Comments on: People power

By: Hugo Hadlow

Hugo Hadlow — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:24:40 +0000

Indeed, one argument against school vouchers is that they would cause a one-off hike in the education budget, because all the people who were previously paying private school fees themselves would start claiming vouchers. In the long run things would improve because new private schools would be set up and people who previously went state would go private.

However, in the case of the NHS, very few people currently use private health insurance or private hospitals. So this proposal would result in instant savings for the NHS.

By: Callum Wood

Callum Wood — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:11:51 +0000

I think an operation would probably cost more on the NHS as a result of all the excess administration and MRSA precautions and suchlike.

“Each year around 220,000 people without health insurance pay for important operations. We believe that providing a contribution based on the cost of half the NHS operation when people make these choices both recognises the tax they have paid towards the NHS and will help further reduce waiting lists.”
- Conservative Party Manifesto 2005

…poor old Michael Howard.