This debate is now closed.
How can we tackle the NHS funding crisis?
The NHS faces its most significant financial challenge since it was established according to The King's Fund and the Institute for Fiscal Studies. How should it be addressed?
The report claims the funding crisis will mean cuts in other departments or tax rises. But even this may not be enough to prevent the health service having to tighten its belt.
At the weekend, the Social Market Foundation suggested that patients should be charged £20 to see a GP in a bid to limit demands placed on the NHS.
Can the NHS be adequately funded in the current economic crisis? Will the level of service provided in the UK become increasingly polarised? Should we pay to see our GPs? Are you a health service employee or patient?
Read the main story
Send us your story ideas
Published:
Monday, 20 July, 2009, 08:28 GMT
09:28 UK
All comments as they come in
Added:
Tuesday, 21 July, 2009, 08:34 GMT
09:34 UK
How can we tackle the NHS funding crisis?
Easy.
Charge for treatments & operations needed as a direct result of alcohol/drugs/food use & abuse.
Charge for breast enlargement/reductions except for the most serious cases.
Stop sex change operation on NHS.
Any assualt/attack on ambulance drivers& NHS staff should receive instant prison & NO bail.
Reduce office staff & managers .
Make the NHS BACK into a health service for those in need & NOT a political vote buying opportunity
[SKYISBLUESOAMI], UN-SUSTAINABILITY THE EPITATH OF HUMANITY, United Kingdom
|
Added:
Tuesday, 21 July, 2009, 08:30 GMT
09:30 UK
Lighten the load by removing the uneccessary layer of NHS management, it is an incumberance that just produces stastistics for government whim-ministers.
Stop changing the regulations or codes of practice on a regular basis and trust the health professionals to do their jobs properly and they will.
[Follower-of-the-Way], Reading, UK
|
Added:
Tuesday, 21 July, 2009, 08:28 GMT
09:28 UK
The contrast between NHS and private is drastic, because no money changes hands those working in the NHS think they are doing you a favour and you can fit in with their requirements not the other way around An NHS appointment will be at their convenience not yours, in contrast the private medical ask you what you want and you get it.
Amy Morgan
|
Added:
Tuesday, 21 July, 2009, 08:25 GMT
09:25 UK
Er..um? How about charging for the service to those who have no right in using it!
The British national health service was set up for British ciitizens and residents of Britain who contribute to the costs through tax and national insurance..
If people want to come to work in this country or reside here they should only be allowed to stay if they have the means to provide medical insurance for themselves,
If we're sick abroad is our treatment free? Just stop the abuse it will work fine!
Nice Jewish boy, UK
|
Added:
Tuesday, 21 July, 2009, 08:21 GMT
09:21 UK
Our NHS is short of cash.
I suggest a windfall tax on bank bonuses.
(Not the bank clerks', but on the obscene sums paid out to those at the top)
[frost-fire]
|
Added:
Tuesday, 21 July, 2009, 08:08 GMT
09:08 UK
"How can we tackle the NHS funding crisis?"
This Government has NO choice but to totally reconsider the National Budget.
It has to trim-off the Vote-catching, costly, unneccesary frills - in ALL Governmental areas.
It has to stop encouraging single-Mothers on Benefit, Health Tourism, Free NHS for Immigrants,
We should not have to pay to visit our GP's - but we should pay if we fail to keep an appointment.
Foreign-Aid should reflect our Financial ability - we have none at the moment.
Publish Last, Derby, United Kingdom
|
Added:
Tuesday, 21 July, 2009, 08:02 GMT
09:02 UK
Stop people who are not entitled to use the NHS from using it, examples: NHS tourists, illegal immigrants, and anyone who hasn't lived and paid taxes here for at least five years.
Susan Lange, Lichfield, England
|
Added:
Tuesday, 21 July, 2009, 07:59 GMT
08:59 UK
Issue a plastic NHS card (quoting the patients NHS number) to people who are entitled to NHS treatment. This card should be presented each time a treatment is required. It's that simple. If this card is made mandatory (and I can only hope), this would go a long way to reduce the NHS bill. At least health tourism will be reduced! But then again, common sense is not common with our MPs; they are more concerned with their expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
|
Added:
Tuesday, 21 July, 2009, 07:58 GMT
08:58 UK
In a BUPA hospital - one admin job to every 8 nurses.
In an NHS hospital - one admin job to every 1 nurse.
There in a nutshell is the NHS problem - too many "managers", admins, & all purpose busybodies. Throw in interfering idiot politicians and you have a recipe for guaranteed chaos. Privatise the NHS, and acquaint its "management" with the real world via the local Job Centre.
Grark ZZ
|
Added:
Tuesday, 21 July, 2009, 07:56 GMT
08:56 UK
Stop providing cosmetic surgery on the NHS.
Stop providing fertility treatment on the NHS.
Stop addiction treatment on the NHS.
The above are life choices and should not be paid for by the tax payer.
Reduce the management structure and focus on healing the sick and dying.
Stop paying a fortune to drug companies who make obscene profits.
Stop trying to run the NHS as a business.
John Anson, Camelford, United Kingdom
|
Added:
Tuesday, 21 July, 2009, 07:52 GMT
08:52 UK
Our hospitals are full on old people being given treatment that keeps them alive in hospital for a few weeks. Better to move them in to hospices or family homes so that dying is a relaxed experience characterised by love and meaningful goodbyes.
andrew b, london
|
Added:
Tuesday, 21 July, 2009, 07:52 GMT
08:52 UK
To help solve NHS funding problems...
1. Imigrants and health tourists must pay in to make up for the absence of contributions (Tax and NI).
2. Harmful foods and activities (eg: alcohol, smoking, fighting) should be taxed for the benefit of the NHS, not other government budgets.
3. Approx 36,000 die and many more need intensive care each year as a result of fuel burn polutuon (particulates), a chunk of fuel taxes should go to the NHS.
Etc...
[wvptv-co-uk], Cardiff, United Kingdom
|
Added:
Tuesday, 21 July, 2009, 07:51 GMT
08:51 UK
It has been announced today that some failed asylum seekers will be able to obtain free health care on the NHS.
The current government resolves all crises by borrowing more money.
[thorvaldsson], Oxford, United Kingdom
|
Added:
Tuesday, 21 July, 2009, 07:50 GMT
08:50 UK
So So obvious.New Labour today gave permission for all asylum seekers including failed ones free access to all NHS services.
Kick in the teeth for everyone who has been paying taxes and NIC.Thanks to the useless governing party we now and will have for many years a crisis especially in that one of the ministers predicts a population of 70 million by 2020 consisting mainly of migrants.
Fred Skinnerly, Brighton
|
Added:
Tuesday, 21 July, 2009, 07:47 GMT
08:47 UK
How about those recent immigrants paying instead of being put to the front of the queue and getting it for free! Many of we older citizens have paid for decades and now we are being forced to pay more! This gov needs to be removed fast
robert lowe, St Petersburg, Russia
|
|
This Have Your Say is
CLOSED
DEBATE STATUS
Total comments: 935
Published comments: 852
Rejected comments: 31
From Have Your Say
|
News and analysis
