I joined when it first started.
A lad of seventeen.
I thought it rather wonderful
And that is how it's been.
For nearly fifty years I paid
Happy to do just that.
But like the population
It's got to be too fat.
It's only human nature
If something's there for free.
They cease to see it's value
And soak it up with glee.
So what will be it's future?
That isn't hard to see.
Free at the point of use
It might no longer be. 
So true Don. Sad isn't it. Xxxxx
Very true Don. Hope everything is okay and Midge is well. XXX
How very true, really sadxxx
Don, what is threatening the free at point of delivery NHS isn't overuse or taking for granted but government cuts and privatisation whereby shareholders' profit comes before clinical need. It's not that I completely disagree with you - there is overpaid management, and some patients who don't try to help themselves, but private companies who make cuts and lay off staff to increase their profits will be what finishes it off.
I'm convinced the basic problem is 'according to ones needs' has become 'according to what one can get for nowt'. Most other problems stem from that one fact. Not only with the NHS incidently.
Maybe I'm naive, Don, but I'm scratching my head here. What things can you get free from the NHS without actually needing them for health reasons? Can you give an example?
I'm sure I could come up with a very long list if I had the time. One recent example on my travels a man told me that he got three of every thing on prescription, one for the house, another for the car and a third for his caravan so he wouldn't be without. I had just bought a handbag to carry about for that purpose, he thought I was mad. His wife had two hearing aids which she never uses.
But he's not going to use all 3 inhalers at once, so they'll last him 3 times as long. And his wife wouldn't have been given hearing aids if she didn't have hearing loss. Some people just can't get on with them. She should hand them back though. I don't mean to argue, Don, but I think patient-abuse of the NHS is a very small problem. It suits the Government, & its media mouthpieces like the Daily Mail, to pretend otherwise. I agree with O2Trees on this.
Fairy Nuff 
😊
Very perceptive comment Hanne, such a shame so few share your insight. A hostile right wing media, of which the Daily Mail is a prime example, will seek to bury the Labour leader, portraying him as an incompetent fool, thereby clearing the decks for a massively increased Tory majority and a "mandate" to privatise health care. We will all be the worse off for this as the NHS is the greatest gift ever bestowed on a nation and it is dying amidst a sea of apathy.
There was more freeloading at the launch. Lots rushed to get free dentures, sometimes getting good teeth removed to do so.
Charges were only brought in 4 years later.
Launched 1948. Prescription charges of one shilling (5p) are introduced and a flat rate of £1 for ordinary dental treatment is also brought in on June 1 1952. Prescription charges are abolished in 1965 and prescriptions remain free until June 1968, when the charges are reintroduced.
What I think is wrong is the fact if anyone goes on holiday they Have to get an insurance to cover themselves incase of accidents, But anyone coming to our country just get it free But it should Only be free for the people who live and work in the uk British people are getting ripped off with everything and taxed to death it's wrong,
Very interesting, but.... not necessarily true. Our elder daughter lives in Ireland, no national health service, most people take out private health insurance. She says that A&E in Sligo Hospital is always absolutely inundated and chaotic with unnecessary, demanding patients because they have all paid their insurance, feel entitled and want their money's worth.
I know there are always horror stories about people phoning the emergency services for trivial things, and the tabloids hype it all up. But the vast, vast majority of people are sensible, thoughtful and the silly stuff is probably balanced by those who leave it dangerously late.
K
Then you get the other people like me, who walked around with a broken hand for a month because I didn't want to go to A&E, for what I thought was three broken fingers.
I think you opened up a can of worms with this one Don lol
Good isn't it? It had gone so quiet. 😉🚐
It is my view that nhs is being bled dry by grossly overpaid managers. Bank nurses, doctors and consultants who again are being paid more than regular staff. I could go on but don't see an answer to this no matter which party is in power. Shame as our NHS was once the envy of the world
I do know of people who use a&e instead of a gp as they don't want to wait for an appointment so blocking the dept. I know it because they tell me. That is an abuse of the service. When mum went into hospital for the last sign there was a big sign saying if you have vomiting please don't go in speak to your gp. The place was full of people with sick bowls which can spread to others including staff leading to bed shortages. I agree there are too many managers and was surprised to see sisters (trained medical staff) are now called ward managers and spend most of their time in an office instead of looking after patients.
I'm not one for turning back the clock but in this instance I will say bring back the ward clerks to do the paperwork and Matrons who know what a hospital should look like and have fewer paper sifters and bean counters.
We. Are. Lucky. To have a NHS. I. Think. It should look at. Your history. And family back ground. And iam sorry to say this family background but saying that. How could you refuse. Someone who's in need. Or in pain. Surly. People. Who. Are new here. Must. Relize. this service. Is precious. And that if they have had life saving treatment. Would pay back. More. Because. It's at breaking point now. I. Cannot see. How it can go on unless. It changes. We. Must. Be. Very. Thankfull. And. Do how best. To. Stay out of hos. There needs to be changes. To prevent. People getting so ill that they end up. Needing to go hos. But. The. Government. Does waste a millions. We. The. Little people. Only. Get a sertain. Standard. They. The. High. Get. Care. Way way. Higher standard. This. Is unfair. When we ate IIl. We. All deserve. The best. So many times I hear. Of. Terriable. Things. And people suffer. Or die. Here in. London. Quite. Good care. But. Mistakes. Do. Happen that's why. Best to. Stay out of hos. So look after yourself. Eat well and not to much. And stop smoking and drinking. And try to. Do exersize. When. And where possiable . One last. Thing. Is time to drink. Ok. She seems to have many who care for her. What. Hos. Is she in. ?? Just a thought. Well. I Hope I have not. Bored you to much. Or upset any one. . Goodbye. Paul.
really anxious after NHS appointment 
Covid and the NHS
Our 3 month trip to SE Asia.
We are all so poorer for the loss of our dear friend Skischool
