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RE: Hunt says NHS problems 'unacceptable'
February 12, 2017 at 2:20 pm
(February 12, 2017 at 2:15 pm)Bella Morte Wrote: (February 12, 2017 at 2:08 pm)Regina Wrote: I'd also add, start making smokers and very obese people pay for their own healthcare, tbh.
I wouldn't necessarily be against that, but it depends on how the person became obese. If they are just greedy then yes but what about those with a genuine medical condition?
I see you on that, case by case basis. There'd have to be some diagnosis of a real disability or rare disorder to get out of it.
But for people who just want to make excuses and not change their lifestyle habits, nope, drop the weight or start paying up.
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RE: Hunt says NHS problems 'unacceptable'
February 12, 2017 at 2:31 pm
Wooh, I usually hate slippery slope arguments, but if I ever saw one, that's it. Making addicts pay... that's tough. I would say maybe rake a higher tax on the cigarettes themselves. Who makes the decisions about whether someone is fat by choice or not? (Genuinely asking here)
I agree certain incidents like billing DUI accidents could be good, but I doubt even anything like that would make even a negligible dent.
You'd have to leave the UN if you wanted to drop the foreign aid.
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RE: Hunt says NHS problems 'unacceptable'
February 12, 2017 at 2:42 pm
(This post was last modified: February 12, 2017 at 2:59 pm by account_inactive.)
(February 12, 2017 at 2:31 pm)SteelCurtain Wrote: Wooh, I usually hate slippery slope arguments, but if I ever saw one, that's it. Making addicts pay... that's tough. I would say maybe rake a higher tax on the cigarettes themselves. Who makes the decisions about whether someone is fat by choice or not? (Genuinely asking here)
I agree certain incidents like billing DUI accidents could be good, but I doubt even anything like that would make even a negligible dent.
You'd have to leave the UN if you wanted to drop the foreign aid.
We have already got one of the highest, possibly the highest, taxes on cigarettes in the European Union. Raising the taxes on the rich would be an excellent idea but our tax rates are already fairly high and they would most likely just move if forced to pay more.
I don't know the exact amount billing binge drinkers would bring in but it is better than nothing. They have been getting away with abusing the NHS for far too long and it is about time they are held responsible and clamping down on health tourists is also an excellent idea.
Our NHS is at breaking point.
Quote:Who makes the decisions about whether someone is fat by choice or not? (Genuinely asking here)
That is a tough one...
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RE: Hunt says NHS problems 'unacceptable'
February 12, 2017 at 3:14 pm
There's no limit on how high a cigarette tax could be. You could raise the vice taxes all around to pay for some of it.
I agree something is better than nothing, but billing binge drinkers is more a "makes me feel better" solution rather than a general one. Not that that isn't important, but it won't do anything to actually solve the problem.
Do you guys have public options? Like a private hospital where you can pay out of pocket for treatment outside of the NHS?
"There remain four irreducible objections to religious faith: that it wholly misrepresents the origins of man and the cosmos, that because of this original error it manages to combine the maximum servility with the maximum of solipsism, that it is both the result and the cause of dangerous sexual repression, and that it is ultimately grounded on wish-thinking." ~Christopher Hitchens, god is not Great
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RE: Hunt says NHS problems 'unacceptable'
February 12, 2017 at 3:26 pm
(February 12, 2017 at 3:14 pm)SteelCurtain Wrote: There's no limit on how high a cigarette tax could be. You could raise the vice taxes all around to pay for some of it.
I'm aware but raising the tax any more will just encourage people to buy their cigarettes from smugglers. Illegal cigarettes already quite popular as it is.
Quote:I agree something is better than nothing, but billing binge drinkers is more a "makes me feel better" solution rather than a general one. Not that that isn't important, but it won't do anything to actually solve the problem.
I agree with you on this one, more definitely needs to be done.
Quote:Do you guys have public options? Like a private hospital where you can pay out of pocket for treatment outside of the NHS?
Yep. We have private hospitals, clinics and insurance.
Why do you ask?
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RE: Hunt says NHS problems 'unacceptable'
February 12, 2017 at 3:35 pm
(This post was last modified: February 12, 2017 at 3:35 pm by SteelCurtain.)
(February 12, 2017 at 3:26 pm)Bella Morte Wrote: Yep. We have private hospitals, clinics and insurance.
Why do you ask?
Not sure how popular they are, or how much of a load they take off the NHS. Are they terribly expensive?
I wonder if introducing copays for elective treatments could help? Even small ones. I think one of the largest problems with free/publicly funded health options is that people go to the doctor for every fucking thing. If it's free, there's no thought. There are studies that show that people go in with the common cold and flu to get treatment, which ties up NHS resources. In the US, unless you are really sick you just go to the RiteAid and buy some Tussin and tough it out. Not sure if most people actually do that in places with public healthcare, but bringing small copays for treatments like that, and maybe larger ones for elective surgeries (like, for example, a non-critical knee surgery) could help allay the costs and decrease the NHS mis/overuse.
"There remain four irreducible objections to religious faith: that it wholly misrepresents the origins of man and the cosmos, that because of this original error it manages to combine the maximum servility with the maximum of solipsism, that it is both the result and the cause of dangerous sexual repression, and that it is ultimately grounded on wish-thinking." ~Christopher Hitchens, god is not Great
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RE: Hunt says NHS problems 'unacceptable'
February 12, 2017 at 3:41 pm
Didn't see the "money" angle coming, or maybe it would be the only focus. I thought this started out as admin/access issues.
Being told you're delusional does not necessarily mean you're mental.
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RE: Hunt says NHS problems 'unacceptable'
February 12, 2017 at 4:04 pm
(This post was last modified: February 12, 2017 at 4:35 pm by account_inactive.)
(February 12, 2017 at 3:35 pm)SteelCurtain Wrote: Not sure how popular they are, or how much of a load they take off the NHS. Are they terribly expensive?
I haven't really looked into it much to be honest with you.
Quote:I wonder if introducing copays for elective treatments could help? Even small ones. I think one of the largest problems with free/publicly funded health options is that people go to the doctor for every fucking thing. If it's free, there's no thought. There are studies that show that people go in with the common cold and flu to get treatment, which ties up NHS resources. In the US, unless you are really sick you just go to the RiteAid and buy some Tussin and tough it out. Not sure if most people actually do that in places with public healthcare, but bringing small copays for treatments like that, and maybe larger ones for elective surgeries (like, for example, a non-critical knee surgery) could help allay the costs and decrease the NHS mis/overuse.
I think charging for some treatments would definitely take some pressure off the NHS, but it would probably cause outrage because people feel entitled over here. As you said yourself, they don't actually think of the costs since it is free for them.
NHS staff have been complaining about people abusing the service for years but they haven't done anything about it so far. They're implementing measures to combat health tourism but will not do anything about Brits putting strain on the system.
I seriously think that the UK will head in the direction of the US soon when it comes to healthcare if they fail to do anything about it in the next couple of years. Not even exaggerating.
(February 12, 2017 at 3:41 pm)mh.brewer Wrote: Didn't see the "money" angle coming, or maybe it would be the only focus. I thought this started out as admin/access issues.
Money is a big part of it, but I suppose there are other issues that need fixing as well.
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RE: Hunt says NHS problems 'unacceptable'
February 12, 2017 at 4:42 pm
(February 11, 2017 at 3:11 am)Bella Morte Wrote: Hunt should just resign.
I'd prefer if he just threw himself into the sea.
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Hunt says NHS problems 'unacceptable'
February 12, 2017 at 5:51 pm
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