Sunday
Apr292012
"Lifestyle rationing" and the NHS
Sunday, April 29, 2012 at 15:10 My son is playing rugby today which is why, a couple of hours ago, I was interviewed by LBC while standing in a large, wet, muddy field in deepest Cambridgeshire.
I was asked to comment on a report in today's Observer that "a majority of doctors support measures to deny treatment to smokers and the obese".
Full story: Doctors back denial of treatment for smokers and the obese
Reader Comments (7)
Fine ,refuse to treat me.
I just will refuse to pay the 1500 quid I put towards the national nanny service every year.
And take out private health care instead.
Seriously if you refuse to treat I will refuse to pay.
You wrote "The Royal College of Physicians, which has close links to ASH".
Not just close links - They have a parental bond!
From the ASH website - "Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) was established in 1971 (20 January) by the Royal College of Physicians."
I suspect that the percentage of doctors who would support this move would be far, far lower if the survey hadn't been "self-selecting." I daresay that the ones who opted to take part were the over-zealous, sanctimonious, "we know best" types who are always keen to get their six penn'orth in whenever they have the chance and who, in my experience, are pretty few and far between. Most doctors are smart enough to recognise that such discrimination, if accepted as justified, could and would very easily be extended to any other "unacceptable" lifestyle-followers whenever the need arose for a bit of cash to be saved.
It's just a pity that it's always the holier-than-thou types who shout the loudest and get the press coverage, thus giving the impression that they are speaking for the whole profession, which clearly they are not. So it's good - and refreshingly surprising - to see the counter-arguments being made from some of the professional associations.
How’s this for an idea, Take the taxes that smokers pay in each year, what is it now.... £8billion? And set up 5 or 6 hospitals over the country. They could be placed strategically to ensure all areas are covered. With that amount of funding each hospital would be very well staffed by sympathetic doctors and nurses as well as equipped with the most up to date equipment. They would be for the treatment of smokers only. Surely that would please everyone? We smokers would be, in effect, paying for our own treatment so not depriving any clean living perfect people from being treated in all the other hospitals in the country.
Ah but Barbara, if we did that you would have the billions in tobacco duty AS WELL as 25% of the population's NI contributions to fund those hospitals.
Essentially smokers' hospitals would be 5* affairs, with three course meals, jacuzzis, spas and morning champagne, while the non-smoker's hospitals would be decrepit, crumbling cess-pits of filth staffed by a part-time nurse and a porter.
And that would never do. Best to just take the smokers'money and then refuse to treat them! It's win-win, if you're a health fascist!
It always amazes me that when people talk about the economic costs of smoking they only ever mention the tobacco duty (that in itself pays for "smoking-related costs" four times over, remember).
Er, but smokers pay tax and NI too, you know. As a smoker and drinker who does a lot of miles a year and is also a higher rate tax payer, if I had some Dr refusing to treat me after paying in to the damn system for decades and having nothing out of it in all that time, I would go crazy. Seriously, I wouldn't be held accountable for my actions.
And presumably, if I required treatment I may not even be too concerned about living long enough to make it to prison, in which case they should seriously think twice about I would take such news..
Mr A
Ah but Barbara, if we did that you would have the billions in tobacco duty AS WELL as 25% of the population's NI contributions to fund those hospitals.
Essentially smokers' hospitals would be 5* affairs, with three course meals, jacuzzis, spas and morning champagne, while the non-smoker's hospitals would be decrepit, crumbling cess-pits of filth staffed by a part-time nurse and a porter.........
Your right of course, but if I encounter a self righteous doctor or nurse I always say “ excuse me Sir/ madam, let’s just get things straight “You Work for me!!!!! I am not here for your benefit you are here, paid for by me, for my benefit, so let’s start again recognizing who’s in charge here. Remember the Hippocratic oath you took. Say this quietly and with confidence it makes them think. However they will hate you for ever but as long as they do their job .........
I agree Barbara. We should also get enhanced old age pensions. A smoker can buy 20% more pension than a non smoker. Google smoker annuities for more information.