At last, some common sense in the NHS

[One percent 47,092]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40683915

thoughts on charging for common drugs. What's not to like?

apparently it will hit the poor disproportionately.  How?  They will pay the same as the chump taxpayers 

[201p 4,141]

People have had it good for a long time. Go to GP (same day appointment), get prescription, get drugs, done.

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In the new world:

Now people may go to GP (after waiting 2 weeks), they get told to buy the drugs yourself at the pharmacy. Unhappy patient, used to getting a prescription, now walking out empty handed with a unhappy face. Is this the end of entitlement? Or shall they blame this on Brexit too?

[201p 4,141]

There's also the other issue of vulnerable children. Will painkillers for children be restricted as they can be bought in shops.

If a parent has got £7 left until the end of the month. You've got the choice of a packet of cigarettes, or Calpol as your daughter has a temperature - what is the correct choice? (and no, you can't use Wooonga loans).

Sadly people's priorities aren't always right.

[Van Lady 14,216]

IMO paying for prescriptions will perhaps make many people think about running to doctor to get a "cure". Might nudge people towards taking personal responsibility for basic health care through diet, not becoming obese, learning to deal with stress etc.

I live in the Scottish utopia where prescriptions require no payment for all. Don't agree with it. All should pay for prescriptions IMO. However I would agree to a reduced yearly fee for prescriptions for anyone with a long term ailment.....providing that they have an acceptable BMI score. If not as far as am I'm concerned they should pay in full for each prescription required.

As a smoker I would accept paying in full for each prescription because of that.

Any addicts whether it be alcohol, cocaine etc the same. Pay full for your prescriptions.

Obesity is seen.....fags, booze, drugs easily ascertained through a quick blood test.

Possible to save the NHS a fortune by that approach IMO.

[201p 4,141]

I was thinking about starting a thread called "I and The Powers That Be - Ask me anything", and putting myself in the shoes of the elite and trying to answer some of "your fears".

For example, why is open borders good?

Answer - We need more people to prop up the system - so more money can come in to pay for the NHS.

(Whether that can be true, is another matter)

[swiss_democracy_for_all 15,099]

Scrap homeopathy? A box of pills marked "Placebo for suggestible people" should make an adequate replacement.

Regarding the debate in the link, IMO there should be a flat charge to see the doctor, no exceptions. This is what is abused. 

[One percent 47,092]

4 minutes ago, swissy_fit said:

Scrap homeopathy? A box of pills marked "Placebo for suggestible people" should make an adequate replacement.

Regarding the debate in the link, IMO there should be a flat charge to see the doctor, no exceptions. This is what is abused. 

The problem with a flat charge is that there will always be exemptions. These exemptions will then be forced wider and wider until in the end, it is the chump taxpayer who is the only one left paying.  It becomes yet another form of tax on working people. Just like prescriptions

[SpectrumFX 6,908]

9 hours ago, 201p said:

There's also the other issue of vulnerable children. Will painkillers for children be restricted as they can be bought in shops.

If a parent has got £7 left until the end of the month. You've got the choice of a packet of cigarettes, or Calpol as your daughter has a temperature - what is the correct choice? (and no, you can't use Wooonga loans).

Sadly people's priorities aren't always right.

If it wasn't for the government £7 would buy you a bottle of Calpol and a pack of cigarettes, with change left over.

As it stands I don't think you can buy a pack of kosha taxed up cigarettes in the UK for £7 anymore. I just did a quick Google, and the cheapest I could find was £7.35.

[201p 4,141]

I think the NHS might become unstuck with homeopathy, because it is discrimination against the patient's that do wish to use it and feel that it works. I will start a new thread on this - Thomas Piketty - Capital in the 21st Century and The Rise Of Social Justice. I just have to think about what to include in the main first post.

[swiss_democracy_for_all 15,099]

4 hours ago, One percent said:

The problem with a flat charge is that there will always be exemptions. These exemptions will then be forced wider and wider until in the end, it is the chump taxpayer who is the only one left paying.  It becomes yet another form of tax on working people. Just like prescriptions

"There will always be exceptions" . Why? There is no need to make any, none at all. If obtaining the money to pay the charge is an  issue, that can be addressed by a separate organization, one that specialises in making such assessments. The idea is to save the NHS for everyone.

[One percent 47,092]

6 minutes ago, swissy_fit said:

"There will always be exceptions" . Why? There is no need to make any, none at all. If obtaining the money to pay the charge is an  issue, that can be addressed by a separate organization, one that specialises in making such assessments. The idea is to save the NHS for everyone.

I am not saying that there should be but that there will be.  there will be the bleeding hearts "won't someone think of the children" and then a pressure group for the old, for the gimmigrants, for those with a specific illness, for those on bennies ad nauseam.  

Setting up special assessment to deal with special cases will just add to the bill, not reduce it.  

I would argue that EVERYONE regardless pays a nominal fee for both an appointment and for prescriptions.  It will not happen though  

[gibbon 5,333]

13 hours ago, 201p said:

Now people may go to GP (after waiting 2 weeks), they get told to buy the drugs yourself at the pharmacy. Unhappy patient, used to getting a prescription, now walking out empty handed with a unhappy face. Is this the end of entitlement? Or shall they blame this on Brexit too?

Make that 4 weeks if you live anywhere near an immigrant population shitting out kids e.g. Somalians.