The Student Room Group

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Peace'n'loveman
I think the idea that it is free ,therefore be grateful for what you are given,pervades the nhs.


I disagree. I think the attitude of "it is subsidised by the taxpayer and under heavy government budgetary restraints meaning that inevitably some things will have to be sacrificed" is what pervades the NHS, if anything.
Reply 41
I've never regarded the NHS as free, I'm well aware it is funded by the people and always have been. I just wish there was an option to opt out.
AzureMews
But it's better that than forking out all that money at once..
Sure we're still having to pay for it, but everyone is paying for everyone so it's far cheaper.

We could call it... National... INSURANCE!!
Oh wait...

Annie72
Other than going to see the doctor or specialist, my healthcare isnt free. I have to pay for prescriptions, dentists etc.

You only pay a TINY proportion of what your prescription would cost normally.
Some drugs are seriously, mind blowingly expensive. I work at a pharmaceutical regulatory consultancy and it boggles the mind how much some things, even fairly basic things, cost.
TShadow383
We could call it... National... INSURANCE!!
Oh wait...


You only pay a TINY proportion of what your prescription would cost normally.
Some drugs are seriously, mind blowingly expensive. I work at a pharmaceutical regulatory consultancy and it boggles the mind how much some things, even fairly basic things, cost.


Haha! So true lol. Went to a pharmacy to pick up a private prescription, expecting to pay £7. Had to pay £48!!
loki276
Public healthcare is more efficient as by covering everyone you are less likely to get ill therefore reducing costs as there is a decrease in number of illnesses



Huh?


Surely you mean Preventive Healthcare?:rolleyes:
MovingOn
I've never regarded the NHS as free, I'm well aware it is funded by the people and always have been. I just wish there was an option to opt out.

It would impossible for you to "opt out" of all of the benefits the NHS provides - if you are privately insured and have a heart attack, it will still most likely be an NHS team looking after you, not to mention the various public health processes. So no, there should not be an option to opt out.
Lord Hysteria
There are two problems here:

1) It's expensive. But it is only expensive because government has a monopoly on medicine.

2) You, presumably, have no problem with expecting other people in society to put their hands in their pockets and fund your visit to the doctor? I think this position lacks self-respect and dignity.


In a recent study of the healthcare systems in 7 countries, 6 with universal healthcare and then the US, the US was the most expensive despite offering the least coverage. The NHS was also ranked first for efficiency.

Presumably they don't - I don't. It's how society works. I'm taking more out than I'm putting in at the moment, but sooner or later I'll be putting more in than I get back out - I see it as common decency.
Reply 47
Muffinz
It's free at the point of delivery.


Not quite! I once asked for a full health check-up and they said that I would have to pay for it, since they already knew from preliminary exams that I was pretty healthy.

But I do support NHS. I pay a lot of taxes, it hurts.. but I'm glad it's there for us!
Lord Hysteria
Again, you're assuming

(1) people have not been communicating before and after visiting the doctor and becoming healthy again
(2) that bacteria and viruses and other infections are fixed

Also, that only covers a percentage of medical issues. What about cancer, broken legs etc ...

well you are more likely to get better when you have access to drugs so yes I think that is a correct assumption and it would also be a correct assumption that if you get better earlier than you will be in contact with less people therefore reducing rate of infection

And yes of course it wont affect diseases such as cancer however the NHS does than benefit from economies of scale for getting X-ray machines etc
PPFA
Not quite! I once asked for a full health check-up and they said that I would have to pay for it, since they already knew from preliminary exams that I was pretty healthy.

But I do support NHS. I pay a lot of taxes, it hurts.. but I'm glad it's there for us!

It is free at the point of delivery and based solely on need. Your need did not warrant healthcare, so that doesn't stop it being free at the point of delivery.
Reply 50
BillV3
...


It's a bit like saying the street where you live in is a toll road. Even if there's no toll.

You're paying for it from your taxes.

Very few things in the world are "free" to us. However, restricting the use of the word to just air, sunlight, etc that are actually absolutely free renders the word "free" worthless.
Reply 51
MovingOn
I've never regarded the NHS as free, I'm well aware it is funded by the people and always have been. I just wish there was an option to opt out.


Yeah, just like there should be an option to opt out from the use of street lights...? I don't need the lights, why should I pay for them... :woo:

If you could opt out, you'd just become a free rider.
Reply 52
Phalanges
It is free at the point of delivery and based solely on need. Your need did not warrant healthcare, so that doesn't stop it being free at the point of delivery.


"free at the point of delivery and based solely on need" makes sense... You go to a GP or Hospital they won't charge you anything at all. However, it's far from being the same as a private healthcare where you can arrange appointments with a dermatologist or endocrinologist, etc whenever you please.
Reply 53
HJV
Yeah, just like there should be an option to opt out from the use of street lights...? I don't need the lights, why should I pay for them... :woo:

If you could opt out, you'd just become a free rider.



Talking about free riders, what do you think of NHS providing free treatment for people who are not UK /EEA citizens or permanent residents?

In Canada students and tourists have to pay to see a doctor, after all, as someone has already mentioned NHS is funded by those who pay taxes...
PPFA
"free at the point of delivery and based solely on need" makes sense... You go to a GP or Hospital they won't charge you anything at all. However, it's far from being the same as a private healthcare where you can arrange appointments with a dermatologist or endocrinologist, etc whenever you please.

And all the better for it, in my opinion. Hypochondria benefits nobody, and empowering people's hypochondria just to turn a profit is an absolutely scandalous thing to do.

The GP "gatekeeper" system in the UK is one of the main reasons why we are able to provide national heath care.
Reply 55
PPFA
Talking about free riders, what do you think of NHS providing free treatment for people who are not UK /EEA citizens or permanent residents?

In Canada students and tourists have to pay to see a doctor, after all, as someone has already mentioned NHS is funded by those who pay taxes...


Tourists normally pay a lot more in taxes than they receive in the form of government services.

Income tax isn't the only form of tax out there. They'll be paying VAT when staying in the country, and will generally not use many public services (except for roads, etc).
AzureMews
Sure we're still having to pay for it, but everyone is paying for everyone so it's far cheaper.

That makes absolutely zero logical sense.

Consider this, if you go out for a meal with friends, the cost is the same whether everyone pays for themselves or everyone pays for everyone else.
Reply 57
simontinsley
That makes absolutely zero logical sense.

Consider this, if you go out for a meal with friends, the cost is the same whether everyone pays for themselves or everyone pays for everyone else.


We're choosing between going to a restaurant that does not aim to make profit vs. going to a restaurant that needs to make profit to its owners.
imo they should fully subsidise all medication too :smile:
The NHS is the one part of society that I will do no little than defend, in all circumstances. We have the most incredible healthcare system, it half defines this country - I fully support the NHS. We really don't know how lucky we are. It's a shame we can't apply the motif the NHS encompasses to other aspects of our collective lives.

I'd pay any percentage of taxes, if only to maintain the NHS. There is no price on life, this from an Athiest if it's releveant. If we ever privatise Healthcare, I would have no reason to call myself British.

The NHS is given a bad press, when in actual fact we have the best healtcare system ever known to humanity, we provide an above average service, for a large population with few issues. The NHS is one of the few things Britons can be proud of.

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