Don't treat the old and unhealthy, say doctors

[Ramrod]

Doctors are calling for NHS treatment to be withheld from patients who are too old or who lead unhealthy lives.......The findings of a survey conducted by Doctor magazine sparked a fierce row last night, with the British Medical Association and campaign groups describing the recommendations from family and hospital doctors as "out*rageous" and "disgraceful".......Among the survey of 870 family and hospital doctors, almost 60 per cent said the NHS could not provide full healthcare to everyone and that some individuals should pay for services.

One in three said that elderly patients should not be given free treatment if it were unlikely to do them good for long

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It would seem that many doctors have forgotten that their wages are being paid by the very people who they now want to deny treatment to because of their age......

[Shaun]

"Among the survey of 870 family and hospital doctors, almost 60 per cent said the NHS could not provide full healthcare to everyone and that some individuals should pay for services"

Easy to say when your're on £100k

[Ramrod]

I can't believe they have forgotten all the NI the elderly have paid through their lives to be finally told to sod off because of their age!

[TheNorm]

One in three said that elderly patients should not be given free treatment if it were unlikely to do them good for long.

Makes sense to me.

[danielf]

Hypocritic Oath anyone?

[WHISTLED]

Hypocritic Oath anyone

There is no such thing any more

[superbiatch]

Absoloutely ridiculous!

I tell you what, lets not treat the sick and we can save all the NHS money!!!

[TheNorm]

The NHS isn't a bottomless well of money. Why would you want money spent on treatments that don't make much difference to people?

[WHISTLED]

I'm on the fence, i suppose we need to understand the exceptions better

[superbiatch]

Originally Posted by TheNorm

The NHS isn't a bottomless well of money. Why would you want money spent on treatments that don't make much difference to people?

You have to have some give and take, i agree. But why should someone have the right to decide when an elderly person can or can't have a vital operation. Any extra time it gives them with their loved ones is a blessing which they probably wouldn't have had without treatment. And they have paid more than enough over the years!

Likewise with smoking, the revenue it brings in through taxes far outweighs what is paid out on smoking related illnesses.

---------- Post added at 22:20 ---------- Previous post was at 22:16 ----------

Originally Posted by WHISTLED

I'm on the fence, i suppose we need to understand the exceptions better

If someone WILL NOT quit smoking or drinking purely because they don't want to, then maybe lifesaving treatment such as lung/liver transplant should be witheld IMO But even if they do pack what they're doing in, how do you police it? You can't take it back once you've given them it.

[Help!!!]

What a joke, what is this country coming to. I dont think anyone has the rite to turn down sick people due to their age, I would pay all the money in the bank for a loved one to be with me that extra bit longer. Its a damm rite cheak to take the NI for 50+ years and when they actually need it turn them down. Im sorry this is wrong.

[greencreeper]

Not really a surprise. I spend a lot of time talking to GPs, and the majority are arrogant ******s with a superiority complex. And the money they earn

[swoop101]

Originally Posted by TheNorm

The NHS isn't a bottomless well of money. Why would you want money spent on treatments that don't make much difference to people?

The amount of money in the NHS is frightening £105.6bn
The amount of money wasted by management is totaly unacceptable.
75% on hospital managers have NO useful function whatsoever and should be desposed of.
The procurment departments of NHS trusts should be investigated for any fraudulent transactions and falsification of records, to prevent/stop a large portion of the budgets being stolen.

need I continue?

[jkat]

why smoking and eating?? they never mention sports injuries do they lolol cannot trust em anymore

[fireman328]

I would willingly opt out of the NHS if I could have my NI contributions channeled into the private sector instead of the very wasteful and overmanaged ,downright con trick we have now, and I speak as a non medical consultant who has seen the waste and top heavy "managers".