My fear is privatisation of the NHS and I am pretty sure it will happen in my lifetime.It's buckling under the strain,woefully understaffed and again,who will raise taxes?On balance I would prefer to spend my savings on a trip to Switzerland rather than endure the existence my poor old Dad is sufferingI may have missed something, but I don't think I've come across anyone, on this thread or elsewhere, who has agreed with the concept of care homes effectively forcing self-funders to subsidise other residents. I don't see how it can conceivably be justified.
I also believe that the state should pay the costs of anyone who needs care as a result of a disease. I'm sure that if the situation were properly explained, most people would be prepared to pay more tax if they understood that they would not have to pay for their own care even if they turned out to be one of the increasing number of people who develop dementia, or any other serious condition or disease that meant that they would require care.
And if you were to end your life at a ripe old age having suffered no major disease, you should and probably would be very thankful for that. The fact that you would have paid contributions that helped to fund a safety net for others less fortunate than you would probably not trouble you too much.
I may have missed something, but I don't think I've come across anyone, on this thread or elsewhere, who has agreed with the concept of care homes effectively forcing self-funders to subsidise other residents. I don't see how it can conceivably be justified.
I also believe that the state should pay the costs of anyone who needs care as a result of a disease. I'm sure that if the situation were properly explained, most people would be prepared to pay more tax if they understood that they would not have to pay for their own care even if they turned out to be one of the increasing number of people who develop dementia, or any other serious condition or disease that meant that they would require care.
And if you were to end your life at a ripe old age having suffered no major disease, you should and probably would be very thankful for that. The fact that you would have paid contributions that helped to fund a safety net for others less fortunate than you would probably not trouble you too much.
I really feel that this whole area needs to be looked at by government - why should people who have been financially prudent all their lives be expected to help out those who are less so? My parents were never well off but tried to keep money to leave to their children. This isn't now going to happen - and I have no trouble with this at all - it was their money, after all. But, it is so wrong that their hard won savings should potentially be used to subsidise others.
The neglect of last year's King's Fund report has been utterly shameful. We must integrate health and 'social' care and in the long run pay more in taxes to fund it. In the short term I think the system will collapse before any worthwhile action is taken, with terrible results.