Unbelievable

[Richard Hawkins]

Dear me, its not like that here really, we have always pending Nurses Strike and stuff. Covid drained the life from the workforce and many quit. Now there are nobody to do the work. Gov has kept the salaries low for decades, and now they are paying. There is no money - even though the socdem gov is spending like madwomen. There will be hell to pay, I'm just saying.

Yea well we have that problem here too and that's why the doctors are only doing telephone consultation s. My doctor told me if it's anything serious phone an ambulance or go and wait in A&E.

 

[henris42]

But your public sector doctor actually answers the phone? Here no. Nurse takes your message, calls back and tells you when if ever.

I actually renewed some my medication in the private recently, by just using chat! No voice, no video. Took 15 mins with no appointment, I just looked that the can was kinda empty and started chat. Costed about 50, and you still get the same public compensation for medicines.

With public ones, I'd be still waiting for appointment, as its not for anything life-threatening.

 

[Richard Hawkins]

But your public sector doctor actually answers the phone? Here no. Nurse takes your message, calls back and tells you when if ever.

I actually renewed some my medication in the private recently, by just using chat! No voice, no video. Took 15 mins with no appointment, I just looked that the can was kinda empty and started chat. Costed about 50, and you still get the same public compensation for medicines.

With public ones, I'd be still waiting for appointment, as its not for anything life-threatening.

Well ours is not as bad as that. I do get my prescriptions ok and they are free of charge and they are delivered.

 

[henris42]

Hold on - free of charge? Nothing is free-of-charge here in the "Nordic sosdem paradise" here. Its maybe 20-50 still for personal charge for doctor visit, including the public sector.

 

[Richard Hawkins]

Hold on - free of charge? Nothing is free-of-charge here in the "Nordic sosdem paradise" here. Its maybe 20-50 still for personal charge for doctor visit, including the public sector.

No not in Northern Ireland,here doctors visits, prescriptions are all free and the same is true in Scotland. In the Republic of Ireland they pay £15 per visit.plus their prescription charges.

 

[henris42]

Oh, that means that you are the free healthcare place, not us. In Finland it has never been 100% free, no matter what they tell.
Here we have state-determined "own risk" part of every healthcare thing, and you have to pay that, unless you are poor etc. you can apply for that from gov as well. But for us normal folks, its not 100% free.

 

[Richard Hawkins]

Oh, that means that you are the free healthcare place, not us. In Finland it has never been 100% free, no matter what they tell.
Here we have state-determined "own risk" part of every healthcare thing, and you have to pay that, unless you are poor etc. you can apply for that from gov as well. But for us normal folks, its not 100% free.

Yea well here it doesn't matter if you earn one million or one pound it's all free.

 

[henris42]

How is your tax rate?

 

[Richard Hawkins]

With all deduction about 20 %

 

[henris42]

Sounds reasonable, is there big progression if you earn a lot?
.. we here have huge progression, you minimize your income if you can.

 

[Richard Hawkins]

Well not really,the first £12,500 is always tax free then over £40,000 it goes to 30% then progresses up over 80,000.

 

[henris42]

how high on what level?

 

[Richard Hawkins]

how high on what level?

So it used to be under labour government top earners paid 90% now the maximum is 60% but for that you would need to be earning millions.

 

[Gene Steinberg]

Remember the song "Taxman" by the Beatles?

It was up to 95% then.

 

[Richard Hawkins]

Remember the song "Taxman" by the Beatles?

It was up to 95% then.

Yes I do and yes it was.

 

[henris42]

So its the taxman still. No, I won't move. I still have aspirations.

 

[Richard Hawkins]

So its the taxman still. No, I won't move. I still have aspirations.

The taxman screws everyone.

 

[henris42]

Should look to Estonia. Flat rate, and good socsec still.

 

[Richard Hawkins]

Should look to Estonia. Flat rate, and good socsec still.

Actually Estonia sounds good.

 

[henris42]

And for older ones (say over 70), Portugal. That is so good that our gov is trying prevent pensioners moving.
Pension tax is neglible, and weather is nice to say at least.
..you probably can keep working...