To wonder how long it will be before the NHS ceases to exist?

[DuchessofNorks]

3 years? 5 years? How long will it be before those deemed "rich" enough will have to pay through the nose for health insurance?

I'm not low paid on top up benefits.

I think you're mixing this place up with Nethuns

You need to read only a few threads on here to know how many people view the nhs. And the amount of complaints people are advised to make is just ridiculous. Their is blatant misuse and it needs to stop at sometime.

wtf hiddenhome? seriously? my great grandparents had a shit life. my great grandmother lost 3 out of 4 kids before they were adults. one died of appendicitis. first aid my arse.

also at the low paid on benefits comment

Tbh people need to take more personal responsibility for things and buy their own instead of expecting NHS or social care or whoever to pick up the tab. If you buy small bits of affordable kit yourself it soon adds up and saves the NHS money to spend on actual important stuff.

Dinkeymoo - I find that really insulting. I know that there are people who go to A and E for no reason but we rely heavily on the NHS for my disabled daughter who has a team of healthcare professionals who work on her case due to the complexity of it. Many, many people who use the NHS do so for good reason.

Oh dear, you have failed to understand what I'm saying

Accessing healthcare services for serious illness = fine, this includes appendicitis funnily enough.

Accessing it for trivia = pathetic

There was a poster on here a while ago who was upset as she felt she should be given a prescription for pizza because of her intolerances. This is the sort of entitlement that is walking around.

Because people access for trivia funds for chronic illness management are cut.

The twinge in your shoulder you could shake off but insist on a course of physio? Lots of people doing that means everyone is restricted to just a few sessions per course per injury. If you have a long term condition that needs long term management you can't have it. Too many people want help for things they can fix themselves.

Dom.....one hip replacement is the more than your ni you pay. I see patients who had both hips, knees etc. Trouble is we font pay enough in tax towards the nhs..

The Tories are sharpening their knives as we speak, ready to carve up the NHS to sell off.

Many every day conditions are easily dealt with by home care.

Dh twisted and injured his knee. His family nagged him to see the doctor. Dh knew he could deal with it himself with rest and sensible home care. His mum was appalled. The knee got better

I wonder if they'll legalise assisted suicide now that they'll be unable to guarantee even basic care in the event of serious illness.

It should be like Logan's Run where nobody over 30 is allowed to live. Imagine all the money they'd save then!

There was a poster complaining that her cake and pizza were no longer allowed on prescription, and she loved somewhere where prescriptions were free (but probably cost the tax payer 20 quid a pizza base!)

Trouble is a whole generation didn't pay enough tax rach, and they are retiring early en mass now

PCTs haven't existed for years.

It always astounds me, I worked for a PCT when Labour started bringing in privatized contracts and there was not a peep from their supporters.

And the Tories do the same thing on a much smaller scale and suddenly the sky is falling down and the entire NHS is going to be immolated on the Tory altar of capitalism.

It's bullshit.

Those of you who say "people who don't keep appointments should be charged"
I often have this conversation with my patients, they all say "non attenders should be charged"

So, a blanket charge for all Did Not attend (DNA)?
"Yes" they say.
If someone is admitted to hospital? Or their family is? Or if they're ill?
"Well, no, in those cases" they amend.

I phone DNA patients. Sometimes, no reply (they get a letter sent out)
They might have forgotten ( many patients have other appointments)
Or "Oh, it's tomorrow"

'No, it was today' I say. they argue a while, I have the computer screen. I ask them to check their appointment card (the patients phone to book themselves)
Then it's "Oh, it was today. Oh, I'm a bit ill today. I can come up now...."

I will have saved them a wasted journey but they'll argue .

What's to stop someone saying "I missed my appointment on wednesday, my wife was taken to hospital". We can't check.

And before anyone suggests I phone the patients to confirm- we do for home visits. I can guarentee they won't all answer. We still have to go, they know that we phone. It takes ages to phone people.

If a patient does DNA, I phone them. Have to send a letter even if I speak to them. Notify the office. It all takes time.
If it's a vunerable patient (Adult or Child) there's protocol to follow, notify GP/Care Worker

Charge them? Won't work IMO.

They should be charged regardless of the reason, unless they've died of course. You can check whether that's true as well.

People will always find reasons why they've missed appointments. The prospect of losing money might help sharpen their minds though.

My GP says that if you miss 3 in row they remove you from the register which has apparently drastically improved things.

I know that they are very against charging because it would affect vulnerable people most, for example those with substance abuse problems, mental health difficulties and the elderly with memory issues.

I've been sat in a&e on a day I was due for an important hospital appointment. The consultant came down and saw me there after clinic as it was on their screens why u wasn't going to turn up. Surely most or all healthcare systems are linked by this systmone thing now so it's easy to check

Dentists charge if you miss an appointment don't they?

Doctors are often acutely aware of which patients are likely to forget and which ones are likely to 'forget'

People will value that which they pay for. It's human nature. Sad, but true.

hidden our department is slowly enforcing discharge of patients.

2 consectutive DNA = discharge (though I think it should be 2 in a year)
New patients who DNA = automatic discharge
If they don't contact within 2 weeks of the DNA letter they are considered to be discharged.

Though in practice, most go back to their GP and get re-referred.

Maybe the prospect of paying private for treatment would sharpen their minds more?

(Though , the common perception of Podiatry is "I don't get anything else free, I'm entitled to this" )

I was extremely grateful to my NHS podiatrist. She got me walking properly and painfree within weeks. Extremely valuable to me as I'm on my feet constantly.