NHS

Absolutely travelsafar the same applies to people with decent pensions, and there are many, not having to pay NI after retirement.
It is they who are mostly using the service long term.

Some time ago we discussed on here the amount of equipment loaned out to patients in the community with no method of returning it so that people are forced to try to find it a 'home' often in a private care home or sadly at the local dump. Massive savings could be made.

For me a huge overhaul of the GP contract would help as it seems designed to pull people into the system and pay GPs for unnecessary testing. Screening for all sorts of conditions is known to be flawed but requires research to refine it.

Management costs are astronomical. I probably said before just one example is when I was working as a Nurse Manager yet another government initiative must do caused us to hold a monthly meeting of up to 20 NHS and Social Care managers to come up with shared patients notes - hospital to community. After 2 years it folded as there was no agreement fraught as it was with pedantry, territorialism and downright cussedness on all parts.
Nothing has changed.

In a few weeks time I will no longer have use for two sets of crutches, two Zimmer frames, a commode, a tipping chair, something to get me on and off a loo easily and a nifty kitchen trolley. I do not intend to get rid of anything- some I have had for years and I am slowly adding to my collection which I will place in my garden shed because I am certain I will need these items again.

It is a disgraceful waste of money because nothing is cheap. The only item I would ditch would be the commode- hot soapy water applied to everything else and they would be like new.

It may not be like this throughout the country but this is London.

I agree those with a high income retired should pay NI contributions. I include myself and husband in this. Simple cheap painkillers antacids eye drops should not be available on script. EVERYONE should pay a small price for prescriptions. except of course those on basic benefits. In NIreland prescriptions are free and we lose much needed income.

I agree, it is ridiculous that we get all sorts of things free just because we are over 60 - prescriptions, bus passes, winter fuel allowance, which we don't need.

As a volunteer driver, DH has been asked to take equipment back to hospitals.

Incorrect information travelsofar

From 2019, the State Pension age will increase for both men and women to reach 66 by October 2020.

The Government is planning further increases, which will raise the State Pension age from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028.

Not 68 as you stated just thought I’d point this out

I think pension age should rise in relation to increased lifespan. Or else pension contributions would have to rise seems logical .

Agree. It is ridiculous to think that people should expect to receive pensions for 30 years or so. And, we are, mostly, healthier for longer so could work until 70. (ducks behind sofa!)

Once again the winter fuel allowance comes up as a separate item from pensions but what everyone seems to have forgotten is that when it was introduced it was instead of a pension increase so it should be incorporated into the state pension and we should all pay tax on it. Save on admin too.

I think there is a lot of wasting in the NHS. DH had a suspicious mole, was referred to the hospital, it was removed straight away and sent for testing. Good.

I had a small growth in my mouth and was referred to the hospital. I saw a doctor who confirmed what my GP and dentist said, I had a growth in my mouth. I had to wait for another appointment to have it removed. I asked the doc removing it why it couldn't have all been done at the same time and she said that the doc may think it is a different size to the dentist! The treatment was the same whatever size it was and it didn't need 2 hospital docs to decide. A friend had a growth on her eye and the same thing happened to her. What a waste of time.

DH needed major back surgery at a hospital about 1 1/2 hours drive away. He had to go for a pre-op blood test at 0830 and then for other pre-op tests on a different day, also early in the morning. Why couldn't it be patient friendly and on the same day? Why couldn't they have called patients who lived nearer for the early appointments? All this was bad enough but he had to go through this process 4 times because the results were out of date each time as they were not linked to the date of the surgery! He even had a letter about one appointment on a bank holiday followed by another saying the appointment had to be changed "due to unforeseen circumstances"!

I was kept in hospital all weekend because there was no one to sign me off.

On another occasion I was kept in hospital over night because the person who was supposed to do my lumber puncture didn't turn up. It was only because I said I was signing myself out that they finally did it late the next day.

DH was recently referred as an urgent case to our local hospital and didn't hear anything. An excellent GP was very cross and called them and they said they didn't have the referral. He now has to go for a pre-op appointment before going for a colonoscopy.

I am not complaining about care, I don't have any reason to but I am complaining about admin and the 'system'.

But the Wfa comes separately nonnie and we certainly don't need it. We give it to charity but that isn't really the point!

I recently had a knee replacement. I cannot complain about the care generally: it was excellent.
However, I did note what I thought was a waste. I was sent by my GP to our local investigation centre where I had the appropriate x-rays. When I saw the consultant, I was sent off to have them all done again. It was only a couple of weeks since I had the originals done.

OldMeg thank you for pointing out my error.I must admit that with all the changes its is quite easy to get the pension age incorrect by a year. That still doesn't change the fact that many people from the age of 60 are still working and many could afford to pay for a one off prescription now and then. As i said in original post i am not including those on regular repeat prescriptions with chronic illnesses.

All prescriptions are free in Scotland because the cost of administering a scheme whereby some pay and others do not outweighs the income generated.

kitty you may not need the WFA but many do and surely the point is that it really is part of everyone's retirement pension except that it has not been increased over the years and is therefore worth less than it would have been. You could still give it to charity if it was included in your pension.

travelsafar I agree. I was shocked when some, quite well off visitors, happened to mention they regularly get OTC medicine eg paracetamol, on prescription.

Also I’m a hard-nosed old Scot who believes that those who’ve brought their illness on themselves by choosing to smoke, drink and overeat ought to bear some of the cost.

Not sure how it would actually work and I’m already anticipating a bombardment for statimg this opinion, but why should one section of society (eg children with cerebral palsy) be unable to access life changing surgery because of the gluttony of another section of society?

But it isn't nonnie and could so easily be targeted to those who claim specific benefits, such as pension credit, as could bus passes, free prescriptions etc.