to think we should appreciate NHS more.

[familyj]

Now I have had some bad experiences with NHS. A sibling dying of undiagnosed cancer for a start. However, the alternative is so much worse.
I have family in Ireland who have to pay for most of their treatment. 1000 euros last week for consultants fees and scans to treat her cancer. They are not wealthy. However, there is such limited support.

YANBU. However, appreciating a health care service for being free at the point of need is not the same as saying it can't be improved or adapted. We should not be pathetically grateful and accept the status quo but demand better. I've become increasingly disillusioned with the NHS because it has let down various friends and family. Where it's good, that's how it should be everywhere. Where it's bad, it's a disaster for anyone unlucky enough to experience it.

Privatising the NHS will not improve or modernise it. And since the Tories are hell bent on doing this the realities will soon become obvious - health should never be run for a profit or a business.

I live in Scotland and Im just praying the reforms wont affect us here as health is a devolved issue.

Really enjoyed your post choc but was too sleepy to reply
Hope dd is feeling better , and good that she slept so gave you some rest , but of course you needed more so I hope you got it

Ah , I ddidnt realise you had an iffy skin thing .. what GP said does sound standard , & I wouldnt be worried myself ( I mean I would be concerned , but don't think it's unreasonable , as skin cancer does tend to have a characteristic appearance )< dr city pronounces again >

Heh at your dreading dd becoming a really girly girl - I reckon most of we non-girly women have gone throught that stage

oooh- you and dd might enjoy violas & pansies wonder if it's too late to plant anemone bulbs for autumn ( keep forgetting ..we can talk about slugs all year round now )

If you live near a Morrison's or evil Tesco, last year they had half price sale on already very inesxpensive plants like miniature tiny acers, which might amuse dd & are elegant enough for adults . As to seeds ,well had meant to plant more a couple of weeks ago as landlady double-glazed porch /conservatory making it perfect to start plants like peppers , tomatoes etc .There's plenty of time to plant , especially with good weather- plant some peas when you can , & put a bit of net over , as very prone to crop-munching moths , but ar3 beautiful little plants .

Hope David has been in an impossibly easy pattern of sleeping & feeding , Keziah , as I'm sure smallest discomfort can throw everything . Have seen your part of the world on TV a few tmes recently & have visions of you both enjoying sunshine < can't wait till baby big enough to take to feed the ducks >

Argh , sorry , wrong thread < but agree both that NHS has huge failures and that privatisation will make all a thousand times worse >

Cogito - of course sometimes things go wrong, people make mistakes and things can be improved in all health systems, no matter how they are funded (although the funding system can make things 100 times worse e.g. in the US which has the most expensive healthcare in the developed world with the very worst outcomes).

That doesn't mean the NHS is anything other than extremely precious - yet it's being taken away from us without our consent.