That is also a major factor, CJ - down to the Government

C_J The real issue is that people are living longer and living fatter. There needs to be a massive, massive push to incentivise healthier eating and getting more exercise.

Been on the chocolate all day.

Though running 5 times a week means I can eat what I want and still stay in top top nick.

    bosstrabs Don’t give a shit. It’s a sloppy stereotype to wallpaper over the cracks. Fuck that.

      Old-Dutch the first thing we were asked for was our E111 cards before they would treat him

      Lunacy.

      We have the worst, most profit-driven system of care imaginable here in the States. We still treat people before asking questions about reimbursement. It’s not like, “yeah that spear in your head looks cumbersome but what about paying us to get it removed?”

          I think we probably need to decide on this board whether we want politics threads to be a discussion where a number of alternative viewpoints can be accommodated, or just deteriorate into an angry partisan slanging match.

          And I say that as someone who is totally guilty myself of needlessly calling someone a cunt.

            bosstrabs If Dutchy produces some numbers and genuine data that backs up his assertion about ‘healthcare tourism’, he’ll have my heartfelt and absolute apology.

              Old-Dutch

              That’s not entirely true. Fact is, the providers time is already paid for irrespective of who they see. A good amount of health services is a sunk cost simply by having people available and the space available - it’s already paid for. If they can show that they are seeing people with no chance of reimbursement over seeing people who do…well then they can start adding up the numbers. Reimbursements are also a fraction of what is billed. Hell, in our system, if the bill isn’t paid or even addressed in 12 months, we just write it off - the doctor, nurse, bed, whatever else were already there anyway so who cares.

                  bosstrabs I think we probably need to decide on this board whether we want politics threads to be a discussion where a number of alternative viewpoints can be accommodated, or just deteriorate into an angry partisan slanging match.

                  Deteriorate into an angry partisan slanging match, obvs.

                      C_J The real issue is that people are living longer and living fatter.

                      Nothing that the system couldn’t cope with if it was funded and managed properly, should the government wish to do so.