https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/dec/29/richard-branson-virgin-scoops-1bn-pounds-of-nhs-contracts

SpaceGazelle wrote:

Who will win?

Not us.

This will be how the NHS dies (or rather becomes a zombie).
Slowly chipped away by private contracts until the NHS budget is 100% distributed between private third parties. The fucker is we won't even have a choice of health care provider. We will all be paying a Virgin Healthcare/Bupa/whoever tax. 

It won't be the American model, healthcare will remain open to all of course. 
Virgin etc don't give two fucks if they are paid from a national pot or by the individual. In fact it is arguably better for them if they don't have to deal with pesky things like consumer choice, they just have to line the pockets of the right politicians, far cheaper than an ad campaign or a quality service. Look how Virgin Rail have faired.

Of course the waiting times won't go down, why would they? No, no, no. What will happen is those that can afford it will pay for private out of desperation. Meaning Virgin get double bubble.

By the time the public realise Branson will have removed himself from the board of Virgin Healthcare like he does all his companies. "I don't run it, it's not my fault"

Branson once said that the key to his success was identifying services with providers that he could outperform. So c'mon, then, Rich, let's have an improved free service.

All I have to input is that all the Virgin Care referrals we receive have all the typos.

All of them.

They’ve been bidding on the contract for the services that my wife works in. They didn’t succeed but it did mean that the current trust provider signed up to unobtainable targets to “outbid” virgin by offering extra value. They basically offered the impossible from a staffing point of view and so will likely loose the contract at the 18 month renewal point, allowing virgin to pick up the services at a massively reduced cost.
I mean it’s like someone within the current government has some kind of undercover master plan to slowly dismantle all but the most basic of services. Of course that really isn’t the end Game of it all is it.

PS Also see the Tory leaning press and their current (government ‘leaked’) demonisation of GP’s and their lazy working practices. “That’s why hospitals are so over stretched, the lazy and rich gp’s Are too greedy” nonsense stories. Turn and disrupt public opinion slowly over time until private seems the best option. Complete and utter fucking cunts. And no-ones gonna stop em. It’s fucked, within 3 years I’d say beyond repair.

I think you’ve maybe missed some sarcasm there.

Bollockoff wrote:

The blessed Virgin Cola.

Oh good, I was afraid it was just our generation that'd get completely fucked.

My kids will look at me in 20 years time and say 'thanks for fucking it all up for us dad'.

Freeze my sperm and kill me now it's the only way.

Liveinadive wrote:

No it is all OK, didn't you hear yesterday's news? Millenials will get massive inheritance. When they are 60, when they have missed the chance to build a family and a life in a home they own, when their health and youth is gone, when their parents and grandparents are dead and can't see them enjoy it. At least it may ease the burden of having no state pension and no money to build a private pension. It will pay for private health care when the NHS is barebones it may even stretch to a care home when you are a burden on your kids after several stress induced strokes. The children of millenials, they will still be fucked though, you are right.

Maybe then at least my kids will get some inheritance I guess... I'm thinking me and my wife will probably have to sell our home to help our kids buy their first flat/property and rent somewhere cheap.

cosmicjellybean wrote:

Oh good, I was afraid it was just our generation that'd get completely fucked. My kids will look at me in 20 years time and say 'thanks for fucking it all up for us dad'.

I'm not sure what they could actually blame millennials for so far, they don't really have a great deal of agency and are fairly wary of committing to stunning acts of political violence, beyond the odd fundo.

The only Gen Xers who catch any flack so far are mostly Silicon Valley arseholes, which is only right and proper.

Skinny jeans are still a thing. You have to feel sorry for 'em.

Depends if they've nice legs.