Quote Originally Posted by KerrAvon View Post
SB, Company cars and health insurance have been taxable benefits for as long as I have had an interest in taxation - the early 80s. What I think you are remembering is the increase in the level of taxation on company cars to make it a less attractive option.

See above on your queue point. People going private serves to make NHS queues shorter for the obvious reason that they are not joining them. It is completely wrong to suggest that anyone in a NHS queue is pushed backwards.
1. You call it "making it less attractive", I call it putting a stop to the scam.

2. A simple example--There is this NHS hospital with an operating theatre open 24/7 with associated staff. Patient A with little spare income or medical insurance has a painful condition and sees consultant who recommends an operation. Later that day Patient B sees the same consultant with the same condition for the same amount of time but he has wealth or medical insurance. The consultant says (in flowery language) I can put you on the waiting list but you will be behind Patient A but if you pay me (ie go private) I can magically put you well ahead of Patient A and that poor bugger will have to wait as long as it takes. How is that helping Patient A ? Which queue are these private patients joining ?