The 2015 Popularity Contest (aka UK General Election )

[Groucho]

I knew about that one. My old man was instrumental in the first ones like 30 years ago!

But I cannot see any government letting medical care being sold off. Social care to a degree, already has been in places, but I just dont buy into the arguement that if the Conservatives get in next year, by the next election, it will be gone.

Or maybe I am naive.

They'll sell bits off at a time. Cardiac services here, diabetes services there.

I'll match your naivety with some cynicism! lol

 

[roydo]

They'll sell bits off at a time. Cardiac services here, diabetes services there.

I'll match your naivety with some cynicism!

Hope not.

 

[Groucho]

Hope not.

That's where it's headed though mate.

If it's not stopped quick.

 

[The Cowboy]

That's where it's headed though mate.

If it's not stopped quick.

And what exactly are Labour offering?

 

[Groucho]

And what exactly are Labour offering?

I've said it before, I don't think there's much between them all. We need a new leader for Labour and all that. The Green Party are more socialist that anything so they'd be good, but they also hate the car and stuff, so it's a bit iffy, that.

Historically Labour are better for public services, however they proposed a similar NHS dismantling before losing power.

I despair.

And I only logged on to see if Ross Barkley was playing tomorrow.....

 

[roydo]

That's where it's headed though mate.

If it's not stopped quick.

Cant see how. Not medical anyrate. If any party proposed it in a manifesto, they would never get in. And if they tried it anyway, they would never get in again. Well not for ages.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

They'll sell bits off at a time. Cardiac services here, diabetes services there.

I'll match your naivety with some cynicism! lol

Who would those services be sold to?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Doesn't seem too bad, although I don't know how independent an independent regulator is.

http://www.cqc.org.uk/location/RQQ31/inspection-report/RQQ312013-11-23

 

[roydo]

Who would those services be sold to?

I have thought that as well. I mean, the private health players in the UK do fine as it is. The suppliers to the NHS seem to have a pretty good relationship/profit margin when dealing with the NHS. So why would they want that to be disturbed?

Are there like big US companies that just do cancer treatment, or diabetics, or cardiac operations and stuff?

 

[Groucho]

I have thought that as well. I mean, the private health players in the UK do fine as it is. The suppliers to the NHS seem to have a pretty good relationship/profit margin when dealing with the NHS. So why would they want that to be disturbed?

Are there like big US companies that just do cancer treatment, or diabetics, or cardiac operations and stuff?

Who would those services be sold to?

Doesn't seem too bad, although I don't know how independent an independent regulator is.

http://www.cqc.org.uk/location/RQQ31/inspection-report/RQQ312013-11-23

They'd sell to the highest bidder, simple as that. Richard Branson has been interested in setting up Virgin Care for years.

The CQC is like OFSTED for healthcare, there's good and bad points about them.

 

[roydo]

They'd sell to the highest bidder, simple as that. Richard Branson has been interested in setting up Virgin Care for years.

The CQC is like OFSTED for healthcare, there's good and bad points about them.

But sell what? A licence to treat all the NHS cardiac patients for example? Why would any business set up a new one to attract a whole load of customers who couldnt afford what was being sold to them? Well, Wonga I guess, but you know what I mean.

 

[bluemangroup]

 

[Groucho]

But sell what? A licence to treat all the NHS cardiac patients for example? Why would any business set up a new one to attract a whole load of customers who couldnt afford what was being sold to them? Well, Wonga I guess, but you know what I mean.

Individual trusts and/or sections of trusts would be sold off to private healthcare companies.

I don't know the legal ins and outs but any part of the NHS could feasibly be sold in theory. So if your local hospital trust is contracted out and you need emergency treatment, they fix you, then send the bill. It would take a while to get to that point admittedly but it's nearly on the first step of that slippery slope.

I'm not talking about social care, which is private.

It is complicated and sounds weird but it's also not a good thing if it comes to pass, which I hope it won't.

 

[Mrk]

Back on the topic of the next general election...

The latest YouGov poll from Scotland: SNP 41% Conservatives 20% Labour 19% LibDem 9% UKIP 6% Green 5%

lol

 

[roydo]

Individual trusts and/or sections of trusts would be sold off to private healthcare companies.

I don't know the legal ins and outs but any part of the NHS could feasibly be sold in theory. So if your local hospital trust is contracted out and you need emergency treatment, they fix you, then send the bill. It would take a while to get to that point admittedly but it's nearly on the first step of that slippery slope.

I'm not talking about social care, which is private.

It is complicated and sounds weird but it's also not a good thing if it comes to pass, which I hope it won't.

But a private company wont buy it if it cannot turn a profit. And folk who want to pay for private in the UK are already taken care of, so to speak.

Like, about 10 years ago, I had the snip. Spoke to my GP, just a phone call cos I knew her well. Non emergency, obviously, and the NHS waiting list was 6 months. (Fair enough, its kind of a life style thing). Called Bupa, £180, all in. Sorted a few days later.

Point is, when I had a few bob, I was happy to pay a relatively modest amount, as a private citizen, for non essential health care.

So I am starting to get the feeling that there are some scare mongerers, (not you mate), who lob the "Tories will sell the NHS" stories about, without really thinking it through.