Alas Vine & Hitchens The Cost of Health Tourism and Why Do We Kill?
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Sep 24, 2025 Delve into the intriguing world of medical tourism as the hosts uncover the hefty £252m the NHS is owed. They challenge the reluctance to charge foreign patients and explore the balance between public and private healthcare. The conversation turns dark when they analyze the psychological factors behind assassinations, discussing motives like fanaticism and the quest for notoriety. They also touch on the impact of the internet and drugs on violent behavior. Finally, a listener's question sparks a debate on the Union Jack versus the Union Flag.
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Recover Foreign Patient Fees
- Recovering unpaid fees from foreign patients is a straightforward efficiency gain worth pursuing.
- Create a dedicated collection unit and apply objective billing like other countries to recoup large sums.
NHS Reverence Blocks Reform
- The NHS is treated like a quasi-religion which blocks clear-eyed reform and accountability.
- That reverence prevents even basic efficiency measures, like recovering fees from foreign patients.
US Billing Versus NHS Laxness
- Sarah recounted being billed rigorously after a US hospital stay and contrasted it with lax NHS recovery.
- She used the US billing chase as an example of how other systems enforce payment promptly.
