Unpopular Opinions You Hold

[leicesterlad1989]

15 hours ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

I read recently that there were 12 million GP appointments missed last year, costing the NHS over £168m 

 

And 6 million hospital outpatient appointments were also missed, costing over £225m

 

The problem with the NHS being free, is that some people don't put a value on it. 

 

If people had to pay for missed appointments then they might think twice. There's no consequence which is why some people take the piss.

Agree with this 100%

 

There's also those who waste reception staff, doctors and nurses time with ridiculous injuries and ailments. Some of the stories the wife tells me are laughable and bloody annoying for those who genuinely require care. The numbers who attend the hospital with common colds appears to be increasing along with those who are referred to the hospital by their GP because they cannot handle the traffic of people at their surgery.

 

One particular lady attended Urgent Care not so long ago with a paper cut...yes a bloody paper cut! That isn't even the worst or strangest but that's for a different topic.

 

I'd also say the NHS has a problem whereby there appears to be too many managers not actually managing anyone, yet require a hefty salary. This issue isn't just contained to the NHS though.

[Guest seanfox778]

Vinegar on chips completely ruins them.

[Alf Bentley]

20 minutes ago, seanfox778 said:

Vinegar on chips completely ruins them.

 

Mustard is better, admittedly.

[Smudge]

I just thought I'd help out with how the US system works as it affects me and as I know it

 

All local governments and most companies provide health cover as a remuneration benefit. If not and you are fairly young, health insurance can be bought for about $300 per month. Prices go up as you get older and can be up to $600 by the age of 65.

 

Those who are in dire straits can apply for no cost Medicaid and have health cover under that shelter.

 

Over 65 you are entitled to Medicare which costs about 100 per month. In actual fact it is taken off your pension each month. On top of that you can pay for supplemental insurance to avoid co-pays and get free selection of health care suppliers. 

 

Obviously under Trump this is a moving target but I am trying to give an idea of what the current status is.

 

The service is magnificent, I have a primary care doctor (GP) who sees me once a year for an annual check up. She has a full blood panel taken at that time and based on the results has spotted various abnormalities and then sets me up with a specialist depending on urgency. I had a lesion on my thyroid and I was in for scans the next week afterwards I was set up to see a specialist the week after. Going back to the blood tests, I have them taken and by the time I get home, there is an email telling me to visit the health care providers web site where all my results are available for review.

 

Living in and around Boston, we are blessed with having access to some of the best facilities in the world. 

 

Having said that there may be some caught in a hole that doesn't allow them to pay for or receive health cover and I am sure they are suffering. I'm told there are charities that do help these people. I do believe that local government should deal with these situations not Washington.

 

I was much younger when I lived in the UK so I needed health care very occasionally but I have elderly friends and relatives back there now and many wait weeks for a test and even longer to meet a specialist. I know which system I prefer.

 

There is an issue over long term health care, if you need a nursing home you are in trouble unless you had the foresight to get insurance for that.

Edited 3 November 2017 by Smudge

[TiffToff88]

I'm fully prepared for the abuse heading my way for this one, but...

 

Hossein Kaebi was not as bad as you lot make him out to be. In fairness, he was never going to be Ballon D'Or material, but he had a decent amount of pace and ability for the p1ss poor championship club we were at the time he was with us.

[Rogstanley]

1 hour ago, TiffToff88 said:

I'm fully prepared for the abuse heading my way for this one, but...

 

Hossein Kaebi was not as bad as you lot make him out to be. In fairness, he was never going to be Ballon D'Or material, but he had a decent amount of pace and ability for the p1ss poor championship club we were at the time he was with us.

He has gone on to play for all the top clubs as well. All the top clubs in Iran.

[leicsmac]

3 hours ago, Smudge said:

I just thought I'd help out with how the US system works as it affects me and as I know it

 

All local governments and most companies provide health cover as a remuneration benefit. If not and you are fairly young, health insurance can be bought for about $300 per month. Prices go up as you get older and can be up to $600 by the age of 65.

 

Those who are in dire straits can apply for no cost Medicaid and have health cover under that shelter.

 

Over 65 you are entitled to Medicare which costs about 100 per month. In actual fact it is taken off your pension each month. On top of that you can pay for supplemental insurance to avoid co-pays and get free selection of health care suppliers. 

 

Obviously under Trump this is a moving target but I am trying to give an idea of what the current status is.

 

The service is magnificent, I have a primary care doctor (GP) who sees me once a year for an annual check up. She has a full blood panel taken at that time and based on the results has spotted various abnormalities and then sets me up with a specialist depending on urgency. I had a lesion on my thyroid and I was in for scans the next week afterwards I was set up to see a specialist the week after. Going back to the blood tests, I have them taken and by the time I get home, there is an email telling me to visit the health care providers web site where all my results are available for review.

 

Living in and around Boston, we are blessed with having access to some of the best facilities in the world. 

 

Having said that there may be some caught in a hole that doesn't allow them to pay for or receive health cover and I am sure they are suffering. I'm told there are charities that do help these people. I do believe that local government should deal with these situations not Washington.

 

I was much younger when I lived in the UK so I needed health care very occasionally but I have elderly friends and relatives back there now and many wait weeks for a test and even longer to meet a specialist. I know which system I prefer.

 

There is an issue over long term health care, if you need a nursing home you are in trouble unless you had the foresight to get insurance for that.

Interesting viewpoint - I'm in that corner of the world right now and it is rather nice, isn't it?

 

However...I think there are a few details that might be added to this.

 

Local government and companies do provide health cover - provided the company you work for has more than 50 employees. The type of insurance you get - specifically what it covers - often also depends on the company, too (see Hobby Lobby for an example there).

 

Health insurance for those who cannot get it through their workplace is indeed available for about $300 per month to begin with - but this price, while being quite steep to begin with, doesn't take into account either deductibles or copays, which have the potential for big one-time costs by themselves should anything troublesome happen that requires attention. For instance, on a $1500 deductible, for instance, you're paying $1500 before the insurance company even gets involved and even after that you're likely going to be sharing the cost with the company. It's not like they step in and handle everything, even for 300 bucks a month.

 

It also doesn't take into account pre-existing conditions - if you have a problem since childhood that is chronic, for instance, many insurance companies won't cover care for that particular problem and if they do they will charge massive premiums to do so, simply because they know they're going to have to pay out.

Medicaid can be applied for if you're flat out broke - but the conditions for getting it are exacting regarding income etc and what it covers is extremely bare-bones. It may be that when I begin to work in this country my wife will not be able to afford health insurance because our combined incomes are too high for Medicaid, but too low to choose a different insurance premium, for instance. I'm going to have to do some serious maths to make sure that my income means that's not the case. And, of course, given that the current administration wants to take a hatchet to low-cost healthcare anyway....

 

Quite simply...there is a reason there are many hundreds of thousands of people in US file for bankruptcy on account of medical expenses every year.

I don't think that there is an argument about US healthcare in terms of outcomes and standard - it is bleeding edge for the most part. You get seen quick, you get tended to quick, and often to a very high standard. That shouldn't be in question.

 

What is and should be in question, however, is whether that high standard is available to everyone across the country as a baseline regardless of their ability to afford it and affecting their financial outcomes significantly afterwards, in the same way that it is in the UK.

 

That appears to be definitively not the case.

[The Doctor]

3 hours ago, TiffToff88 said:

I'm fully prepared for the abuse heading my way for this one, but...

 

Hossein Kaebi was not as bad as you lot make him out to be. In fairness, he was never going to be Ballon D'Or material, but he had a decent amount of pace and ability for the p1ss poor championship club we were at the time he was with us.

He played about two games for us, how can you pass judgement on him as a player for us?

[Captain...]

7 hours ago, foxoffderby said:

Who said I was talking about myself? I drink smoke and still get into tangles from time to time. You might want to avoid me at the match on a Saturday. I stand by what I said the thread is called unpopular opinions you hold. Not start judging people by your own standards. I'll leave it that.

 

What an odd response, nothing was meant as judgemental, I quoted you specifically about the cigarettes and alcohol comment as it has been shown that tax on cigarettes brings in more money in tax than it costs the NHS to treat cigarette related illnesses.

 

The rest was me just giving my opinion, not sure why any of that would mean I might want to avoid you. 

[Smudge]

1 hour ago, leicsmac said:

Interesting viewpoint - I'm in that corner of the world right now and it is rather nice, isn't it?

 

However...I think there are a few details that might be added to this.

 

Local government and companies do provide health cover - provided the company you work for has more than 50 employees. The type of insurance you get - specifically what it covers - often also depends on the company, too (see Hobby Lobby for an example there).

 

Health insurance for those who cannot get it through their workplace is indeed available for about $300 per month to begin with - but this price, while being quite steep to begin with, doesn't take into account either deductibles or copays, which have the potential for big one-time costs by themselves should anything troublesome happen that requires attention. For instance, on a $1500 deductible, for instance, you're paying $1500 before the insurance company even gets involved and even after that you're likely going to be sharing the cost with the company. It's not like they step in and handle everything, even for 300 bucks a month.

 

It also doesn't take into account pre-existing conditions - if you have a problem since childhood that is chronic, for instance, many insurance companies won't cover care for that particular problem and if they do they will charge massive premiums to do so, simply because they know they're going to have to pay out.

Medicaid can be applied for if you're flat out broke - but the conditions for getting it are exacting regarding income etc and what it covers is extremely bare-bones. It may be that when I begin to work in this country my wife will not be able to afford health insurance because our combined incomes are too high for Medicaid, but too low to choose a different insurance premium, for instance. I'm going to have to do some serious maths to make sure that my income means that's not the case. And, of course, given that the current administration wants to take a hatchet to low-cost healthcare anyway....

 

Quite simply...there is a reason there are many hundreds of thousands of people in US file for bankruptcy on account of medical expenses every year.

I don't think that there is an argument about US healthcare in terms of outcomes and standard - it is bleeding edge for the most part. You get seen quick, you get tended to quick, and often to a very high standard. That shouldn't be in question.

 

What is and should be in question, however, is whether that high standard is available to everyone across the country as a baseline regardless of their ability to afford it and affecting their financial outcomes significantly afterwards, in the same way that it is in the UK.

 

That appears to be definitively not the case.

As I understand it, the affordable health bill allows for pre-existing conditions.

 

If you are in Massachusetts, you should meet up with SHINE, its a free counseling service they will direct you on what is right for you. 

 

I have been with Blue Cross/ Blue Shield for years and they are extremely good. You can avoid co-pays etc. by paying more. It's worth it for my age, maybe you don't need it.

 

 

Edited 3 November 2017 by Smudge

[Webbo]

Miranda, although not the best show you'll ever see, isn't as bad as some claim.

[Carl the Llama]

6 minutes ago, Webbo said:

Miranda, although not the best show you'll ever see, isn't as bad as some claim.

I doff my cap to thee, you win the thread.

[separator]

18 minutes ago, Webbo said:

Miranda, although not the best show you'll ever see, isn't as bad as some claim.

Its hard to believe that the BBC once made great comedies, when these days its churning out shit like Miranda, Mrs Browns Boys & Citizen Khan.

[Guest MattP]

7 minutes ago, separator said:

Its hard to believe that the BBC once made great comedies, when these days its churning out shit like Miranda, Mrs Browns Boys & Citizen Khan.

Tragic really. 

 

Although you probably couldn't even make a show like Extras now for fear of offence let alone something like Only Fools.

[winteriscoming]

Peter kays car share is not that funny and pretty shit. Also derek is shit.

[Wymsey]

Sue Perkins is not funny, but a rather irritating co-host/comedian/presenter.

Edited 3 November 2017 by Wymeswold fox

[separator]

17 minutes ago, Wymeswold fox said:

Sue Perkins is not funny, but a rather irritating co-host/comedian/presenter.

I always think of cigarettes when her name is mentioned

[TiffToff88]

4 hours ago, The Doctor said:

He played about two games for us, how can you pass judgement on him as a player for us?

Could say the same about people calling him sh*t. Basing it on only a few appearances

[foxoffderby]

3 hours ago, Captain... said:

 

What an odd response, nothing was meant as judgemental, I quoted you specifically about the cigarettes and alcohol comment as it has been shown that tax on cigarettes brings in more money in tax than it costs the NHS to treat cigarette related illnesses.

 

The rest was me just giving my opinion, not sure why any of that would mean I might want to avoid you. 

That's fine I won't be losing any sleep over you either 

[ozleicester]

There is enough money to fund care for EVERYONE, whether they abused Alcohol, Drugs, Cigarettes, Fat, Sugars..anything. 

[Guest]

9 hours ago, ozleicester said:

There is enough money to fund care for EVERYONE, whether they abused Alcohol, Drugs, Cigarettes, Fat, Sugars..anything. 

We should care for and understand those who abuse animals, women, children too I guess. Doesn't mean I want my money to go towards it but as regards the NHS I don't agree with cosmetic surgery being paid for by taxes and people who miss appointments without a good reason should also have to suffer consequences. 

[The Doctor]

39 minutes ago, FIF said:

We should care for and understand those who abuse animals, women, children too I guess. Doesn't mean I want my money to go towards it but as regards the NHS I don't agree with cosmetic surgery being paid for by taxes and people who miss appointments without a good reason should also have to suffer consequences. 

Depends on the cosmetic surgery in question tbh - reconstructive surgery is an important part of the treatment for things like acid attacks, animal maulings etc.

[lifted*fox]

Most British comedy is shit - especially the stuff that gets turned out on channels like ITV, BBC, 4, etc. 

 

People that enjoy stuff like Miranda, Mrs. Brown's Boys, etc. need to check themselves - that shit ain't funny, at all. 

 

Also, northern comedians like Peter Kay and friends - not funny, at all. Making stereotypical jokes about ****ing fish and chips and other northern shit. NO. Comedy for idiots. 

 

Ricky Gervais - not funny. Lee Evans - not funny. Michael McIntyre - not funny. 

 

All cheap comedians who rely on obvious gags or shit slapstick guff for cheap laughs. 

 

I see people getting hyped for that shit and I'm like - really?

 

That other guy who literally just tries to be as outrageous as possible, urm... can't remember his name but no, not funny. 

 

American comedians are significantly better - they rely on cynicism and a lot of the humour is a lot more intelligent, well thought out, dark. That rolls into American sit-com as well - much better shows, Always Sunny, Bojack, Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Nathan For You, Broad City, etc. 

 

Not many UK comedians I'll make time for tbh - Russell Brand is an exception. 

 

Only UK comedy TV that's been on form recently has been People Just Do Nothing but the heady days of stuff like Peep Show, IT Crowd, etc. are long gone. I just don't think there's enough clever comedy writers in the UK who are prepared to make intelligent, challenging comedy. 

[ajthefox]

5 minutes ago, lifted*fox said:

Most British comedy is shit - especially the stuff that gets turned out on channels like ITV, BBC, 4, etc. 

 

People that enjoy stuff like Miranda, Mrs. Brown's Boys, etc. need to check themselves - that shit ain't funny, at all. 

 

Also, northern comedians like Peter Kay and friends - not funny, at all. Making stereotypical jokes about ****ing fish and chips and other northern shit. NO. Comedy for idiots. 

 

Ricky Gervais - not funny. Lee Evans - not funny. Michael McIntyre - not funny. 

 

All cheap comedians who rely on obvious gags or shit slapstick guff for cheap laughs. 

 

I see people getting hyped for that shit and I'm like - really?

 

That other guy who literally just tries to be as outrageous as possible, urm... can't remember his name but no, not funny. 

 

American comedians are significantly better - they rely on cynicism and a lot of the humour is a lot more intelligent, well thought out, dark. That rolls into American sit-com as well - much better shows, Always Sunny, Bojack, Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Nathan For You, Broad City, etc. 

 

Not many UK comedians I'll make time for tbh - Russell Brand is an exception. 

 

Only UK comedy TV that's been on form recently has been People Just Do Nothing but the heady days of stuff like Peep Show, IT Crowd, etc. are long gone. I just don't think there's enough clever comedy writers in the UK who are prepared to make intelligent, challenging comedy. 

Complains about stereotypical jokes whilst simultaneously making a shit-tonne of stereotypes 

Edited 4 November 2017 by ajthefox

[lifted*fox]

10 hours ago, ozleicester said:

There is enough money to fund care for EVERYONE, whether they abused Alcohol, Drugs, Cigarettes, Fat, Sugars..anything. 

 

What ****s me off about taxes is that a huge chunk of my salary just disappears off into this magic ****ing money pot and I get told that 'it gets spent on X or Y and it helps X or Y' but how the **** do I know where my contribution goes?

 

Tell me what I have to pay each month and let me choose who it ****ing helps. Maybe I want it to help homeless people on the street - maybe I want it to specifically help drug addicts or people suffering from abuse. 

 

For all I know my tax gets taken and it gets spent on something I couldn't give two ****s about. I'd be much happier if you had some say in who your tax helped - how it got spent. 

 

At the moment I very much feel like the government just takes my ****ing money and they might as well be rolling it up and shoving it into their asses for all I know.

 

Some people don't want their taxes helping drug-addicts because it's 'their fault' - nah, **** that shit - everyone is one bad decision away from homelessness or drug addiction - these people need help too. I'd rather my money went there than to people suffering from cancer from smoking for example.