The reform party has agreed to continue the triple lock

Iam64

I’m seeing a consultant five days after my gp referred me. I had the choice of waiting 18 weeks for an initial (nhs) appointment at our excellent local hospital, or 7 days to be seen at our local private hospital within seven days

The NHS has been using private hospitals in this way for years.

That is similar to our experiences.

My sister initially saw an NHS oncologist, one week after her initial GP appointment, then a private one (who is also working in the NHS) removed the melanoma, now she is receiving treatment from the NHS, and every bit of it has been brilliant.

No waiting lists for emergency heart of course and frankly the NHS is second to none in this field.

I waited 1 month for the process towards gall bladder removal after my initial A&E emergency - it had been removed within two months.

Before those supporting Reform finally put their X in the box, I think that they need to ensure and be quite confident that they can afford private health insurance. They also need to be clear what happens if they can’t afford health insurance. Look at the USA model - I believe that this is the model favoured by Farage? - so not just at what the private health is like in the USA, but what happens to the many millions who can’t afford it.

Casdon

The Reform plan will not work ronib, because there is not additional untapped capacity. It’s a systemic problem in the UK, which requires investment to increase the number of doctors and support services to meet demand, not a sticking plaster job.

There could be a lot more capacity if those that could afford it paid more, not through general taxation but direct into health care. That would free up space for those that cant afford it

Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Denmark, Italy. Abu Dhabi has exceptional care. DAR

Cossy

twaddle

Is calling people "Virtue Signaling Wokes" rude?

I think it’s very rude whilst at the same time being utter nonsense, so chose to ignore it!

"Rude" has no meaning in the context of the wide mixture of cultural differences on a forum such as this. Calling people names is, however, a personal attack on another member - sometimes because of those cultural differences - but I'm not sure GNHQ care about this any more. They did at one time.

ronib

Other countries have much shorter waiting lists for health treatment than here. There’s nothing remotely ridiculous about not having to wait months and months for treatment. Reform is going to get votes if it comes up with a plan to make the private sector even wealthier than it is now…..

Which other countries "ronib"?

I imagine there are some shorter waiting lists in the US - some people would simply not be able to afford the treatment so never get near the list. This is exactly what Reform want for our country.

It’s a good sound bite. For all we know, private doctors might rush in to the country if the financial incentive is there. After all, let’s not forget that junior doctors are demanding 2008 wages and money is possibly the main motivation?

I’m seeing a consultant five days after my gp referred me. I had the choice of waiting 18 weeks for an initial (nhs) appointment at our excellent local hospital, or 7 days to be seen at our local private hospital within seven days

The NHS has been using private hospitals in this way for years.

The Reform plan will not work ronib, because there is not additional untapped capacity. It’s a systemic problem in the UK, which requires investment to increase the number of doctors and support services to meet demand, not a sticking plaster job.

Other countries have much shorter waiting lists for health treatment than here. There’s nothing remotely ridiculous about not having to wait months and months for treatment. Reform is going to get votes if it comes up with a plan to make the private sector even wealthier than it is now…..

Sounds ridiculous to me ronib. The private sector is already used to cut NHS waiting lists., there is no magic bullet of untapped capacity. Most doctors who work privately are also contracted for the majority of their time to the NHS, and are working full time or more between their two roles.

A google search suggests that Reform wants to remove waiting lists for patients by using the private sector. Vouchers for private care will be given if a gp can’t be seen within 3 days. Also for seeing a consultant. Sounds good to me.

Says who? Maremia. Not a vote catcher?

But if Reform gets into power, we will have to start paying for our own
statins
blood pressure tablets
insulin
omeprozole
cancer drugs
Get the picture?

Pensioners do pay tax . Some pensioners pay more tax than you would expect.

GNs if you need proof of what Reform in power actually does please go back and read
Chocolatelovingran's
post.
Thanks for posting.

Allira

^The payments pensioners receive far far exceed any monies they paid in NI and taxes.^
That is entirely dependent upon how long they live after retirement age. Some of course, never reach retirement age despite paying NI and taxes all their lives, like my SiL's DB who died just two weeks before he retired.

Not only NI payments, we also cost the NHS far more in retirement than before retirement, so live longer than the working population can afford to pay for us.

No Casdon. That’s his only saving grace.

The payments pensioners receive far far exceed any monies they paid in NI and taxes.
That is entirely dependent upon how long they live after retirement age. Some of course, never reach retirement age despite paying NI and taxes all their lives, like my SiL's DB who died just two weeks before he retired.

ruthiek

I would never vote for reform , but I think the triple lock is important, there are a lot of pensioners who are living way below the the national living wage, and we must never forget this is not a benefit , we paid in to it just like your private pension , we had a contract with the government . It shocks me that young people generally believe that all oap’s are well off and dont believe they should live a decent life .

You're on the wrong track. The State Pension IS a benefit, although you may not like the taste of that word in your mouth. The government classes it as a benefit and has always done so.
The payments pensioners receive far far exceed any monies they paid in NI and taxes. Retirees now receiving their SP are being funded by the workers of today, through their NI and tax contributions and paid by the government to you via the DWP according to your own NI record.
During your working life, your NI and taxes went towards the State Pensions of all retirees of that time.
That's how it works and if you Google the question, you'll get the same answer. It's a benefit. Today's workers are paying the SP of all those who are retired.

The Blob I think is broadly speaking the Civil Service, the Bank of England, net zero activists, basically groups who dominate social policy. Economists who don’t support economic growth but prefer the dominant economic model of high taxation and high borrowing. Liz Truss is particularly concerned about the influence of the Blob. JPB123

ronib, who is The Blob?

sixandahalf
I think it was rude of you to ask as you have no interest in that party, therefore me telling you what interests me about their manifesto is of no interest to you, apart from giving you a bone to bite on.

Reform constantly change direction, their election ‘pledges to the people’ had many tax pledges including increasing the personal allowance to £20,000 but recently they said this was not viable. Last May Farage said he was in favour of lifting the two child benefit cap now he is against the two child benefit cap. He alsomseems to be having a change of heart about Trump since Trump’s favourability rating has plummeted.

“ If you scratch a conservative, you’ll find a fascist” kind of makes sense though, but the substitution of liberal for conservative makes no sense at all.

However, grateful to Allira for looking this up and I stand corrected

GG13

I have certain friends & family members with whom I just don’t discuss politics, the remainder I know are a mix of Tories, Labour and Green.