Pulaski

My only issue was with your assertion that the NHS is "free". It isn't.

I have no idea what you mean by that, and I suspect that you don't either - other than perhaps "profit is bad".

Shard

Ditto, no idea.

Shard

This guy has a Phd in tripe. Managed about a third today before his non-sequiturs baffled me.

BristolUK

It's caretaker's fault. He posted a good one and there were a bunch of similar ones on the same page.

caretaker

Whoa, back up there, big shoots. I accept no responsibility for anything coming out of your isp address.

Jerseygirl

‘Free at the point of service’ is a better term IMO.

Stumpylegs

Apologies in my head i know exactly what i mean, and half the time i type it out as it is in my head, I think i try and shorten messages excessively so as not to write war and peace. "excessively absorbed as profit by private companies" is what I originally typed although after shortening it and rereading it was like " yea i'm still making the same point" For my point on the "free" NHS I originally typed free to use, although Jerseygirl above almost definitely has the correct definition - even if I was partially trying to say it appears free.

My take on it is that as a public service, there shouldn't be excessive profit, whilst any of the private companies used to fulfil contracts on those services will make profit, they shouldn't be profiting off it to the extent they are.

Take painkillers for example, supermarkets in the UK can sell them for circa 2p a pill, the supermarket is making a profit selling them in colour printed boxes of 16. the end user buying them at 30p a pack has no bulk buying power etc.

The same companies that are supplying the supermarkets supply the NHS, in huge bulk, often in much higher pack quantities, can forgo colour printed boxes etc - but charge the NHS over 15p a pill.

So whereas for £1 I could in theory get 50 painkillers, bought from a retail shop, where the person purchasing the goods has no bulk buying power etc. but a government body buying millions if not billions per year can only get 6/7 for that £1, someone somewhere is profiting excessively.

Should mention those figures are pure item costs, by the time the NHS prescribe or dispense such pills the cost is more like 25p a pill.

dbd33

Most readers insert that for themselves, rather than believing in the tooth, and bones, and organs, fairy. Free at the point of service healthcare is cheaper across the population. It's not reasonable to complain that it's poor value for you, as Pulaski does, because you're not sick and so have low premiums under a commercial system. The person having the million dollar operation on the taxes of the well under a FATPOS system isn't really winning. The person not having an operation because there's only a commercial system isn't winning either.

scrubbedexpat091

Please don't soak your face masks in lysol.

I only come up with these ideas because someone I know in real life keeps doing such things.

Not sure whats worse sticking lysol wipes into the nose or soaking masks in it.

Jerseygirl

John Tory, Mayor of Toronto is recommending a bye-law making the wearing of masks in indoor public places (shops, businesses etc) mandatory from July 7th.

Danny B

Masks are for Liberal's

Zoe Bell

seeing signs like that actually makes me quite happy, of course all those [people must be "pro choice" in the abortion debate then....
....

Shard

Western governments have really messaged this mask thing wrong. The should draw a parallel with drink driving regulations, excess alcohol is prohibited not because the driver might smash his own car up, but because he might injure others. This concept of social responsibility (over a minor infringement on individual freedom) needs to be promoted somehow.

Engineer_abroad

I think the analogy with drunk driving is a little strong but take the general point. Plus I find in North America it isn’t nearly as much a social taboo/punished sufficiently as it is in UK.

It’s hard for the government to take the high ground with this after they refused to mandate vaccination for all children in the public school system.

Almost Canadian

If it really was beneficial, they would make it mandatory. When they don't, it gives the impression that the benefits are not that great.