Success In a City Centre--near You ?????

Good God you guys certainly know how to have a heated debate!

Well here are my thoughts.

The reason the NHS is failing has less to do with the government and more to do with the rising cost of healthcare. An example of why it is rising is Anti-depressants. How many people were prescribed these a few years ago? Now I bet there arn't many people who at least don't know someone who has been on prosac at some point. The NHS isn't as bad as people make out and it cannot be compared to private health care. That's like comparing a chaufeur driven limo with a Bus!!

The same people who complain about the NHS are probably the same people who don't like it when the government tell us how to live our lives. You want to be able to eat as much fatty foods as you like, smoke as much as you want, drink as much as you want but when the NHS crumbles under the pressure this kind of lifestyle creates 'it's the Governments fault'

Then you have the cost of keeping us all alive as long as possible regardless of whether we want it or not. My Grandmother passed away last year after being on her last legs for ages. In the end she had just had enough but they kept her going for ages! Why!

Anyhow enough of that.

Regardless of the motives for introducing congestgion charging, road tolls etc etc, the government do need to do something about the levels of traffic on our roads. For no other reason other than to prevent the inevitable grid lock we are all heading towards. I live on Teesside and it is starting to get stupid here. I was out the other day at 10:30 in the morning on a Friday and the roads were full, It was no different at 2:30 in the afternoon.

While I don't agree with the charging we desperately need something to ease the road issue. Also WRT the whole Global warming issue, the reason there is disagreement in the scientific comunity as to whether it is happening at all and whether it is is caused by our actions is because no one really knows. Since we have no previous experience of this we have no way of really knowing. Therefore it is just as likley to be a problem as it is not. The reason people choose to believe one side of the argument over the other has nothing to do with understanding the issue, it is about whether that argument fits with what they want. Oil companies are not even going to listen to both sides of the argument, they will just follow the view that makes them most money. the same could be said of the green party. They believe that motorists are killing the planet so they only believe the evidence that supports that argument.

The problem that faces us all is that the things we take for granted are no longer viable long term. The NHS is not able to keep up with the increased cost of looking after us all. Final salary pensions are no longer possible for many of us since they are linked to a volatile stock market and we are living too long after retirement. The road network in this country will soon not be able to cope with the level of traffic. when oil runs out, and it will, the internal combustion engine will disappear for ever. These are just a few examples.   

Who said my opinion had anything to do with Michael Howard's persona?

Your argument is true of course, you'll never find the perfect leader in the modern world.

A well known author put the argument that we will never have peace on earth, nor will any of the really 'sensible' decisions ever be taken....not until we're threatened by another life form.

Even then...someone will try cosying up to them...!

But people keep voting him in.....

Not a problem for me of course, living in the frozen North!

I do have a question for everyone jumping on Mr Blairs back though (and don't misunderstand me, I'm not a keen fan)....who is the viable alternative?

Michael Howard?  Hmm, please no.

Charles Kennedy?  Ahem.

UKIP - there isn't a proper laughing smiley to summarise this one

A. N. Other?  Who?

As I see it, the fact it we're landed with the best of a bad bunch, and it's not going to change in the short term.  He'll be re-elected for sure.

WE Need another Million ++++++ like you, someone who can understand the smokescreen, is a pack of Lies from Transport for London.Slime Bliar--Knew this would be the result of RED brainwash for the Capitol.If anything Works he can bask in the crap, if not--he distances himself--and blames the colours--RED & BROWN.

You know it makes NONsense

I receive private healthcare cover as part of my job, and I'm glad to have it because it covers my wife and children too.

I sympathise at the pricing when people have to pay for it because whilst basic cover isn't overly expensive Nigel is right when he comments on the long term costs if you have anyone in your family who has, or develops, a long term medical condition.

We're very glad to have it though because it saved my wife a very long waiting list for an important operation - she waited 3 days.

Under the NHS it would have been anticipated 11 months minimum.

You also get the other benefits that make a stay in hospital more tenable.  Your own room, and a good sized one too.  Sky TV!  Kept her busy when she was laid there bored to death!  Very impressive list of meals and services too. The consultant she saw was superb too.

To me, that means that even if I were to ever lose my family cover it would be on the first things I'd seek to get myself anyway.

Praktisk wrote:   Private healthcare is the future, (which goes against my re-nationalise everything stance) - but your health is something you cant afford to "skimp" on- I have alot of respect for people like your wife, it's a job I could never do myself, but until there is anysort of decent reform within the NHS, even if I leave my job, I'll pay the extra for the BUPA scheme. Just my 2p worth ...

good objective point mr p

bupa really is a good system   .....on another objective view...

with all the fuss about NHS this or NHS that ......if the goverment decided to get off there back side and ACTUALLY made the NHS in to a private run concern ..they would reep so so many benifits to us the tax payer

.it goes like this .<G>

turn all local hospitals private .[run from independ biuisnesses]

set up ONE governing body .[a bit like ofgem .etc etc]to regulate and observe what each individaul company .sets out in there company practices  ....ie  regimes/vetting of staff/qualifications of G.P.s etc

if you had say 3 companys   vieing for say a hip replacement .at the cost of [estimate] £5000 to the NHS. you would have .three private run places  in that area [that had proper surgeons etc] as regulated by the goverment..to perform the task .to the same standard as the NHS. but without the costings of such like the NHS..

so one company says .[hip replacement]   is £3500...other say £3700.the NHS will still foot the bill  but will not foot the stupid spirraling costs that it has seen [ever wondered why nurses get paid very little for what they actually do?]....simple the gov spend mega amounts on red tape/directors fees printing//etc the list could go on and on and on .thats why the pay is so pathetic..however throwing away the loss making NHS to the private sector ..that understands a buisness is a buisness and to make £ and still be profitable but to still provides a service that matches ..or even betters the NHS standards  ....is or has got to be looked at ..and it HAS but they darnt try it because they will get tared with the same brush as maggie t   did .. with going  private with  everything ...

we all will be private one day in our med care [as pushed by certain peaple].rember were you heard it last ..

the rooms in bupa are spot on ..you can even order wine aswell as get better...double G and T     .well thank you nurse

The hospital isn't in the City John, it is on the outskirts, actually very close to jnc 6 of the M5.

Its one of these new privately funded jobs, you know the type, they have closed down all the outlying smaller hospitals and clinics, closed down Worcester 600 bed hospital on top of that, and built us a brand new sparkly 400 bed one.

There isn't enough parking...surprise surprise, as the local gov chaps ( labour,,,need I say more ) want you to use the non existent public transport system.

I needed an op on my hands last year, as you know, I had to go to Evesham, and be there at 8 o'clock in the morning, not possible on public transport, I couldn't drive myself obviously, so had to be taken and collected.

My young son, as you know, was born with a cleft lip and palette, he has to go to Birmingham.

My wife, who works for the system needs a small op next week, she's been waiting ages, and we were told this morning she has to go to Coventry.

All helping the so called greenhouse gasses this isn't it ?

Greenhouse gasses etc, suits them in one argument, doesn't exist in another.

Its of topic, but I started it !

Private medical care, where do I start...great if your healthy, have any "condition" ( such as my diabetes ) then have another look at it, it also raises the question, I've paid once, so why should I pay again, I travel the world, and believe me, our NHS with all its warts really is the envy of the world.

There are too many freeloaders on it, now how you sort that out ?, god knows.

As far as road tolls go, these aren't in place of RFL, its as well as, also as well as all the taxes you pay on insurance fuel etc.

You already pay for all the roads, building and upkeep, and some, so why ask the motorist to pay again ?

If they want to raise tax, do it honestly, on the basic tax rate, let everyone pay.

Road tolls wont really effect me, I'll just charge my customers, they will charge who they supply etc etc, and as well as your own road tolls you will be paying mine too, on the goods you buy.

Our slimy government then get the road tolls direct from me, then in tax on all the charges as it goes down the line, you will even pay vat on the bit you pay when you buy the goods.

Its a con !

As for Birmingham's public transport system, it was the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive, we used to call it wumpity, it was superb, even as an adult, home on leave, I'd never consider taking the car into the city.

We have built a car culture, its taken decades, you cant dismantle it overnight, HM Gov will need to put something in place first.

Nigel, has your missus not considered applying for BUPA or even as an agency nurse? - Im sure the stress factor would be lower and the £££ factor would be higher.

I havent a bad word to say about BUPA either, private med-care is a perk of my contract, and I do get taxed on it, and touch wood so far I've only had to use it once, but the General ora of the staff is really good, they dont seem too busy or over worked or ultimately over stressed. Plus you get a decent meal and a decent private room.

Private healthcare is the future, (which goes against my re-nationalise everything stance) - but your health is something you cant afford to "skimp" on- I have alot of respect for people like your wife, it's a job I could never do myself, but until there is anysort of decent reform within the NHS, even if I leave my job, I'll pay the extra for the BUPA scheme.

Just my 2p worth ...

Coasting wrote: My point is that I'd still take the car - but I'd pay the toll. Those that had to in order to work have their choice. But, it keeps out those to whom the trip into the City Centre isn't imperative, thereby easing the journey for the real road users.

I rather suspect that you are in a financial postion to just pay tolls etc, a lot of people arent in that position.

How do you feel about my NHS nurse wife being told she has to pay to park at her workplace, to help ease congestion ?

She isnt in the best paid job, it is her choice of course, but where is the public transport system for her to use, we cant even consider if its safe enough, clean enough etc, as it just isnt there.

You may even be able to afford poncy private medical care, but I bet the nurses looking after you cant, would you support them being charged to care for you, so you can drive your £50,000 car on your exclusive roads ?

Its a con, it has nothing to do with easing congestion, reducing greenhouse gases etc, its just another government stealth tax.

I could support your opinion if the transport system was in place, like it was when I was a lad in Birmingham, but there isnt anything for people to use !