Should the Uk get rid of the NHS?

[marinabillings]

As the UK are in 31 trillion in national debt. And strikes are raining down weekly. The government need to do something.

I propose that we should get rid of the NHS. Healthcare is the main expenditure of the uk government. More than doubling the next nearest (education). It is by far the most expensive sector that the government pays for

Although you may think that the NHS is the best thing to come into this country since sliced bread. In actual fact it is con. It provides the worst quality healthcare, while leaving you waiting for hours for serous injuries. This is due to a lack of qualified doctors and nurses, causing them to strike. However the honest truth is that we don't have to money to facilitate their needs. So I think something drastic needs to be done

Abolishing the NHS will free up space in the budget, which can be spent on other sectors such as education. Which will hopefully limit strikes. And make society run smoother. (Because I am sick of having to take time of work. To look after my children while their teachers are on strike)

I propose a benefits NHS system. Where the only people who can access free healthcare. Are people on benefits or low incomes (below a certain point) which will give them some security in terms of healthcare. However people who can offered it should pay for their own healthcare, which they do in most other countries.

This overall creates flexibility in the governments budget which they can spend elsewhere. To hopefully end strikes for the time being.

Any thoughts?

I think your lack of understanding of how healthcare works in other countries is showing.

Nope. Apart from the fact this is a bizarre place to post this in, how will this be funded? You honestly think general public will be happy to pay to fund the nhs from their income and not be allowed to access it?!

I think the majority of people who use the nhs (children and the elderly) will be exempt from paying so there would be very little money saved.

What new madness is this?

Apart from anything else, private medicine is notoriously corrupt.

My medication is more than I earn. So I can go on to benefits and get it free or stay at work in my public sector role and spend all my salary on medication. Hmm decisions, decisions...

I agree that people who can afford it should pay for their own health care, but I think this should be done through general taxation so that care remains free at the point of delivery.

The flaw in your plan is that the government in other countries does still pay into healthcare and most pay more per capita than the U.K. does. So if we were to copy other countries we wouldn’t exactly be saving money.

The NHS isn't fit for purpose in its present form. Something has to give, and the only way to fund it is for people to start paying more - particularly those on large incomes.
Why not a sliding scale of contributions, with those on benefits paying nothing.
Of course people won't like it, but far better a system like France or Germany, than going down the American route, with healthcare costs through the roof.

So you fancy 61 trillion in national debt then as any other system including a US style almost entirely private healthcare will cost considerably more than the NHS.

This. I lived abroad in a country with a semi-NHS. We had to pay £80 for one epi pen, £40 for one inhaler, £100 per A and E visit and £100 per night for a hospital stay. A trip to the psychiatrist was £900 for consultant fees and medication. Oh and it was £50 per GP visit. The health service was in just as bad a state as the UK and waiting lists were the same length or longer than in the UK. We paid £300 a month for health insurance that covered none of our daily health expenditures. We didn't qualify for free exemptions but we couldn't afford the cost of healthcare.
Don't kid yourself that you would get a better service if it was all private.

The French system will cost us £2000 per person more, the German £3000 per person, means tested healthcare is expensive. I assume everyone wanting to abolish the NHS is happy to pay this.

From the US, terrible idea, I promise. Although I do think people have come to take the NHS a bit for granted and that it could probably be made more efficient.

My only thought is that you don't really have a clue OP

This one again. The question in every form is almost weekly and the answer is always the same🙄

Any particular reason why this is in Childcare? Just a very new MNer?

And PP are right that there can often be long wait times under a private system as well!

Why the frog is this in the childcare topic?

I agree with you completely OP. There seems this idea that the NHS is the holy grail but if you look at how other countries NOT AMERICA do it, there are much better options

I'm sure there are better ways of doing things OP, and you're right, another country must have surely cracked this and has a brilliant healthcare service at a very low cost to both individuals and governments - could you please give an example of a country providing equitable, high quality, low cost healthcare as you've suggested?

And the middle incomes will get shafted again.

Oh don't rain on their parade with your costs. I am sure the NHS can be abolished by teatime if we put our minds to it.

I personally think we would save a lot more money if there was a National Care Service and nationalised care homes free at the point of service to look after the elderly who can't be discharged under current rules, and to effectively means test it with higher inheritance tax. To make caring a properly-regulated profession with a career progression and to separate elderly nursing into another branch like children's nursing.

Bollocks. Sounds like you are almost proposing an American style system, which is awful. A lot of people would be caught in the middle. Not qualifying for state funded healthcare, yet unable to afford the care they do need.

Just about every country which has a reasonable healthcare system funds much of it via their taxation systems. America is not one of those countries and does not have a system to aspire to in my opinion.

It needs massive reform, I'd argue for a system that is free at the point of use, but not necessarily government run. Maybe we all pay less tax but have insurance with the government effectively paying the premiums for the poorest. Getting rid of it without a new system in place is bonkers. Unhealthy people is a huge cost too, not only in terms of benefits but reduced productivity.

Aren't you describing National Insurance here?! Have I just misunderstood the point of NI? I thought this was part of what it allegedly covered.