Sajid Javid states patients should pay a fee for GPs and A&E visits

[MushMonster]

Just woke up this morning to this

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jan/20/sajid-javid-calls-for-patients-to-pay-for-gp-and-ae-visits

I so wish we could get early elections.
I had more than enough of this lot!
They will use the strikes to push in policies like this before we can chuck them out, following Thatcher's model to the letter.

The NHS is completely knackered. This may be isn’t the answer but other countries do charge. I get that some can’t afford it but something has to change. There isn’t enough money to fix the NHS and I don’t think there ever will be unless there is a big rise in tax which the population won’t want.

I wish we could get to early elections too. 2 years away, it seems forever.

*I get that some can’t afford it but..."

You can absolutely guarantee that what comes after "but" won't address the issue that was identified before "but".

I already pay through my taxes - half of everything I earn. If he wants to reduce that I’ll happily pay for what I use.

What we need is someone with a WILL to sort it, to re-organise it, to re-build it.
I bet you the 30 billion plus this lot managed to puff up in the air a few months back could have helped a bit towards the NHS.

As if they’d use the money for improving the NHS instead of wanking off their mates. I’m not interested in a single thing a Tory has to say about the NHS.

People complain about the number of no-medical staff the NHS employ. Imagine how many 1000s more would be needed to oversee a payment system? No doubt it would all be out-sourced to some mate of a Tory MP he drinks with down the pub.

Isn't that what NI contributions are for?

This will result in people putting off seeking help from their gp then medical issues will worsen then needing more treatment than if they had been seen immediately.
people will die if they don’t have the money to be seen at a and e. This is not the right path at any time but to suggest this in the current climate is ridiculous and the idea of someone who has got money and access to private healthcare and doesn’t give it a second thought

@HermioneWeasley exactly. If he wants to reduce that 50% down, I'll get myself a good private health insurance policy.

I can't/don't want to double pay so to speak.

Would the money be used to provide a better and efficient service? No
Would the money be used to pay for private companies to provide these services for profit? Yes

No. NI contributions are supposed to fund benefits/state pensions.

Healthcare is paid for from general taxation.

Sajid Javid can fuck right off.

The NHS was conceived for a smaller population with a much reduced life expectancy at a time when people died of all sorts of (now) treatable conditions.

The NHS and (post hospital) social care needs reforming.

That is a good point indeed!
See all the threats about issues getting a simple appointment, even for rather serious conditions. Imagine to have to pay on top of that!
And, indeed, if we get our NI and income tax back from this government, we could even set our own insurance system, private education and so on. We all put it together in our common fund and help members as they need it, independently from the tory government! Let's call it Aneurin II

People will die.
I don't go to the dentist cos I can't afford it. If I had to pay for GP or A&E I wouldn't go. We would have to have a contingency plan for the kids (credit card, I suspect!) But I would not go to the doctor or A&E unless i were literally dying.

We are getting to a point where we will be much worse off than America as there will be no access to free healthcare, but no healthcare insurance provided as standard by employers.

WE ARE FUCKED.

Unfortunately I agree with this.

No. NI is essentially a forced pyramid scheme for pensions. The current NI contributions pay for current pensions and the idea is that our pensions in the future will be paid for the same way.

The administration costs for a scheme like this would be massive. Also there would almost certainly be exemptions for children, pensioners and those on benefits, I.e. most of the most frequent users. It is unlikely to happen.

Sajid Javid can fuck right off.

Javid is one of the imbecile followers of the puerile "philosophy" of Ayn Rand. Nobody should be listening to anything he says.

and yeah... we just need to look at dentistry to see how the model of paying for NHS care worked out.

Who's going to administer the payment system and chase payments E c? Surely that would cost more than the money raised?

NI pays to support hospitals too. Instead of medical insurance we have national insurance. It’s not just for pensions.

I don’t want it as I pay enough and don’t use the NHS that much and many will be exempt anyway so same group subsidising other.

I’m more used to it though as grew up where nominal fee was normal.

Same! Dont take it from my salary, and ill pay towards insurance! But am sure have seen LOTS of posts on social media advocating for this saying that this should be the case where people who earn a specific amount shouldn't be given access to nhs care, it always seem to only apply to 'people who earn more than me' from the advocates of it!