How do you feel about having a 50% less chance of getting your NHS operation when you should?

Billy Bob's answer made me shudder - I'll not dwell on it.

You say that 50% of the beds will be made available to the private sector - at first sight that looks pretty bad, but I try to make a point of not commenting unless I've seen the facts.

Under what circumstances would the private sector be able to claim those beds? Under what circumstances (if any) could they be reclaimed by the public sector? What about staffing?

Do you have a link? Honestly - your question is the first I've seen of it.

ETA: Gotta say Mac - your links do make uncomfortable reading. does state *UP TO* half, which I suspected it would, but that still doesn't make it OK, it's still a change for the worse.

Initial thoughts:

Why can't the NHS be funded via taxation any more? It has been in the past - why not now? Well, ok - there's a lack of political will to do so - not just from the conservatives, & not just from the coalition as a whole - but across the board. Labour weren't willing to fund the NHS entirely through taxation either.

So, if we accept that the political will is not there fund the health service through taxation (however uncomfortable that may be) our governments, whichever party/parties is/are elected) have to find more innovative ways of funding it from the private sector. Whichever way it's done, if the funding for our health service is to come from the private sector then innovative ways will have to be found to pay for it.

In the case of this government it is to lift the limit on the number of private patients treated in hospitals. On the plus side - it shifts the burden of payment from the poor, to those rich enough to pay for private healthcare, but on the down-side, it does mean that health-care (or more specifically, an aspect of the quality of health-care) is dependent - at least in part upon ability to afford.

In the case of the labour party - it was increased use of that tory idea - PFI. A truly horrible system if ever there was one. Making it (sometimes prohibitively) expensive to visit sick relatives, or even just take them to hospital should they not require an ambulance. All purchases signed off by the finance provider - profit before patient care. Quality of service dependent upon financial stability of the finance provider... A horrible, horrible system.

Don't get me wrong - I don't think that what the coalition is doing is a good thing. I don't think it's an improvement (well, not unless it means taking government control back from PFI - and I can't see that happening, can you?). I'd prefer that the political will was found to pay for health care through progressive taxation - but it just isn't.

With that in mind, do you have a better suggestion for funding the NHS? (genuine question)

Yeah, God forbid we give as much as Half to the way more than half who can afford to pay.

I have a friend who is the Poster Boy for indigence. 59 years old, lives with his 84 year old mother. has never had a real job in the 18 years I have known him. Had a Heart attack three years go. Got a bypass later that week. Had a Stroke last year. Been in and out of the hospital ever since. NEVER BEEN TURNED AWAY!!!!! NEVER!!!!

What a Jackass. Let's not Only feed all the poor people, but let's feed them FIRST!. Give the scraps to the guys who are actually paying for it .

I suppose you want the doctors and nurses to VOLUNTEER to take care of you? Or are they entitled to a paycheck?

I bet your mommy taught you that the world OWES you a living, right?

All those LIES about people being turned away are just that------LIES!!!!!

People only get turned away when it is the Government paying all the bills.

Edit:

OOPS! My Bad. you are already talking about a system where the government pays all the bills!.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

The NHS has always allowed private patients to use their facilities. It provides needed income for the NHS which you and I benefit from. I don't recall the Labour mob placing any restrictions on the practice. Do you?

NHS patients have a 0% chance of timely service. You are complaining about a way to go around NHS to get what you need before it's pointless.

yeah