[DaveinGermany]

I live in Germany Blazey & a fair chunk of my wages goes into the health system here, I also have to pay at the point of treatment & some medicines I must also pay towards when they're issued. For these contributions I expect a certain standard of treatment commensurate with my input & if I am referred to a third party my dues have already been paid, so no I don't think I'd look elsewhere.

I once required treatment for a suspected broken wrist while on Holiday in the UK (Scotland) and was prepared to pay & give my medical details to the Hospital concerned so they could recoup their outlay for the services I'd used only to be waved away without having to pay.

I have no problems with people being treated so long as something is in place to ensure the NHS aren't left to carry the costs. Sadly the "Health tourists" do not put anything into the system & have no intention of doing so, this then leaves genuine cases going empty handed because of insufficient funding to treat their ills.

The implant issue on purely selfish grounds should come from the pocket of those that desire such an operation, whereas the treatment when clinically relevant should be within the NHS remit.