NHS service is terrible

Murphybear

JamoLew wrote: »

I agree that the NHS service is not as good as it could/should be. I feel your frustration, especially as I have worked within the NHS for well over 20 years.

Treatments nowadays costs way more than they did 20 years ago and we are becoming more efficient at keeping people alive for longer. The population generally is getting older and sadly older people get ill more often and cost a lot of money to make better. We have a system put together in the 50s that is now having to deal with the post war baby boom generation who are now hitting their 70-80s (similar issue with pensions - but another topic)

Successive governments (BOTH) have failed to invest properly in frontline services and have merely encouraged multiple levels of management and admin. For those who want to just blame the Tories - you are wrong. If Tony B had invested a fraction of the cost of his illegal war into the NHS, it would be in a much stronger position today

Pay rises (which do affect recruitment and retention) have been equally poor under both governments as well and the "golden" pension is no longer such - just good/v.good now. Pension age has also been increased from 60 to 67 with big penalties for retiring early. Don't know about your industry, but there is no way I will be able to mentally function in my role as effectively when I am 67

My view is that the NHS should NOT be controlled by any government and a separate national group should run it - the NHS needs taking out of politicians control to stop it being used a political football.

We still get pretty good value for money - could it be better - of course, but it could be a whole lot worse and/or more expensive.

If you want to use the "I've paid in 4K a year" argument - since you have at least one child, I would figure you probably still owe some money currently - maternity services etc don't come cheap.

You are of course free to explore private options if you are unhappy with the current system

Don’t forget that when the NHS was set up it only really catered for basic problems.

These days we have joint replacements, heart transplants, surgery that people couldn’t have dreamed about in the 40s +. Not forgetting medication to treat anything you can name, some of it costing £100k +. I think the NHS hasn’t kept up with medicine.

I used to work for the NHS as well, many years ago. I loved it back then. I was in a laboratory, never saw a patient or Dr/Nurse.

Pollyflinders

Kim_kim wrote: »

We are blessed and lucky to have the NHS. I fear for its survival.

If you earn over about 35k you are considered a contributor rather than a taker - I have no idea how it’s broken down though.

I’m a contributor, but how much NHS use would it take to make me a taker?

Anyway, may it last our lifetimes and beyond.

You probably were a taker and likely will be again. Not that I'm wishing anything in you other than old age.

Kim_kim

Undervalued wrote: »

Really? Are you just considering NI or all other forms of taxation?

Does that cover educating your average 2.2 children for example?

No I doubt it. It’s 10k a year to educate a child.
That’s 20k for two children.
I should imagine that’s the average single adult.
That’s level of income, so it’s tax & NI.

Kim_kim

Pollyflinders wrote: »

You probably were a taker and likely will be again. Not that I'm wishing anything in you other than old age.

Well of course I was before I started work, everyone who availed of services before they started work was/is.

Taker again, probably when I get to my pension, I’m not sure what my total pension will be yet though.

ryanbest

Thanks for your advice

pickledonionspaceraider

I have to agree.

I was just venting on another thread about this

The postcode lottery is ridiculous.

renegadefm

The NHS is on its knees. This is because too much emphasis and money is spent on building houses rather than build hospitals.

Its simple, more houses equal more people to get ill to fill the hospitals, equals struggling hospitals. Try telling our lovely councils and government this is like talking to the wall!

pickledonionspaceraider

renegadefm wrote: »

The NHS is on its knees. This is because too much emphasis and money is spent on building houses rather than build hospitals.

Its simple, more houses equal more people to get ill to fill the hospitals, equals struggling hospitals. Try telling our lovely councils and government this is like talking to the wall!

They will not be listening, because you don't actually have a point

The houses do not magically fill up with people that are not already here in the UK

In my city there are well in excess of 6000 people waiting on the Council waiting list. These 6000 households are already using the health service...and it is the same all over the UK

belfastgirl23

renegadefm wrote: »

The NHS is on its knees. This is because too much emphasis and money is spent on building houses rather than build hospitals.

Its simple, more houses equal more people to get ill to fill the hospitals, equals struggling hospitals. Try telling our lovely councils and government this is like talking to the wall!

The other way to look at it is that being homeless and on the streets or living in poor quality accommodation will have major impacts on your health and make you a lot more likely to need the NHS...so decent housing is a vital element in promoting good health.