Hi again,
Yes, I was aware of the first bit in broad terms, without being able to quote the bell, book and candle.
Yep, there is a move toward getting the insurance companies involved which could act as some sort of check on bad claims I guess: going right off topic again, you will recognise that there are many initiatives to catch out those who are less than honest in their daily lives (the latest = the ex-town mayor who has been discovered to be claiming £1000s in benefits for disability while being an active football referee).
I understand that the ins company pay a contribution toward the removal of a traffic accident victim to the hospital (which is paid by the ins, not the individual = about £100?); thereafter, the treatment is still free.
I would not describe it as a "tax" - differentiation of what is medical treatment and other aspects (but, yep, we could be paying for food in hospital next - why not, you have to when at home?).

I could not blame the executive arm (the police) for doing as they are told in any particular "crackdown": the direction comes from the politicians, increasingly from Local Govn which is receiving increasing powers from central Govn.

Switzerland: don't really know enough - I have always understood that there are liabilities for rescue on the mountains (try calling out a helicopter ), but that was some years ago.

We all pay taxes, unless you are extremely rich: all tax is not ring-fenced, but the NHS is still free.
Yep, dentists have opted out: the Govn have failed to tie them in and they are ripping off their clients as private patients (I know one or two who openly brag about their income) - they must be charging about the same as a BMW main dealer's hourly rate!
It is not a perfect system I would agree. Teeth and eyes are neglected items!

On the final point we are back to databases and what to do with them: that is a biggy!
How about the idea to make it compulsory that you are an organ donor unless you opt out (the opposite of the present system)? -- over my dead body!!!!!!!!!! Now that is one that I do object to.

Apologies to one and all!

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Dave

Dave don't apoligise. This thread is in the Sahara Travel Forum.

Should have been in the Bar to start with.

Very true.
The thread has run it's course I suppose, especially in its capacity for "Off Topicness".

Good luck with your imminent travels; you will be glad to get on the road!

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Dave

Well, just got to throw in my comment to add to the general amusement:

I had a Land Rover 109 stolen from outside the flat in Hackney, East London, where I lived several years ago. One of my neighbours saw a tow truck dragging it away (i had dropped the gearbox to replace the clutch, so it must have made quite a noise dragging down the street!) The wrote down the phone number on the side of the recovery truck and when I got back that evening they told me.

So... I called the phone company to try to get the address to match the number, but they said it had to be a police request, so I went to the police station, where after explaining I was asked by the officer interviewing me "so, thought you would play at being a detective did you?"

Then they did nothing - as I'd expected...

Then, three months later I had a phone call:
CID rang me up (and I was so glad there was someone with me at the time because otherwise I'd have thought I'd imagined it) they told me that they had rung up the number I'd given them, and asked the person on the other end whether they had stolen my Landy...! Apparently the Criminal Mastermind on the other end told them "no", so they said that obviously they couldn't proceed any further!

You really couldn't make it up!

Now I've moved to Ireland - an infinitely more sensible place - whenever I go back to Britain I am amazed at the hopeless mess the place is, and the sheep putting up with whatever they are told to do because it's 'SECURITY'

Tony