http://www.opinionjournal.com/editor...l?id=110006813

No doubt the standard leftist answer will be given.

THROW MORE MONEY AT IT.

__________________
"...quemadmodum gladius neminem occidit, occidentis telum est." [...a sword never kills anybody; it's a tool in the killer's hand.]
(from Lucius Annaeus Seneca, "the Younger," circa 4 BC-65 AD

"It's not myself, so why should I care about it?"

usuall reply by the left;

Demonize the right with a lie.



Notice you never even attempted addressing the actual article.....did you.

__________________
"...quemadmodum gladius neminem occidit, occidentis telum est." [...a sword never kills anybody; it's a tool in the killer's hand.]
(from Lucius Annaeus Seneca, "the Younger," circa 4 BC-65 AD

he's not a conservative. He bashes the right just as much as he bashes the left. He seems to be an equal opportunity offender.

I was listening to a Canadian radio show discussing this, and what I found interesting was the level of support in Canada for the current health system. There are problems, true; but not even the Conservatives are talking about outright scrapping national health care. They use "U.S.-style health care" as an epithet.

Even more interesting was finding out that Canada's system developed almost accidentally; it began as a limited system that slowly expanded to cover almost everyone. No wonder it doesn't work perfectly.

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Man up.

If you want to talk about inequity, look no further than our own borders. How many millions of people in the US have no health care and cannot afford it? How many of those are children? I'm amazed at the hostility that comes when it is suggested that every child in America should be guaranteed health coverage.

We're the richest nation on earth, but our disadvantaged don't see much equity in the system.

usuall reply by the left;

Demonize the right with a lie.



Notice you never even attempted addressing the actual article.....did you.
[/quote]

What response did you expect? Personally I think him using stereotypes as an arguments works just as well for him as it does for you, but that's just my opinion

Maybe that's because even though it may not be the best solution it is a solution. I'm lucky enough to live in the Yukon, or as i call the federal governments money crapper. We get enough money here to afford a working a healthcare system without the lines and what not.

Given the large number of Canadians that I know and that I have read about that would rather come to the US to pay for health care than get free health care in Canada. It seems the system is fine as long as you have no problems, but if you have a problem like breast cancer then a stay in NY paid entirely out of their pocket is the preferred way to go for those who can afford it.

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All you need to know about the energy crisis:
ANWR Exploration Republicans: 91% Supported. Democrats: 86% Opposed.
Coal-to-liquid R's: 90% YES. D's: 78% NO.
Oil Shale Exploration R's: 90% YES. D's: 86% NO.
Outer Continental Shelf Exploration R's: 81% YES. D's: 83% NO.
Increased Refinery Capacity R's: 97% YES. D's: 96% NO

SUMMARY: 91% of House Republicans have historically voted to increase the production of America’s own oil and gas. 86% of House Democrats have historically voted against.

I think there's room for both. A large number of people will seek private care if they can afford it and think it's worth it, even while a majority supports the national system. As well, there's a sizable chunk of people who support the idea of a private system alongside the government one.

My favorite part of researching Canadian stuff is the names. My current favorite: Paul Nesbitt-Larking, a political scientist at the University of Western Ontario.

Throw in some tophats and we have a Regency romance novel.

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Man up.

http://cm.ask.co.uk/i/a.gif?tis=la&a...34mcl&ord=6559




June 18, 2005

Go private or wait 80 weeks, patient told
By Nigel Hawkes, Health Editor

A HOSPITAL told a road accident victim that she would have to wait a year and a half for an NHS brain scan, but could have the procedure done privately at the same unit in two weeks, The Times has learnt.

In a case that highlights the crisis in diagnostic tests, King’s College Hospital, London, warned Rachel King that, because of “heavy demand”, the MRI scan that her consultant had sought could be delayed for 80 weeks.

But a handwritten note at the end of the letter gave a telephone number for the hospital’s “self-pay” private clinic, where she could have the procedure in two weeks for £983.

Ms King’s case is the starkest example yet of widespread delays in diagnostic tests across the health service. One in five trusts has waiting times of more than a year for MRI scans, and two in five have waits of more than six months.

A quarter of trusts said that 25 per cent or more of their scanning capacity was not used but lack of staff and resources prevent increased usage.

To cut the backlog, the Department of Health has signed a £90 million contract with Alliance Medical Ltd to provide mobile MRI scanners. The contract has proved controversial, but both AML and the department claim it is now working well and cutting waiting times.

Ms King, 32, from Erith, Kent, was knocked down by a car in January. She suffered a broken collarbone, five broken ribs, a shoulder blade broken in three places and head injuries. She was in hospital for 17 days. After she suffered dizzy spells and reduced vision, her consultant referred her for an MRI scan. She said that she was appalled to receive the letter from King’s, saying that, because of “heavy demand”, the scan would be delayed.

What added insult to injury was the handwritten note on the bottom, which read: “If you want to go privately call 0845 6080991 for prices.”

When she did, the telephone was answered by King’s College Self Pay, who said that the cost of such a scan was £983, and she could have the procedure in a couple of weeks.

“It’s insulting” she said. “I was absolutely distraught. I need reassurance that the damage isn’t permanent. All I want is to know if it is going to get better.

“I still have falls, and I can’t return to work or drive. I’ve never signed on the dole in my life but I have had to now.”

King’s College Hospital said in a statement that it recognised that an 80-week wait for scans was unacceptable. It had recently received funds to expand its services, with the aim of getting waiting times down to 26 weeks by next March.

Patients identified as clinically urgent by referring doctors would be seen sooner, the statement said. It added that the handwritten note had been included because Ms King had discussed with her consultant the possibility of going private.

“It is not considered best practice to have handwritten additions to letters and internal processes will be reviewed in the light of this letter,” it said.

Steve Webb, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, said: “It is simply appalling that while ministers crow about the drop in treatment waiting times, there are still thousands of people languishing for months, or even years, on hidden waiting lists.

“To have to wait 80 weeks just to get a diagnosis before you end up on the official waiting list figures is just simply not good enough.

“The NHS needs radical reform to ensure that scanners are used more efficiently, at evenings and weekends, and to cut these long waits.”

Andrew Lansley, the Shadow Health Secretary, said: “The Government talks about waiting times coming down but people are waiting far too long for diagnostics.

“There is increased MRI capacity but not enough staff in the NHS to keep them operating longer hours.”

Lord Warner, the Health Minister, said that no hospital should make patients feel pressured into pursuing private treatment. “It would be completely unacceptable for any hospital to ignore their obligations to provide speedy access to NHS treatment,” he said.

“Instances such as this demonstrate why the Government is right to continue to take urgent action to expand capacity in the NHS. By 2008 nobody will wait longer than 18 weeks from GP appointment to treatment.”

Other cases have illustrated similar problems:

# Keith Taylor, a retired teacher from Derby who suffers from tremors in his hands, was told by Derbyshire Royal Infirmary that he faced a 12-month wait for an MRI scan — but got it in weeks by paying £400.

# At Kingston Hospital, Southwest London, a leaked letter from a radiologist revealed that waits for scans had risen in the past year from 26 to 52 weeks, and were soon expected to reach 78 weeks. Dr Caroline Ward said that there was spare scanning capacity but no money to use it. It would be used only for urgent referrals and private patients in March as the year’s budget had been spent.



Copyright 2005 Times Newspapers Ltd.
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