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jambutty · 19-08-2006, 08:19

Welcome to the Accy forum bullseyebarb.

Having private health or medical insurance is all very well for those who can afford to do so but more than half the people in this country cannot. They are just as responsible as those who can afford to buy medical insurance, they just don’t earn enough money to be able to afford to do so.

The whole idea of the NHS was that anyone who works pays a weekly contribution aptly named ‘National Insurance’ so that if they ever fall ill or on hard times there will be medical treatment for free and also benefits to a minimum standard and a state pension on retirement from the workforce. Those people who are unemployed or unable to work because of illness were credited with paying the NI contributions so no one lost out.

Over time we lost free dental treatment, free prescriptions and free glasses although the chronically ill, the unemployed, the young and retired still get free care. However it is not really free because we paid the ‘National Insurance’ during our working lives. Where it has all gone wrong is that the NI contributions were not ring fenced and the money was used for something else.

I have one question though. If the private sector can supply a service to the community and make a profit, why can’t the government do the same and use the profit to further enhance the service?

19-08-2006, 08:19	#6
jambutty Apprentice Geriatric Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Darwen, Lancashire Posts: 3,706 Liked: 0 times Rep Power: 89	Re: Private Finance Initiative Welcome to the Accy forum bullseyebarb. Having private health or medical insurance is all very well for those who can afford to do so but more than half the people in this country cannot. They are just as responsible as those who can afford to buy medical insurance, they just don’t earn enough money to be able to afford to do so. The whole idea of the NHS was that anyone who works pays a weekly contribution aptly named ‘National Insurance’ so that if they ever fall ill or on hard times there will be medical treatment for free and also benefits to a minimum standard and a state pension on retirement from the workforce. Those people who are unemployed or unable to work because of illness were credited with paying the NI contributions so no one lost out. Over time we lost free dental treatment, free prescriptions and free glasses although the chronically ill, the unemployed, the young and retired still get free care. However it is not really free because we paid the ‘National Insurance’ during our working lives. Where it has all gone wrong is that the NI contributions were not ring fenced and the money was used for something else. I have one question though. If the private sector can supply a service to the community and make a profit, why can’t the government do the same and use the profit to further enhance the service? __________________ Thanks for reading. If you have a few minutes to spare please visit my web site at http://popye.bravehost.com