Taxi Driver Online

Everything a hospital uses, from the building companies the drug companies the suppliers of beds, bedpans, cleaning materials,heating and lighting, food, and so on, should all do it for no profit? When you take a punter to the doctors, or to the local hospital, do you do it for free, or "non-profit"?

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Former taxi driver

You put the profit back into the nhs,not some greedy private feckin company !!

When I take a punter to the hospital - or doctors the punter has a choice - use a taxi - use a PH - use the bus - walk - or use NHS car services - a good number rely on friends relatives and neighbours.

The drug companies make millions - so they don't really get any sympathy - in fact the patent system of the US actually kills thousands.

The food in hospitals used to be made on premisis - its now privatised to firms like interserve who also look after cleaning and maintenance - they make a profit - at the expense of the tax payer - the people working for these firms used to work for the NHS - the service they performed used to be carried out in house - the presumption is that the free market can do a better job - and is in the words of the law commission the best deliverer of goods and services - if you believe in that logic - I wonder if you want it followed through to taxis - after all a deregulated taxi system - following the free market must deliver goods and services better than the regulated one?

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I think if you read up on PFI you will find that the supplies for the hospital, inc the building of the said hospital is all run through one company or rather a cartel, that are already making a huge profit. In some cases hospitals have to pay exorbitant maintenance costs at the expense of having an extra nurse etc. When everything that is to be done has to be done by X, Y and Z you can't shop around to get best value. From cleaning a lavi or replacing a light bulb to providing sterile equipment it's all run through the same cartel and costs a fortune but that's how it's done because that's how the building was procured in the first place. The NHS should be run by the government not by a cartel whose primary objective is to make money. I'm not suggesting that money shouldn't be made, if possible, by the NHS but it should be for the NHS and not for shareholders of cartel companies. Private medical care should be available for those who want and can afford it.

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Agreed, and it should be entirely separate from the NHS. Not leeching from it or being used a a means to jump queues in NHS hospitals.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

The NHS is on Self Destruct due to the people walking around holding cliip boards on telephone number wages. Give the runnning of the hospitals back to the Matrons, they didn't take any prisoners.

Ah the king of the one liners SUSSEX, you dont think that will happen then were all safe from the cuts for 2 years until the election REALLY

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

Struck dumb dope on snowed OUT he he

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

On 8th March I asked "Why is the NHS such a sacred cow"?

On Wednesday 13th March, The Editorial in the Daily Telegraph, "THE SEEDS OF AN NHS REVOLUTION ARE SOWN"

...."part of the problem is the sacred cow status that the health service enjoys"....

This in the wake of the American Professor Don Berwick being parachuted in as "Health Tsar"

This from an "uncaring" (according to some on here) Government.

Well done Mr Cameron

Won't be good enough for TT & CC, I'm guessing.

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Former taxi driver

You guess right, employing an American is a questionable decision;

http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/sicko/

The facts behind Michael Moore’s film SiCKO.

I had a chance over the fourth of July holiday to watch Michael Moore’s new film Sicko. To make a long story short, the film was wonderful. It was entertaining enough to grab your attention, and yet informative enough to leave you in a better position to judge our health care system. To be honest, I left the theater with a somber burning in my stomach, hoping that somehow we as Americans would learn to understand that having access to basic health care is a human right, and not a commodity for those who can afford it.

This post is not about this aspect of the film however, but rather it is focused on the data used in the film. Those on the right side of the political spectrum who disapprove of this film (and despise Michael Moore) are claming that Moore is spreading propaganda and lies, attempting to deceive the American public to bring on some socialist takeover. This is a stance taken by the willfully ignorant, given their inability to actually check the facts themselves.

I have organized much of the data used in the film below. The data is from the World Health Organization, and is the most recent data available. I have also included some data that Moore did not use, to avoid the “cherry picking” charge.

Canada

* Life expectancy at birth (years) males ?
78.0 (2005)
* Life expectancy at birth (years) females ?
83.0 (2005)
* Probability of dying (per 1 000 population) between 15 and 60 years (adult mortality rate) males ?
90 (2005)
* Probability of dying (per 1 000 population) between 15 and 60 years (adult mortality rate) females ?
56 (2005)
* Infant mortality rate (per 1 000 live births) ?
5.0 (2005)
* Physicians (density per 1 000 population) ?
2.14 (2003)
* Dentists (density per 1 000 population) ?
0.59 (2003)
* Pharmacists (density per 1 000 population) ?
0.67 (2003)
* Per capita total expenditure on health at average exchange rate (US$) ?
3037.6 (2004)
* Per capita government expenditure on health at average exchange rate (US$) ?
2120.9 (2004)
* Hospital beds (per 10 000 population)
36.0 (2003)

Cuba

* Life expectancy at birth (years) males ?
75.0 (2005)
* Life expectancy at birth (years) females ?
79.0 (2005)
* Probability of dying (per 1 000 population) between 15 and 60 years (adult mortality rate) males ?
128 (2005)
* Probability of dying (per 1 000 population) between 15 and 60 years (adult mortality rate) females ?
83 (2005)
* Infant mortality rate (per 1 000 live births) ?
5.0 (2005)
* Physicians (density per 1 000 population) ?
5.91 (2002)
* Dentists (density per 1 000 population) ?
0.87 (2002)
* Per capita total expenditure on health at average exchange rate (US$) ?
229.8 (2004)
* Per capita government expenditure on health at average exchange rate (US$) ?
201.8 (2004)
* Hospital beds (per 10 000 population)
49.0 (2005)

France

* Life expectancy at birth (years) males ?
77.0 (2005)
* Life expectancy at birth (years) females ?
84.0 (2005)
* Probability of dying (per 1 000 population) between 15 and 60 years (adult mortality rate) males ?
128 (2005)
* Probability of dying (per 1 000 population) between 15 and 60 years (adult mortality rate) females ?
58 (2005)
* Infant mortality rate (per 1 000 live births) ?
4.0 (2005)
* Physicians (density per 1 000 population) ?
3.37 (2004)
* Dentists (density per 1 000 population) ?
0.68 (2004)
* Pharmacists (density per 1 000 population) ?
1.06 (2003)
* Per capita total expenditure on health at average exchange rate (US$) ?
3464.0 (2004)
* Per capita government expenditure on health at average exchange rate (US$) ?
2714.6 (2004)
* Hospital beds (per 10 000 population)
75.0 (2004)

United States of America

* Life expectancy at birth (years) males ?
75.0 (2005)
* Life expectancy at birth (years) females ?
80.0 (2005)
* Probability of dying (per 1 000 population) between 15 and 60 years (adult mortality rate) males ?
137 (2005)
* Probability of dying (per 1 000 population) between 15 and 60 years (adult mortality rate) females ?
81 (2005)
* Infant mortality rate (per 1 000 live births) ?
7.0 (2005)
* Physicians (density per 1 000 population) ?
2.56 (2000)
* Dentists (density per 1 000 population) ?
1.63 (2000)
* Pharmacists (density per 1 000 population) ?
0.88 (2000)
* Per capita total expenditure on health at average exchange rate (US$) ?
6096.2 (2004)
* Per capita government expenditure on health at average exchange rate (US$) ?
2724.7 (2004)
* Hospital beds (per 10 000 population)
33.0 (2003)

Those who have seen the film will notice that all of the data that Moore use in his film is accurate. Americans do live shorter lives than their Canadian and French counterparts, and only slighter longer lives than the Cuban people. Infant mortality rates are in fact higher in the United States than in Cuba, France, and Canada; as stated in Moore’s film. This data also points out a fact that Moore does not: In the United States, you are more likely do die between the ages of 15-60 than the Cuban, French, or Canadians.

Last but not least, we spend twenty-six times the money per capita that they spend in Cuba for health care, and twice the amount they pay in France and Canada. The part of this data that affects most Americans is the out of pocket expense. According to the data, every individual in the United States spends on average over $3,000.00 out of pocket for their health care. Those in Cuba, Canada, and France pay nothing, because small user fees only paid by those who can afford it ($10.00 for a prescription for example) make up the small amount needed between the governmentally provided resources and the spending needed per capita.

Another interesting aspect of this data is the amount that the American government actually spends per capita on healthcare. Our federal government actually spends more per capita on health care than the Canadians and French. This means that we actually spend more of our tax dollars on health care, and yet due to corporate interests we are still forced to come up with another $3,300.00 out of pocket each year, while our French and Canadian counterparts pay nothing except for a few small user fees.

What may I ask are we paying for? The answer it seems is that we are paying to increase corporate profits so that the elite in our society can live privileged lives, and continue to buy our government out from under us.

We are paying thousands of dollars each year for health care, and yet we live shorter lives, lose more children upon birth, and are more likely to die before the age of 65. This should outrage every American whether you are a Democrat, an Independent, or a Republican. Our health care is already subsidized to the same levels as the Canadians and French, the only difference is that the subsidies our government provides end up in the pockets of executives in the American system rather than providing quality health care for everyone in our society.

I understand that Republicans hate Michael Moore, something that I completely understand given his views. I would hate him too if I resided on the right side of the political spectrum. But the argument he makes is based on factual evidence, and the topic he chooses is of concern to all of us. I believe that every American will be able to watch Sicko and take something very important away from it despite the large variety of views in this country. To my Democratic friends: go watch and enjoy this film. To my Republican friends: just tell yourself Michael Moore is not responsible for this film and go with an open mind (and close your eyes when he appears on screen).

http://www.politicsisapplesauce.org/?p=34

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

1 He said: “We will stop the top-down reorganisation of the NHS.” Election campaign.

Reality: Tories pushing through the biggest top-down reorganisation of the NHS in its history.

2 He said: “We will increase health spending every year.” Conservative ­Manifesto, April 2010.

Reality: A Nuffield Trust study shows a “real terms reduction of 0.5% over next four years”.

3 He said: “We’ll ensure waiting times are kept low,” June 2011.

Reality: Patients waiting longer than 18-week guarantee are up by 34%.

4 He said: “We will save the maternity and A&E units at Chase Farm hospital, London.” (2007).

Reality: Health Secretary announced the units would be downgraded last November.

5 He said: Royal Colleges of General Practitioners, Physicians and Nursing “all supported” his health reforms. September, 2010.

Reality: All three oppose the reforms.

6 He said: “We will increase the number of midwives by 3,000”. January 2010.

Reality: The Government has cut the training places for nurses and midwives.

7 He said: “We will not endanger universal coverage — we will make sure it remains a National Health Service.” June 2011.

Reality: The health service has already begun breaking up into local GP commissioning groups.

8 He said: Reforms were needed as there were 5,000-10,000 needless cancer deaths a year compared to other EU countries.

Reality: The NHS has helped achieve the biggest drop in cancer deaths among 10 leading countries.

9 He said: “We are not reorganising the bureaucracy of the NHS, we are abolishing bureaucracy.” March 2011.

Reality: The NHS will be saddled with even MORE bureaucracy with hundreds of new bodies set up to replace sacked managers.

10 He said: “The Government is fully behind the Health Bill.” Prime Minister’s Official spokesman.

Reality: Three Tory ministers have come out against it.

18,000 Americans die each year because they don’t have insurance.
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/hea ... deaths.htm

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

The problem we are faced with now is people think of £££££'s before they think of saving lives

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

but as jimbo says - you don't take people to the hospital free of charge - so why should a soldier not pay to get a bullet hole fixed?

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin