NHS is very good value

[P. G. Tipps]

My post was concerned with the way in which the front-page headline of a newspaper gives some clue as to its priorities and whether it's going to take the issues of the day seriously and proportionately, in response to PGT asserting that his calling the Guardian the "Forum Bible" is somehow comparable to others referring to the Torygraph or the Daily Wail. .

Political stance apart, I fail to see much difference between the headline reporting of the Torygraph and the Forum Bible and both are simply a bit more sophisticated in that compared to the Wail. That's all. All newspapers mainly pander to their core readership and the Forum Bible is no exception.

There must be members of this forum who buy the Wail and/or Torygraph so surely they are as much entitled to any protection from leg-pulling/mockery as those who prefer the Forum Bible?

I thought this was supposed to the age of 'equality' or are some to be considered more 'equal' than others?

(Apologies to both ahinton and amateur 51 for continuing to go off-topic before they had a chance to go off-topic in a different direction.)

[ahinton]

(Apologies to both ahinton and amateur 51 for continuing to go off-topic before they had a chance to go off-topic in a different direction.)

No need to apologise to me for this, given that my "asking M Leboeuf what his recent posts had to do with (the price of fish or) the thread topic" clearly implies a commendation to return to discussion of that topic rather than going "off-topic" in any direction whatsoever.

[Beef Oven!]

No need to apologise to me for this, given that my "asking M Leboeuf what his recent posts had to do with (the price of fish or) the thread topic" clearly implies a commendation to return to discussion of that topic rather than going "off-topic" in any direction whatsoever.

And I told you that it was in connection with RB, who would be in a better position to explain to you, than me, on account of the fact that he'd started the discussion. Leave my name out of it, please!

[P. G. Tipps]

No need to apologise to me for this, given that my "asking M Leboeuf what his recent posts had to do with (the price of fish or) the thread topic" clearly implies a commendation to return to discussion of that topic rather than going "off-topic" in any direction whatsoever.

Thereby my initial generous apologies to you are now gladly withdrawn, ahinton ...

[ahinton]

And I told you that it was in connection with RB, who would be in a better position to explain to you, than me, on account of the fact that he'd started the discussion. Leave my name out of it, please!

.

[Flosshilde]

Isn't it time that this thread benefitted from assisted dying?

[Beef Oven!]

.

Much better, thank you.

[ahinton]

Much better, thank you.

I'm pleased to hear it but I didn't know that you'd been ill; so sorry to hear that!

[ahinton]

Isn't it time that this thread benefitted from assisted dying?

It's certainly time that it returned to discussion of the value of NHS!

[P. G. Tipps]

It's certainly time that it returned to discussion of the value of NHS!

I've never met anyone yet who has questioned the 'value' of the NHS. The only question is how to make it more efficient and even better. Anyone who has had experience of the institution knows there are areas where it could be improved, not least better communication with patients and between departments.

I think there is a role for private capital and expertise as long as the fundamental principle of 'free' care for all is never compromised.

Even a simple procedure like S_A's flu injection at Sainsburys shows there is absolutely no reason why public and private sevices cannot work in partnership for the benefit of all.

The only thing that matters in the end is the wellbeing of the patient, not petty politics.

[Richard Barrett]

I think there is a role for private capital and expertise as long as the fundamental principle of 'free' care for all is never compromised.

So where would the return on this private investment be generated?

[teamsaint]

I've never met anyone yet who has questioned the 'value' of the NHS. The only question is how to make it more efficient and even better. Anyone who has had experience of the institution knows there are areas where it could be improved, not least better communication with patients and between departments.

I think there is a role for private capital and expertise as long as the fundamental principle of 'free' care for all is never compromised.

Even a simple procedure like S_A's flu injection at Sainsburys shows there is absolutely no reason why public and private sevices cannot work in partnership for the benefit of all.

The only thing that matters in the end is the wellbeing of the patient, not petty politics.

the inexorable rise in admin costs started with the Internal Market. Excess admin costs clearly affect levels of care that can be provided.

I don't think this issue has much to do with petty politics. It has to do with money. Private providers want some of that £108 bn pot, in fact as much as they can get, as as big margins as possible. That is their job.

[ahinton]

So where would the return on this private investment be generated?

Good question, to which I await the answer with much interest but without bated breath...

[P. G. Tipps]

Good question, to which I await the answer with much interest but without bated breath...

Your breath has always appeared to me to be almost uniquely un-bated, ahinton ...

To answer Mr Barrett's query any profits generated by private industry in the NHS will deservedly go to the those who bravely invested the money. Where would one expect them to go to? The Socialist Workers' Party?

My bank made a nice little profit on the mortgage for my house ... but I was a most grateful beneficiary as well!

[Richard Barrett]

To answer Mr Barrett's query any profits generated by private industry in the NHS will deservedly go to the those who bravely invested the money.

That doesn't answer my question at all! I asked how the profits would be generated in the first place, if health provision is free at the point of delivery.