"LIFE'S TOO SHORT TO EAT BAD NUTS"

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Perching here and gathering my thoughts ...

Boo to Blair!

08 February 2004 ~ 21:04

It seems our esteemed �leader� Mr Blair has decided that the 55-year-old National Health Service has had its day. He wants people to start paying to see the doctor!

Now, I happen to think that the British NHS is the flagship of the Labour Party (they were the ones who instigated it in 1948). It doesn�t discriminate against anyone with any condition�everyone is covered. No forms to fill in. No charges (except for prescriptions at a flat fee of �6.30�about $10�per item. Seniors and children and those on benefits do not pay).

Blair now wants us to pay to see our General Practitioner, an idea I am totally opposed to. It�s not the amount that may be charged either�it�s the principle. Even if they decide the fee will be just �5, how long will that last? It will soon be �10, then �20, then �30. Prescriptions were once free and when they first began charging the cost was 20 pence! Most importantly, charging may put people off going to see the doctor about a condition they are not sure about. If it then turns out to be cancer, how many thousands of pounds will be spent treating it? It is a false economy, never mind that the longer some things are left, the more life threatening they may be. We cannot turn the tide and suddenly go back to free prescriptions. But we can make sure we don�t start charging fees for seeing a doctor also.

Blair also wants to charge for people to �jump the queue� and get to see a specialist faster. Terrible, terrible idea, Tony�don�t you realise one can already do this? It�s called going private! All this will do it make the very poor end of middle classes lose out. Those with money can pay, those on benefits will get to �queue jump� for free, but those that are neither well-off nor very poor, will just have to wait longer than ever before due to everybody getting in before them.

The only sensible idea among these new cost saving measures is that of charging patients for meals, TVs and private rooms. That I don�t mind. After all one has to eat anyway so why get fed free just because you are in hospital?

I am extremely dismayed that the Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party is thinking along these lines and he sure as hell won�t be getting my vote come the next General Election.


Stored nuts | Future acorns


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