From Each According To Their Ability?

[mushroom25]

https://www.bbc.com./news/uk-scotland-63659754

according to the politicians, a non-starter. nevertheless it's being discussed at a high level within the NHS.

should the rich stump up for their hip replacements and cancer treatment?

[douglas9401]

They won't get any takers for private if the current attitudes prevail.

Too much shoulder shrugging and casual cancellation with accompanying feeble excuses and empty apologies.

[dave50]

What is wealthy, who decides,?

[youngmafbog]

The real wealthy dont use the NHS anyway.

What they mean is hit the middle classes again.

[ToraToraTora]

It's only suggested in Scotland anyway.

[youngmafbog]

Got to pay for the wee uns Independence war chest somehow. The Covid funding has dried up.

[dave50]

So no longer free at the point of delivery for all.

[ToraToraTora]

dave it's not been enacted just an idea and only in Scotland anyway.

[perseverer]

No great fan of SNP or the FM, but the discussion was among NHS leaders, not the government

[Bazile]

What's the criteria that would be used to define if you are rich ?

[New Judge]

Let me tell you what would happen if this idea was adopted.

It would firstly apply to “rich” people (i.e. those who have a bit of cash because they worked hard and did not pee their money up the wall). Let’s say the bar was set at those with incomes of £125k or more – those who pay the top rate of tax. It would be introduced for what the NHS laughingly calls “elective” surgery. Knee and hip replacements, for example (which are both major operations with considerable recovery periods and no guarantee of success). Patients, of course, “elect” to have those done They could, instead endure debilitating pain and immobility instead.

Then two things would happen, how fast is anybody’s guess. The threshold would be reduced until almost anybody who is not on benefits will have to pay. And the range of treatments included will not be just the “elective” ones. They will include an increasing range of procedures and treatments. The end result will be that NHS treatment becomes similar to “social” housing. It will be a service of last resort and the only people to qualify for it will be those who have no money.

I don’t mind that – so long as I receive a rebate of all the taxes and NI contributions I have made that went to fund the NHS. I’ll then be more than pleased to make my own arrangements.

[douglas9401]

One might also bear in mind that these 'bosses' are the same ones who 'managed' the service to the place it is today.

Why would any sane person listen to what they have to say?

[emmie]

same as dave50, who gets to decide who is wealthy enough, the middle incomers - on say 125k, who are being punished with a massive tax hike already, this is a non starter as far as i am concerned.

[1ozzy]

Could end up like the American health system.

[emmie]

heaven forbid.

[youngmafbog]

Why do people always quote the US system?

There are plenty of other alternatives that work much better then the NHS.

[emmie]

like what, where

[naomi24]

//The real wealthy dont use the NHS anyway.

What they mean is hit the middle classes again. //

Spot on.

[emmie]

who can ill afford it..

[naomi24]

Exactly, emmie. It won't be 'according to their ability'.

[Old_Geezer]

If "NHS" Scotland does that then it should separate it's private system from any true National Health System the other countries of the UK is trying to maintain/create. Such treachery should not be allowed to spoil the intent for the rest of the nation. Of course it would mean no real NHS in Scotland as we couldn't afford health tourists crossing the border.