Nurses to strike

[Nick]

They are being used by you to mask year on year de facto pay cuts, pretending that incremental career related pay increases count as pay rises when they do not. Nurses at all levels are paid much less in real terms for the same levels as they used to be. To deny that is fundamentally dishonest.

Steve, you're letting your socialist tendencies get the better of you, and changing the word rise to increase just makes you look desperate. The only difference is one will be in your T's and C's and the other not. Just because you think someone is entitled to a pay rise doesn't make it so, if the country can't afford it you don't get it.

[srb7677]

But pay band increases are not rises in pay then?

They are being used by you to mask year on year de facto pay cuts, pretending that incremental career related pay increases count as pay rises when they do not. Nurses at all levels are paid much less in real terms for the same levels as they used to be. To deny that is fundamentally dishonest.

[T00ts]

I just explained to you the person paid health insurance and critical cover,when they got cancer the company told them they weren't covered they took them by a long process and the company caved in and paid up but only after they were close to dying and as in SRB's post it does happen.

So yes I will tell you how your insurance works.

This is an aspect that seems very unfair. I looked at one time at insuring my dog's health but while he was young it was relatively cheap but as he aged it would have risen and even though they would have received a number of years with no outlay the premium rocketed with no guarantees of covering every eventuality. I didn't bother and simply paid as and when necessary. Having said that I had the option of putting him down rather than put him through operations etc and I lost him with cancer at a time that I felt was right for him. Humans don't have that option.

I couldn't pay into a health insurance scheme now and it would be prohibitive to cover all possibilities, but I do value the choice of paying when I need to.

[cromwell]

How can you tell me how my insurance works? How often has your car insurance just pulled cover for no reason? I would hazard a guess never.

I just explained to you the person paid health insurance and critical cover,when they got cancer the company told them they weren't covered they took them by a long process and the company caved in and paid up but only after they were close to dying and as in SRB's post it does happen.

So yes I will tell you how your insurance works.

[Nick]

And your failure to understand that pay freezes and below inflation rises year after year make nurses on average ever poorer is so myopic that you should have gone to specsavers.

But pay band increases are not rises in pay then?

[Nick]

It happens with US health insurance quite often

The US uses a Co-Pay system, usually as part of your salary package, I used it twice over there when my daughter had a couple of febrile seizures. Got some tasty invoices from various dept. but insurance paid the lot. 

[srb7677]

What a ridiculous thing to say! If they hadn't got a pay rise they'd be poorer!!
If the cat hadn't stopped for a pee it would have caught the mouse!!

And your failure to understand that pay freezes and below inflation rises year after year make nurses on average ever poorer is so myopic that you should have gone to specsavers.

[srb7677]

How can you tell me how my insurance works? How often has your car insurance just pulled cover for no reason? I would hazard a guess never.

It happens with US health insurance quite often

[Nick]

Each year on a particular grade someone is poorer than they would have been on the same grade the year before.

What a ridiculous thing to say! If they hadn't got a pay rise they'd be poorer!!
If the cat hadn't stopped for a pee it would have caught the mouse!!

[Nick]

Yes it does work like that,if the insurance withdraws cover you're stuffed.

How can you tell me how my insurance works? How often has your car insurance just pulled cover for no reason? I would hazard a guess never.

[srb7677]

So you expect a definitive answer from me that generations have been unable to decide? Be fair! I can tell you from experience what I see as wrong with it but then you demand a decision. Typical Lefty! 

It is not a difficult question. Do you think it should be privatised? We are here discussing problems and solutions. Let's hear yours.

[srb7677]

No they're not getting poorer, this old chestnut about pay rises isn't true, they get pay increases based on years of service and bands but everyone keeps quiet about that.
As I've said a hundred times, the armed forces are far lower paid, look at the pay scales and years required to get anywhere near a nurses pay.

A Squadie starts on £16K, a nurse starts on £20K.

That is a lame justification, because of course they are getting poorer. Each year on a particular grade someone is poorer than they would have been on the same grade the year before. And starting salaries are getting ever lower.

And squaddies get low cost housing thrown in and all their costs provided for when on duty. My own nephew is one. SO it is not a like for like comparison.

[Barry]

You really think striking nurses are also going to be scab labour. 

Spoken like a true strike supporting lefty.

[cromwell]

Mine doesn't work like that, I'd initially go to the DR, if I needed a referral the DR would refer me to the private hospital via the insurance company, no money leaves my pocket.

Yes it does work like that,if the insurance withdraws cover you're stuffed.

[Nick]

And I hope so too,but as I recently pointed out to you insurance companies have form for avoiding paying out.

To remind you it was someone self employed long term paying insurance and for critical care too,when they got cancer the cover was withdrawn,at their lowest ebb they were fighting a company though it was only after the nhs had done what it does best and they had recovered they won against that company.

Mine doesn't work like that, I'd initially go to the DR, if I needed a referral the DR would refer me to the private hospital via the insurance company, no money leaves my pocket.