BS: NHS treating drunks

Subject: RE: BS: NHS treating drunks
From: jacqui.c
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 10:12 AM

Car drivers who are at fault for their accidents

There is already a charge against their Insurer for hospital treatment - that was coming in when I was working in motor claims.

Subject: RE: BS: NHS treating drunks
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 09:26 AM

In fact, Snail, Malvolio had the right of it on that particular occasion, even if he could be a pompous old fart; he only put himself in the wrong by mistaking Maria's reason for her presence in the cellar and unfairly accusing her of complicity in the disgusting behaviour that was occurring. Sir Toby was nothing but an exploitative pain-in-the-arse, living parasitically on his niece and deceitfully sponging on Sir Andrew. Not sure whom your question is aimed at, or precisely what is the point you intend by it; but I don't think its origin or antecedence is likely to be of much support to your argument, whatever it may be.

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: NHS treating drunks
From: TheSnail
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 07:13 AM

Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale?

Subject: RE: BS: NHS treating drunks
From: Silas
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 07:08 AM

OK. Lets charge fat people. And thin ones - eating disorders are self inflicted after all. Lung cancer - smokers, they should be charged. Car drivers who are at fault for their accidents, jay walkers, childbirth - if thats not self inflicted I don't know what is....




Jeezee

Subject: RE: BS: NHS treating drunks
From: MikeL2
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 07:05 AM

hi

Having played rugby at a high level for many years like many of my team-mates I was no stranger to A&E on a Saturday night.

Obviously we we always treated but there was always a certain amount of " self-inflicted injury" in the minds of some of the staff.

Of course serious injuries were given the correct priorities but lesser ones sometimes were deliberately kept waiting longer than others who had come later for treatment.

Around that time there were suggestions from Government that this kind of treatment should be charged for. Happily this did not receive any real backing.

Recently I spent quite a bit of time visiting hospital to see my brother-in-law. During this time he spent some time in a ward that contained some patients being treated for alcohol excess.

It seemed that some of these were habitual "offenders". The patients were extremely difficult to handle and certainly did not appreciate the staff that were trying to help them. Nor did it help "real" patients who were genuinely ill. In theses case I see no reason why there could not be some charge for this.

It may help the patients to realise that what they are doing is a drain on the resources of the NHS and the money may well have more effect to help these people to curtail their drinking.

I do see "the thin end of the wedge argument but something has to be done.

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: NHS treating drunks
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 07:03 AM

isn't it about time these individuals were billed for their care?

No, it is not. For those who arrive in A & E because they are alcoholics I think it is worth reminding people that addiction is an illness and people who are unfortunate enough to have an addictive illness deserve the same care and respect as people with any other illness.

Subject: RE: BS: NHS treating drunks
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 07:02 AM

If the behaviour of a hospitalised drunk is abusive and threatening to medical staff and everyone else around him/her then yes there should be a charge.

Subject: RE: BS: NHS treating drunks
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 06:46 AM

For once, I have to agree with Richard.
If any of the naysayers found themselves in A&E, being a bit wobbly after having had a few drinks, would they volunteer to pay for their treatment?
Thought not.

Subject: RE: BS: NHS treating drunks
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 06:33 AM

I doubt whether any English speakers intend to get "hospitalised".

It's an idea from the worst Victorian excesses, another step down the road to dividing all in any sort of need into "deserving" or "undeserving".

Subject: RE: BS: NHS treating drunks
From: Will Fly
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 06:32 AM

Finger slipped...

Alcoholism and alcohol abuse

Subject: RE: BS: NHS treating drunks
From: Will Fly
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 06:31 AM

Before we start pronouncing judgement on the poor buggers who, for whatever reason, can't control their use of alcohol, it might be worth reading this in full:

Subject: RE: BS: NHS treating drunks
From: Jack Campin
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 06:10 AM

The proportion of people going on skiing holidays who break a limb is far higher than the proportion of people going out to get drunk who end up in A&E. And skiers know the risks - simply counting the legs in casts on the plane back tells them all they need to know. These are not "occasional misfortunes", they are a routine part of every day on the slopes. They know damn well what they're costing the rest of us.

Economically appropriate treatment would be to simply tie their legs up any old how in burlap and send them out on trolleys to beg.

Subject: RE: BS: NHS treating drunks
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 06:09 AM

Yes. The intention is in the excess. A drinker who doesn't know his own limits and stay within them is making himself liable to self-induced harm; and knows it from the off.

You are usually more clear-thinking than this, I think, Keith.

Subject: RE: BS: NHS treating drunks
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 05:59 AM

Do any drinkers intend to get hospitalised?
More than skiers?

Subject: RE: BS: NHS treating drunks
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 05:53 AM

Not all comparable, Keith. You are doing a bit of devil's advocacy here. Skiers do not intend to have accidents on the slopes but have occasional misfortunes. Likewise, mutatis mutandis, equestrians. Some people just have a metabolism which induces fatness.

But smokers, like over-drinkers, are wilfully indulging in an activity which they know to be intrinsically deleterious, which brings its own inevitable disagreeable consequences of which they are aware before they decide to indulge in it. And they should pay.

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: NHS treating drunks
From: Mr Happy
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 05:48 AM

Oh, drat! - I thought it was some sort of special offer!

Subject: RE: BS: NHS treating drunks
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 05:47 AM

Inded.
Smokers. Fat people. Skiiers. Equestrians....

Subject: RE: BS: NHS treating drunks
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 05:46 AM

Yes, Richard ~~ & that could be said of any change in any direction for any purpose...

Nigel is right. It is perverse & wilful & entirely voluntary to reduce oneself to a helpless state of drunkenness & there is no reason whatever why those with the sense to control their drinking & keep it within reasonable bounds should pay for the excesses of the halfwits who won't.

~Michael~

Subject: RE: BS: NHS treating drunks
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 05:39 AM

You do know what "thin end of the wedge" means, right?

Subject: BS: NHS treating drunks
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 05:35 AM

According to a piece on BBC news recently, it costs the National Health Service approximately £200.00 to look after/treat an intoxicated person in A&E. If that individual has ended up in Accident & Emergency entirely as a result of their excessive, irresponsible drinking, isn't it about time these individuals were billed for their care?