been in hospital I took his food in every day, he only ate the hospital breakfast, can't go too wrong with toast.

we already have a 2 tier NHS, I used to get free chiropody for my twisted feet, now I have to pay, paracetamol used to be free if you needed it, no longer.

It is possible to get chiropody on the NHS but only if you have chronic health conditions - and depending on where you live. The post-code lottery again.

My partner has three chronic health conditions - one of them, diabetes type 2, which means he's at-risk, and spinal stenosis, advanced to the stage where he can't even cut his own nails. I can't do it for him either because he has an advanced fungal disease, and his nails cannot be cut with ordinary nail scissors. But, we live in the 'wrong' area - so have to pay.

His chiropodist informed him during a conversation that even people who are blind will not automatically be eligible for free treatment, regardless of where they live.

Other procedures are being 'rationed', by cutting down on patient's eligibility.

However, if you need paracetamol on a daily basis, you should be able to get it on the NHS - partly because you cannot buy OTC the quantity you probably need, unless you make several trips to various outlets to buy a packet from each which you would have to do constantly and continuously. Which is both impractical, and costly if you don't have a car... impossible if you are house-bound.

AussieGran59

We have to pay ridiculously high car park fees at our hospitals, public or private. They are so high that it’s often cheaper to get a taxi there and back. Is it the same in the UK?

A friend often helps me with a lift to see my hospital consultant some ?20 miles away for any check -up. When she was away I asked what transport was available. I ended up taking a taxi which cost me over £100 for the return journey ( including waiting time)
I demurred at the cost for the next appointment ( it wasn't my choice that no-one had chosen to use the surrounding fields here to build a hospital which might have answered our requirements)
A cheery girl rang back to say that by walking 2 miles along an unlit, winding country 'road'/...... no path and used by heavy vehicles I might be able to access 2 further buses to get me to the said hospital. As I am in my 80s and carer for my90 yo husband, it seemed quite a big ask particularly as I have a serious eye complaint and have lost the vision in 1 eye. To negotiate a 2 mile stretch of unlit road with dilated pupils would be very difficult and dangerous.
My husband's condition can lead to a sudden development of sepsis. I dare not leave him alone for several hours Our nearest child is, if lucky with the traffic, a 2.5 hour drive away.
My solution is to avoid doctors but I'm not too sure if we are benefiting from much of a service
ps He was previously both a GP and subsequently a hospital doctor. In the first situation, I was required, as mother of a baby and 2 other children under 5 to man the telephone overnight and despatch husband as and when required

It has been denied

I have to pay for chiropody too, even though I can't do it myself and bad neuropathy means I'm at risk of developing infections.

Well most countries do have a two tier health care service, after all.

Why should people in the highest income and tax bracket get their health care entirely free of charge?

I find it entirely reasonable that a free health service should provide health care for those (probably most of the population) who cannot possibly afford to pay for it themselves.

Those who can, should do so, in whole or in part in the same way as I feel their children should be in private schools, not in government funded ones.

I should think those who are wealthy will already be going private voluntarily, or will have some kind of insurance.
So, between the lines, this will be for people who cannot afford private treatment via insurance or have long term chronic conditions.

Neither Scotland or Wales pay for prescriptions. Surely if the did it would help the nhs. Poor England has to🙄

GrandtanteJ I take the view that excellent health care and education should be available to everyone. It needs funding but is entirely possible. I didn’t want my children in private schools. I dislike elitism

Alexander05

Neither Scotland or Wales pay for prescriptions. Surely if the did it would help the nhs. Poor England has to🙄

No, See previous posts. It would help the NHS in England if they stopped paying for prescriptions.

Really wish someone could define wealthy. Is it savings of 50k, 100k, 500k 800k, 1 million, 2nd house owners, 3 or more properties etc. Or pensioners not in receipt of pension credit, people earning over 50k a year, or over 100k a year etc
What do others think?

Wealthy to me would be owning 2 or more properties outright no mortgages, and savings of over 500k, plus an income of 100+k.

Most wealthy people have private health insurance BUT it never child birth, geriatric care or cancer

widgeon3 is there a Royal Voluntary Service near you. They often offer transport for hospital appointments.
At my most recent hip op the Consultant told me that him and all his colleagues had private medical insurance. That gave me pause for thought!!

Why should people in the highest income and tax bracket get their health care entirely free of charge?

They pay more tax.
I see no reason why healthcare should be denied to someone who has paid a lot of tax.

Tax loopholes should be closed and those avoiding paying tax should be found and made to pay their dues.

I think there is some misconception that private medical insurance does not cover cancer treatment. I know ours definitely does because when we queried the increase in monthly payments they said it was because the group as a whole had been making a lot of claims for very expensive treatment.

No, I do NOT think it's a good idea. The rich probably pay anyway for private treatment and jump the queue. How would you define wealthy. There are already plans to dismantle the free bus passes for over 60's and heating allowances and make over-60's pay national insurance again (I resent all 3 of these measures), so why should you pay to stay in hospital.

Joseanne

I think there is some misconception that private medical insurance does not cover cancer treatment. I know ours definitely does because when we queried the increase in monthly payments they said it was because the group as a whole had been making a lot of claims for very expensive treatment.

It’s not a misconception Joseanne. Most insurance companies if they offer it, charge extra for cancer cover, and most don’t cover all aspects of treatment, or cover if you have previously had cancer or have ongoing issues resulting from treatment. This is the MacMillan guide which explains in a bit more detail.

www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/insurance-and-cancer

The rich probably pay anyway for private treatment and jump the queue

I'm not sure if jumping the queue is the right term.

The private health sector exists anyway and if someone has a procedure done privately they are not jumping an NHS queue. In fact, they are not adding to the NHS queue because they don't go on the list.

I am "in the queue" for two procedures. The queue here for joint replacement is about 4 years.
If I do go privately I'm not jumping the NHS queue, I'm removing myself from it to avoid years of pain.
I hope I'll hear soon but am not optimistic.

We're not wealthy, these procedures would be paid for out of retirement savings which could be spent on something else which others might consider essential.

grandtanteJE65

Well most countries do have a two tier health care service, after all.

Why should people in the highest income and tax bracket get their health care entirely free of charge?

I find it entirely reasonable that a free health service should provide health care for those (probably most of the population) who cannot possibly afford to pay for it themselves.

Those who can, should do so, in whole or in part in the same way as I feel their children should be in private schools, not in government funded ones.

I really don't think you can be serious about schools.

Many people who can afford private schools for their children choose them anyway. Why make the situation worse?

Surely it would be better to resource schools, so that parents don't feel a need to look beyond the state system. And, yes, if people are honest about their tax, the wealthier are paying more anyway.

Its a ludicrous idea - those who can afford it tend to use private healthcare anyway, thus taking pressure off the NHS.

I don't have knowledge of the NHS as I have never used it (except for GP and A & E) but I sort of agree that some of the private investigations are wasteful. My experience was that if you went to see a consultant privately let's say about your bowels, he would also then that very day refer you to his gynae mate colleague in the next room and between them they would request every possible unnecessary blood test and scan. A bit like a full MOT.
On the other hand, I can understand how beneficial that is because if every possible angle is thoroughly investigated there and then there will be no room for error. The NHS could never afford to operate in this manner for each and every patient.

I used to have my care through a USAF hospital on a base here in the UK. My ex was US military. Care was free but food was charged for...amount was dependent on rank of the military member. I thought it a good idea. After all you have to pay for food at home.

there should be a requirement to pay a health insurance as I did in France. My late husband and I paid E185 a month to cover treatment in and out of hospital £25 each doctor visit (AND our doctor still visited at home !!!!)...from the E25 E2 was refunded to our bank account from the Health Service (CPAM) everything but highly specialised care was provided. 3 major ops for cancer FREE (all cancer treatment is free) My husband was given a prescription for a riser recliner which would have cost £850. Treatment never stopped during the height of the pandemic, Hospitals and doctors were still keeping face to face appointments. EVERYTHING was provided .....on one occasion after a long hospital stay I said to reception 'I would like to make a donation' she said YOU DO NOT give money ...we do not have to collect for items (I E new scanner, whatever, like the NHS sometimes does)....she said Our government provides everything we need for the hospital and the health service ......... I say this, and I worked for the NHS before I retired. so YES ...we should pay an amount compatible with our disposable income. As in France, those on no or very little income are exempt and covered by a scheme called CMU (but only if you are a French national or take French citizenship. I am pilloried for saying paying is a good idea........but as in life in general, you get what you pay for, and those who shout 'nut we PAID NI all our lives',,,yes, indeed but it is not enough to pay pensions, pay for care homes, hospitals, doctors, and sll the calls on the NHS ...it did not keep up with costs and unexpected longevity. The government actuaries were sadly not making provision for this and all the calls that are on the NHS now .............

ALANaV. That makes such good sense to me. How on earth to make such changes here though?! Government short term thinking makes it impossible to imagine.