A possible solution to save the NHS from the unvaccinated

[HappySonHappyMum]

I think by now that most people have had ample opportunity to be vaccinated. Huge percentages of people in intensive care are only there because they are unvaccinated. Most people who remain unvaccinated have chosen to remain that way - excluding those that cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons obviously. Would it be unreasonable to ask the unvaccinated to sign a liabilty waiver that says they agree that their personal choice excludes them from free NHS treatment for Covid? I am not suggesting that they are left to die - that would be inhumane and unethical - but I think they should pay for their treatment as they have made an active choice to ignore medical advice. Their choices are preventing the NHS from providing help for those who are suffering from all kinds of other conditions that do not stem from a personal decision. The money could be ploughed back into the NHS. Is this unreasonable?

Yeah unreasonable. Where would it stop? Charging smokers, bungee jumpers who smash into the ground?

@SpiderFluff

Yeah unreasonable. Where would it stop? Charging smokers, bungee jumpers who smash into the ground?

Yep, totally unreasonable, where would you stop? Surely pregnancy is a risk mothers choose to take..?

I don't think they should be charged, but they should certainly be at the back of the queue when there are ambulance shortages, long A&E waits, shortage of ICU beds, etc. I think others, such as cancer, heart attack and stroke patients should be given priority for ambulances, treatments, ICU beds, etc.

Yes YABU. I have nothing but contempt for people who choose not to get vaccinated but your suggestion is a very slippery slope. The NHS is for everyone, even the thick and the feckless.

@SpiderFluff I don't think suffering from addiction and unfortunate accidents would require an NHS charge.

Think this is about the 20th thread this week proposing this completely novel and well thought through suggestion.

@hangrylady The NHS is for everyone. I am not suggesting the unvaccinated are not treated - just that they should contribute to their care as they actively avoided the solution to prevent them suffering for extreme illness.

Sorry is everyone forgetting that the unvaccinated already pay for their NHS treatment?! As we all do? It's not free! If you want to charge people extra for various treatments I'm sure they'd be willing to oblige if they first got a rebate of their taxes thus far. Just ridiculous.

Refusing care would be unethical, and charging might set a dangerous precedent. But I do wonder if there should be some rationing of ICU beds. Basically if giving the last ICU bed to an unvaccinated Covid patient means delaying someone else’s cancer operation, then it shouldn’t happen.

[quote HappySonHappyMum]@SpiderFluff I don't think suffering from addiction and unfortunate accidents would require an NHS charge.[/quote]
Smoking is an addiction, but it's not if you don't start smoking. You choose that first cigarette knowing it's an unhealthy addiction. There's definitely still an element of choice.

What about overweight people, I'm sure they're a strain on resources as well. Should they be charged?

This again?

SIGH

Yes, you are unreasonable.

[quote HappySonHappyMum]@hangrylady The NHS is for everyone. I am not suggesting the unvaccinated are not treated - just that they should contribute to their care as they actively avoided the solution to prevent them suffering for extreme illness.[/quote]
Everyone who pays tax and NI has paid for the NHS. They’ve already contributed to their care.

I think you are trying to create hate and division. Don't you have anything else better to do with your time?

Nope, it’s sets a precedent. Do that and then you leave the way for withholding treatment from smokers, drinkers, people who are overweight, people that engage in risky hobbies, the list goes on. It would open the flood gates to everything being someone’s fault, and therefore chargeable.

What counts as a ‘choice’ in this scenario? Chronic needle phobia?

[quote HappySonHappyMum]@hangrylady The NHS is for everyone. I am not suggesting the unvaccinated are not treated - just that they should contribute to their care as they actively avoided the solution to prevent them suffering for extreme illness.[/quote]
You can actively avoid smoking, obesity, extreme sports and alcohol too. Therefore we should charge for all these.

An ICU stay could cost six figures. What would happen if an unvaccinated parent ended in ICU with covid. Would then then have to got bankrupt and sell their house to pay medical bills?

So let an unvaccinated pregnant mum die rather than treat her? Terrible suggestion.

This would open such a can of worms and trigger lawsuit upon lawsuit. Where would the line be drawn? STI treatment withheld because someone had sex? Cancer treatment withheld because someone smoked or was obese? It’s not clinical staff’s job to be judge and jury, IMO.

We do pay for our treatment OP. Same as every tax paying person in the country.

Shall we also charge the smokers, the drug addicts, the obese..... Oh I can't even be arsed to list them.

Yawn.

My daughter was in ICU earlier this year, they saved her life. Would I have been pissed if a bed wasn’t available because it was full of unvaccinated Covid patients? Would any of us honestly be ‘ok’ with that?

Of course yabu.
Thankfully NHS care isn’t a pick and choose system. If I jump out of a tree and break my ankle should I forfeit care because it was my choice to jump?

Some disgusting humans on here.

Most of the first world are hogging vaccines and in much of the third world there is vaccination hesitancy. For those reasons covid will be sticking around for some time.

I'm triple jabbed but will not be getting another one before 12 months. It's getting ridiculous. You cannot penalise people for not consenting to medical treatment on their own bodies.