Quote of the Day

"Our National Health Service is one of this country’s greatest assets.

And it’s right that when people come here legitimately they should be able to use it.

But we should be clear that what we have is a free National Health Service…

…not a free International Health Service."


David Cameron

Comments

Jim said…
We most certainly do not have a free National health service. Granted it does not cost you anything to use it at the time or place of use, that may well be true, but it most certainly is not Free It is paid for by the British taxpayer, it is very inefficient, and very expensive.

Internationals (i.e. non british taxpayers) are about the only onces who could argue that it's free to them.

Its due to people perceiving the NHS as a free service that its so often abused, missed appointments etc. People think oh well it does not cost anything and I feel a bit better so I won't go. Of course this costs all of us, and it costs us all a lot more than small change.
9:27 am
Jim said…
We most certainly do not have a free National health service. Granted it does not cost you anything to use it at the time or place of use, that may well be true, but it most certainly is not Free It is paid for by the British taxpayer, it is very inefficient, and very expensive.

Internationals (i.e. non british taxpayers) are about the only onces who could argue that it's free to them.

Its due to people perceiving the NHS as a free service that its so often abused, missed appointments etc. People think oh well it does not cost anything and I feel a bit better so I won't go. Of course this costs all of us, and it costs us all a lot more than small change.

If you remember nothing else, then remember that nothing, absolutely nothing, that involves government at any stage is free/
5:23 pm
Chris Whiteside said…
In the Milton Friedman sense that "there is no such thing as a free lunch" you are of course right that we pay for the NHS through our taxes.

Cameron was right in the sense that it is free at the point of delivery and that is why the measures in his speech are necessary.
9:50 pm
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