It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Subscribe to our Patreon, and get image uploads with no ads on the site!
Base theme by DesignModo & ported to Powered by Vanilla by Chris Ireland, modified by the "theFB" team.
Comments
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
Until the public gets a grip on it's waistline, this will continue. Everything else is minor in comparison, really.
Yes I know I go on and on about fatness, but its the scourge of the NHS. No other single factor plays such a big part in so many burdens on resource.
You can, and I have, traced this link in emerging and growing economies in different parts of the world. As societies adopt more western lifestyle habits, the weight of the nation goes up, disease increases and health service burden rises. Where the average weight is lower, life is longer, heatlhier and less expensive in health service terms.
Thing is, we don't know how to tackle it, and people are sensitive to talking about it.
You want a better NHS? Put the burger/cake/pasty/beer down
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/views/dr-renee-hoenderkamp/we-need-a-tough-conversation-about-unnecessary-gp-appointments/20034878.article
Out of the mouth of someone dealing with the problems first hand.
Lots of facts quoted in the thread here but where is the evidence. Where is the salary comparison of Bachelor degree level qualified staff working nights and weekends? Nurses vs others. Can't find one online, from personal experience I have friends who work in procurement who are only CIPS qualified (diploma level below Bachelors), working 9-5 jobs with all weekends and bank holidays off, earning £50000 + bonuses and other benefits such as company car deductions etc.. I know who I would pay more, but then you're not rewarded for how moral your job is are you?
Also the cost per month per person of the NHS comparison with BUPA, where was this from? Having seen their awful nursing home care first hand (more than one home too), I'm not sure I'd be overly confident in their standards of care. They've sold this arm off now I believe as its basically been bad press for them for a long time.
NHS facts and figures when compared to other nations healthcare can be skewed but I found this Conservative backed 2020 study very interesting. It lists the potential for any skewed outcomes and makes stark reading to be honest. It also states that in comparison the NHS is still underfunded compared to the best systems in northern Europe, although increased funding within its current inefficiencies is not necessarily the way forward.
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.uk2020.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/UK2020-Final-eBook-RGB.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwjrsbuoj6TVAhUJXBoKHWn4DzkQFghHMAc&usg=AFQjCNHgPVslYgk6EMdPTztQ9BZ8c26trA
Having worked in the system I've always remarked to patients that when the shit hits the fan with emergencies the NHS is up there with the best. Once you leave that system and need further treatment, rehab, or chronic condition management it often falls down.
Personally from experience just as an example. I would never use an NHS physio again as the majority I've seen aren't great, I paid privately to get myself sorted perhaps stuff like this is where savings can be made. The last thing we need though is a US style system that creates a tiered healthcare process that prevents people in need getting adequate treatment. Having worked in a system like this its genuinely heartbreaking at times. I don't have the answers to the problems beyond saying that some people need to start taking more responsibility for themselves and some of the stuff already stated in this thread would be a good start. As long as any privatisation or insurance scheme is closely monitored and run as not for profit like the French system perhaps.
My head said brake, but my heart cried never.
I don't know it's total staff make up ( I know two people who do some work for BUPA and they are both British FWIW)) but it is reliant upon the NHS/ other countries for qualified staff so if you scale up what it does ( to replace more/all of the NHS) I'm not sure that's sustainable ( ie no newly qualified UK staff coming through ).
BUPA doesn't have the burdens that the NHS has. A and E for starters but it won't treat pre existing or chronic conditions or provide many cancer treatments ( all this is clear from the BUPA site). Examples of some of these costs run to £thousands per week for decades for some people and those costs have to be incorporated into NHS budgets alongside the ingrowing toenails.
With any medical treatment there is, at some level, a conversation about cost. Having had discussions around treatment for chrohns and colitis for the last seven years the experience there is in private health care the balance of that conversation is significantly different than in a public system and not to the patient's benefit. I find that worrying.
We already a significant mixed economy in health in the UK as well as private health insurance there are examples like long term nursing care and non emergency ambulance services. Whilst I'm sure the organisations running those would like to expand they still benefit from an NHS system that provides a throughput of staff and expertise and an NHS which manages the really difficult stuff.
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
My head said brake, but my heart cried never.
You are correct it is an issue, but it's one small aspect of the extra costs, also costing massive amounts are: -
Drinking
Smoking
Sports Injuries (ironically)
Terrible Driving
Idiocy
Oh - and lots of old people who these days we try to care for, not let die.
The western weight problem is caused at least partly by the choices of our economic system, not least laissez-faire regulation of food production which can easily put 1000 calories in the palm of your hand. 1000 calories full of corn starch as natural food production is too expensive
Most food studies point to increased % risks from obesity and excess weight, but with just a few nudges, a bit of education and a bit of regulation, the problem can be made to go away....
My head said brake, but my heart cried never.
If BUPA was the sole provider of healthcare in the country, we'd all be fucked when it came to something serious, or we'd have to at a lot more. Still, there wouldn't be any chancers rocking up from Nigeria to have their dialysis.
Not sure how long it would take to recoup the cost of the implementation but if it was in conjunction with National IDs then it would be cheaper.
My head said brake, but my heart cried never.
Even disregarding issues like that, it would cost a fortune to implement. If it's mandatory like that then you couldn't expect people to pay for it. It's bad enough the amount you have to pay for things like driving licenses and passports, but you don't have to have them.
Also, what happens if someone gets mugged. They get injured in the mugging, but their card is in the wallet which gets stolen. You can't not treat them. Cards could get lost for all kinds of other reasons. Can you imagine the frenzy the tabloids would whip up when someone died as a result of being refused treatment because they didn't have a card on them.
Even if it was a good policy, it would be electoral suicide, so thankfully there is no chance of it happening.
Is your 5 year old going to go to the Dr's without a guardian btw? How ridiculous does that sound at the very least a relative or teacher or school nurse would attend with them. No one would expect a child to carry an ID ffs.
For the record I used to be against them also but having seen the benefits of it then I'm absolutely in favour now. Even with the costs and renewal fees associated with them.
My head said brake, but my heart cried never.
My head said brake, but my heart cried never.