Post referendum

[duke63]

One of its problems is that there is zero incentive for anyone to take responsibility their own health when all the services are free at point of use.

[D41]

One of its problems is that there is zero incentive for anyone to take responsibility their own health when all the services are free at point of use.

Now that is an excellent point!!

However, is that not the price you pay for having a national healthcare system?? There is always going to exist some misuse/abuse of any system, no matter how stringent you make it.

And a hospital costs a finite amount of money to run & maintain whether it has patients in it or not...the staff are not there to be there simply as a contingency...but they do have to be there.

And these services are in theory not 'free' per se....they are already paid for through taxation.

The alternative scenario would be the mantra of "I've already paid for it, so I'll do whatever the feck I want!!"....the end result is the same no matter what.

All things said & done, I think the UK has a pretty good system....it's not perfect by any measure...but what system is??

[StMarks]

One of its problems is that there is zero incentive for anyone to take responsibility their own health when all the services are free at point of use.

Fwiw I have to disagree with both of you on that.: Surely I'm not on my own when I point out that my prime concern with my health is too keep me well, not to avoid the costs incurred from becoming unwell.??

[D41]

And yet your favourite pastime is to do something that is inherently dangerous???

No-one thinks of the costs that 'might' be incurred by riding a bike...or rather, by falling off one. And yet we do it anyway.

[duke63]

There is a difference between doing something with a higher risk involved and eating, drinking and/or smoking without giving a shit what it does to you.

And that isn't to say that to some its a genuine illness, but there are many whose life involves eating all kinds of shit, abusing their bodies with drug, cigarettes and alcohol and watching TV all day. And then expecting all kinds of free help from the NHS when they actually don't contribute anything towards it in anyway.

[D41]

What's the difference??

Both involve a high risk. With one there's a high chance that you may suffer some long term consequences.

With the other, you are guaranteed to fall off at some point.

[Kwacky]

Japan has waded in

http://uk.businessinsider.com/japan-bre ... ain-2016-9" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[duke63]

The referendum must rank as one of the biggest cock-ups in the history of British politics. Its going to cost the the UK in a massive way.

[Monty]

Yeah but look at all that lovely sovereignty

[duke63]

Seems we have very little control over our economy at all now as there won't be very much left once all the foreign-owned companies leave.

[Kwacky]

and the Chinese have bought all the decent property. I see Birmingham is the latest city to jump on the Chinese bandwagon and offer purchase deals to them.

http://www.buildingspecifier.com/major- ... d-economy/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[duke63]

Think we should move to Sweden.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 74646.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Kwacky]

A law firm in Birmingham has reduced it's hours from 9 - 5 to 9.30 - 4.30. It's reported an increase in time recording, decrease in sickness days and that generally everyone is still doing a lot more than 9 to 5. Staff see 9.30 as a late start and 4.30 as an early end to the day, despite it being their contracted hours. It gives staff a feeling of flexibility.

[Cav]

I find that where I work.. we have a 5 hour Friday and I feel I do more on a Friday than I do Mon-Thurs. The reason I feel this way is that I don't want to run out of stuff to do during a day so I go a little slower but on a Friday everything is maximum attack and people get stuff done.

[StMarks]

A law firm in Birmingham has reduced it's hours from 9 - 5 to 9.30 - 4.30. It's reported an increase in time recording, decrease in sickness days and that generally everyone is still doing a lot more than 9 to 5. Staff see 9.30 as a late start and 4.30 as an early end to the day, despite it being their contracted hours. It gives staff a feeling of flexibility.

Fwiw a close friend of mine works in the legal system down in the smoke, & so most of his acquaintances are employed by international legal firms. His observations of the changes that are occurring down there are somewhat unsettling to say the least.

[Kwacky]

Such as?

[duke63]

Same as I mentioned about friend's son I would guess. 'These are your paid hours but we can make you work as long as we want whenever we want'

[Kwacky]

A friend of mine recently left an international law firm, she was based in London. I'm curious to see if her reasons for leaving echo what StMarks is being told.

A solicitor I used to work with left Brum to work in New York. Her pay and package was amazing. After 5 years she was medically retired. The job almost killed her, both physically and mentally. She was burnt out.

[D41]

A law firm in Birmingham has reduced it's hours from 9 - 5 to 9.30 - 4.30. It's reported an increase in time recording, decrease in sickness days and that generally everyone is still doing a lot more than 9 to 5. Staff see 9.30 as a late start and 4.30 as an early end to the day, despite it being their contracted hours. It gives staff a feeling of flexibility.

AND!!!.....it probably helps them with avoiding the peak congestion hours in regards to traffic??

Although I have no idea what Brum traffic is like, but I can't imagine it's a thrill-a-minute-party-fest.

[Kwacky]

Brum traffic throughout the city and on the motorways is dire