Head of State

[bungeejumper]

What's weird about the Royal photo of the seasonal Christmas pudding run? Apart from the fact that Chas and Wills are wearing their best suits in the kitchen, and that it looks like the heir to the throne's piles are giving him gip? And that, as the BBC says, Christmas puddings should have been made back in August anyway?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50879901

Yep, it's that Her Maj's head is smaller than her great-grandson's. In fact she's so small that it looks like she's just hopped off the tree.

You'd have thought that the Palace's photoshop merchants could have done better than that, wouldn't you?

BJ

[Dod101]

Apparently they were en route to HM's annual Christmas lunch lunch, which is why they are so well turned out.

Dod

[bungeejumper]

Apparently they were en route to HM's annual Christmas lunch lunch, which is why they are so well turned out.

Blimey, they'd better get cracking with that pudding, then.

BJ

[swill453]

Yep, it's that Her Maj's head is smaller than her great-grandson's. In fact she's so small that it looks like she's just hopped off the tree.

Scott.

[UncleEbenezer]

C'mon Boris. You can do anything now. Are you taking requests?

Members of the cabinet and their families[1] to be treated exclusively by the NHS. No option to go private or abroad[2].

[1] Insofar as they can be identified.
[2] Unless they fall ill abroad. Eligibility and course of action to be assessed by their travel insurer.

[todthedog]

An old lady 89 who lives locally died after waiting 11 hours in an ambulance.

[Lootman]

C'mon Boris. You can do anything now. Are you taking requests?

Members of the cabinet and their families[1] to be treated exclusively by the NHS. No option to go private or abroad[2].

[1] Insofar as they can be identified.
[2] Unless they fall ill abroad. Eligibility and course of action to be assessed by their travel insurer.

First they came for those with private healthcare. And I said nothing.

Then they came for those with private education. And I said nothing.

Then they came for the Royals. And I said nothing.

Then they . .

[TUK020]

If the Queen's estate were to pay IHT under the same rules as everyone else, that would provide for a funds boost to the NHS. If that were to be the case, then I wouldn't begrudge the private healthcare for Philip. Maybe still the helicopter, as I am dam sure they didn't pay for that

[bungeejumper]

If the Queen's estate were to pay IHT under the same rules as everyone else, that would provide for a funds boost to the NHS. If that were to be the case, then I wouldn't begrudge the private healthcare for Philip. Maybe still the helicopter, as I am dam sure they didn't pay for that

While they're at it, they could also abolish the charity status of private schools and make them pay VAT like everybody else. Not even Corbyn could be wrong on everything.

BJ

[bungeejumper]

they could also abolish the charity status of private schools and make them pay VAT like everybody else.

Apologies, that should have read "make them charge VAT like everybody else". Not that it would really have altered the gist of my seasonal message.

BJ (who is currently contributing toward granddaughter's school fees, so hardly a revolting peasant with nothing to lose by insisting on fair play)

[Dod101]

If the Queen's estate were to pay IHT under the same rules as everyone else, that would provide for a funds boost to the NHS. If that were to be the case, then I wouldn't begrudge the private healthcare for Philip. Maybe still the helicopter, as I am dam sure they didn't pay for that

And it would make not the slightest difference to the service/care that you and I receive at any state hospital. The NHS needs a wholesale reorganisation not even more money being thrown at it.

Dod

[UncleEbenezer]

And it would make not the slightest difference to the service/care that you and I receive at any state hospital. The NHS needs a wholesale reorganisation not even more money being thrown at it.

Dod

Of course! Private Eye just published some telling figures[1]: against static numbers of doctors and nurses (one up, the other down, but by a small fraction of a percent each), the number of managers is up by 5-6%.

And worse than that, anyone know what proportion of today's NHS budget goes to lawyers? And how much of those managers' time (not to mention the doctors' time) is spent covering their [expletive deleted] against lawyers?

Let me revise my previous proposal that Cabinet ministers and their families be required to use the NHS without the option of going private or abroad. We should extend that to special advisors, and top civil servants: Sir Humphrey, and his peers in the department of health. That could concentrate minds, perhaps quite miraculously.

[1] My recollection of which is open to correction.

[Rhyd6]

I heard Sir Lindsay Hall the new speaker talking about his recent diagnosis of diabetes and he certainly uses the National Health and couldn't sing its praises enough. Apropos Prince Phillip if any other 97 year old ex serviceman who risked his life in the service of this country was taken into hospital (any hospital) just before Christmas,I've no doubt that there would be loads of people insisting he receive the best of care, the fact that he is Royalty should not count against him.

R6

[didds]

sisnt prince phillip go straight to a private hospital and not an NHS A&E though?