In Defense of ‘Socialized Medicine’ – The Daily Beast

Interesting article from Andrew Neil in regard to those in the USA who oppose President Obama’s health reforms. Neil actually defends the achievements of the NHS!

Andrew Neil in THE DAILY BEAST: “Obama’s critics blast Britain’s health care as “socialized medicine,” stoking fears about substandard practices, lines, and rationed care. Andrew Neil says Brits are baffled by the distortions.

Far be it for a mere Brit to intrude into the U.S. health-care debate, but after a week in New York watching the arguments unfold on TV, it’s clear the opponents of reform are dragging the British National Health Service into their side of the debate with the most outrageous distortions and “porkies” (as in pork pies, i.e. lies!).

When Rudy Giuliani on CNN dismissed our NHS with the claim that “nobody goes to Britain for health care, they all come here if they can,” I found myself shouting at the screen: “Hold on, Rudy, it’s not as bad as that.” Indeed New York’s ex-mayor is just plain wrong…”

via In Defense of ‘Socialized Medicine’ – Page 1 – The Daily Beast.

Norwich North disaster for Labour.

The result of the by-election in Norwich North is grim news for Labour: “Gordon Brown said it was “clearly a disappointing result” for Labour but people should consider what was happening in the constituency.”(BBC).  Gordon Brown is clearly beyond any understanding of what is going on.   Unless some changes in the leadership take place then Labour will face a general election result far worse than that of 1983 when Michael Foot was the leader.

Tories criticise flu advice line – Are they daft?

We have become used to ridiculous and silly antics from Tory party leaders over the years but the latest outburst from Mark Simmonds: ” Mr Simmonds told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We should have had the flu line and the website up earlier. We should have gone live when the WHO [World Health Organisation] said we had pandemic levels.” makes one wonder about the sanity of some Tory leaders.  The National Flu Service has been set up to take the strain from NHS Direct which has and still does provide appropriate advice for enquirers.  Mark Simmonds is really flying a kite, a pointless moan when he should be acting to calm peoples’ concerns and be constructive. What is needed is an end to panic:

BBC NEWS: “The Conservatives have criticised the National Flu Service, claiming the system is “too little, too late”.

The flu advice website, covering England, crashed on Thursday after it was overwhelmed with 9.3m hits an hour.

Tory health spokesman Mark Simmonds said the web and telephone service should have been set up earlier when a global pandemic was declared..”

BBC NEWS | Health | Tories criticise flu advice line.