to think it proves lots of people want change

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That ukip are making such huge gains in the elections.
If mnetters could temper their hysteria of screaming racism, I think it is a clear indication that the fundamental principals of the party of no toEurope and no to continued mass immigration are very important to a lot of people

I find UKIP to be a tremendously depressing and stupid party. The fact they have as much support as they do is even more depressing.

Give me the Greens any day for a positive protest vote with some heart and some perspective on what matters most

Poor kids programe

Documentary telling the stories of some of the 3.5 million children living in poverty in the UK. It is one of the worst child poverty rates in the industrialised world, and successive governments continue to struggle to bring it into line. So who are these children, and where are they living? Under-represented, under-nourished and often under the radar, 3.5 million children should be given a voice. And this powerful film does just that.

Kippers should be very careful what they wish for, as, when it comes to pass it will be too late and the damage will have been done.

Thanks for that link, gordylovessheep ... for me, the thing which stands out for the UK entry is "available/paid immediately" in every category, unlike most of the others

Since it's just about EU migrants it obviously doesn't include the many ifs and buts I mentioned for non-EU folk, but I still imagine there'll be some who wish you hadn't posted it

Same experience here born free, my son had an eye injury in France and we had to pay upfront before setting foot in the GPs office and for the prescription. To quote the receptionist in my local GPs at home when I told her, "we get people from all over the world here and we see/treat them without cost". Reciprocal? Definitely not. Think this is what bothers voters, we're such an easy target.

it's not unlike most of the others - such as child benefit or housing benefit - lots of countries pay them straight away

"Kippers should be very careful what they wish for, as, when it comes to pass it will be too late and the damage will have been done."
You could say the same about people who voted Labour in 1997 thinking they were the "good guys".

pineapple did you have an EHIC card? That would have entitled you to the exact same treatment as any French resident. So yes, reciprocal.

also 'From 1 January 2014, before you can claim income based Jobseekers Allowance you must have been living in in the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland for the three months immediately before making your claim for Jobseekers Allowance.' applying to EU migrants

www.nidirect.gov.uk/benefits-for-non-uk-nationals

My son had an eye injury in France and we had to pay upfront before setting foot in the GPs office and for the prescription

With us it was our son's broken arm in Paris. My French is reasonable but not that good, and the only "English speaking" doctor had very, very little of it

Luckily a broken arm is pretty obvious to identify and treat and the care was excellent, but my query about interpreters was met with a bemused "non" ... and that was in a so-called "international hospital"

also in France with the EHIC card you can access health care - if you choose a private practice though you will pay - as will the French, which is where travel insurance comes in

I found this out when my appendix burst in Spain while pregnant! I could go to A+E but my insurance sent me private

non of my Spanish doctors spoke much English but the care was brilliant. Is it not a tad arrogant to expect people to speak English - can all English Dr's speak French, German or Spanish

• we had to pay upfront before setting foot in the GPs office and for the prescription

pineapple did you have an EHIC card? That would have entitled you to the exact same treatment as any French resident. So yes, reciprocal

We had ambulance to hospital but no treatment once there just observation. We were not asked for bill at time but our details were taken and rigorously gone through..then we were sent a bill.

We DID have all our EHIC cards but we still had to pay.

NOT reciprocal.

did you apply to the NHS back home for refunding?

did you specify a state hospital or was it a private ambulance?

Also in France with the EHIC card you can access health care

You can, yes, but they still ask for insurance and credit card details in case of problems - or at least they did with us. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think NHS hospitals ask for these, do they??

non of my Spanish doctors spoke much English but the care was brilliant. Is it not a tad arrogant to expect people to speak English

None of our French doctors or anyone in the hospital spoke English. I didn't expect them to either.

But we provide translators here for Polish service users. I don't expect it when I go abroad I am just wondering why we do it and where the money comes from?

Someone mentioned in holiday resorts Spanish doctors speak English, maybe this is easier for them as more English will be using the services, so maybe its easier for the hospitals in UK to provide translators ...

Is it not a tad arrogant to expect people to speak English - can all English Dr's speak French, German or Spanish

I totally agree, but we were discussing whether provision is reciprocal and in this case it seems it's not ... UK hospitals generally have interpreters, and at least with the ones mentioned, the EU ones didn't

I don't know Gordy we were at a sight, sight seeing. DD had a fall and banged her head, and we were blue lighted to hospital as she was being sick.

different EU countries have different health systems ...you are entitled to the same as their residence ...in countries where all but basic healthcare is paid via a health insurance scheme you need your travel insurance for all but basic care

reciprocal doesn't mean 'like for like' which I think is causing confusion - within the EU it means 'you are entitled to the same care as residence'

so, like in Germany, where all but basic health care is funded through health insurance, a German with no insurance would get the same basic care as you ...your travel insurance pays the rest

it's why it's recommended to have insurance as well as the Ehic

I wonder if it wouldnt have been more prudent to level out the playing field before having open immigration.

Tuscon Thanks for reinforcing my point.

Back in the ring, we did have a EHIC card, yes, but the medical practice weren't interested in looking at it, just our money thanks! Not reciprocal in our experience, like for like, i.e. a visitor from overseas obtaining GPs service/treatment in our village here.

but that's not what it means - reciprocal is NOT like for like - you don't get NHS style service from anyone but the NHS - in France you get the same service as the French! In the UK you get the same service as the Brits

not sure why you feel you are 'in the ring' I'm just discussing it not having a pop!

I feel worried about UKIP just because they seem to me to have captured the feeling of a lot of people in a way that mainstream parties have not.

Mainstream political parties have become increasingly distant and quite frankly London centric. I used to live in London and now I totally get the fact that being outside of London is like being in a different world. Cameron/ Milliband/ Clegg are all public schoolers/ pseudo public schoolers. They cannot connect with ordinary people in the (slighty stereotypical) way that Farage can.

I am well educated but confess to voting purely on instinct and/ or who has made me a convincing argument. Farage is direct and straightforward. Easy to get. I totally do not blame people for voting for him even though he is a sexist tosser