The NHS should be privatised

The figures are per capita, regardless of how it is funded or whether it is private or not.

I am afraid basic math is list on those with a blinkered ideological prejudice.
Either way its played, spend per capita, total spend related to gdp, the Germans spend around £30,000,000,000 (based on our gdp, not theirs) than we do, per annum.

That's why the service provision differs.

What is your definition of health tourism and how much do you think it costs?

With Germany having a private system I guess they do not have the same problem as the UK - presumably Germany would not be high on the list of countries to visit for treatment? I’ve heard NHS doctors say they are clinicians, there to help people and that they are not tax collectors so millions of £’s never gets recovered. Since a high proportion of NHS Dr’s also have a private practice I wonder how many take the same moral stance if someone walks into their private consulting rooms with no money?

I could google the amount health tourism costs but does it really matter? I’m sure it’s in the tens of millions but when we are discussing how stretched the NHS is and much talk of diminishing levels of care can we be so frivolous as to waste a single penny? We also need to clamp down those ambulance chasing leeches called solicitors looking for people to sue the NHS when they don’t have a perfect outcome from their treatment. 

The cost seems to be quoted at anything from 100m to 350m, but it's not just the money. Treating the 'health tourists' takes time. When the doctor's and nurses are treating them, 'other' patients may find their treatment/operation delayed or cancelled. Hospital beds get taken up, where once again 'other' patients may find their treatment/operation cancelled. You also have to look at these knock on effects. It's not just all about the money.

Just think what could be done with that money and like you say the time re-available to Dr’s! 

I don’t understand why there is a rabid witch hunt when a celeb or tycoon moves to a tax haven but there is an acceptance of the NHS being abused when it is already struggling. 

I think your argument is the simplistic one, and is designed to shut down debate.

Is it impossible for you discuss the system and how it could be improved? Or maybe you can explain why in your opinion, the NHS is as good as it gets?

Exactly.
And yes Nobby we all need to discuss the most efficient way of utilising our hard earned taxes in the NHS, but we need to start with a realistic funding base, otherwise we will be just chasing our tails.
Invoking so called "Health Tourism" (albeit a frustrating fact) is just a deflection as Stuart says.

The real debate is "Right, what's the max we can afford and need to spend, what cant we cover"

Starter for ten.
1. watered up blokes on a weekend. They can pay.

As usual, you don't think things through do you. You want some watered up bloke to pay. I assume you are thinking it's because whatever the problem our watered up bloke has, it's his own fault. Does that also apply to the bloke who hurts himself doing DIY? Should he have employed a professional? What about the bloke who breaks his leg playing football on a Saturday afternoon? Is it his fault as he didn't really need to be playing football, especially with the risk of injury playing sports bring? The same for Rugby, Cricket etc? What if you make a mistake resulting in a car crash where you get injured? Is that your fault, do you have to pay? You step out into the road and get hit by a car, is that your fault and do you have to pay? The list is endless isn't it?

"The real debate is "Right, what's the max we can afford and need to spend, what cant we cover"
- With the NHS, the taxpayer in the UK has no idea as to how much they pay towards it, so working out how much 'we can afford' will never work. Once again I'll ask, why does nobody question the NHS Trusts as to how they spend the money? THEY are the ones who should be in the public eye answering questions. In defence of politicians (and I never thought I'd write that!) they basically just stump up the cash. How it is allocated and spent is down to the Trusts in reality.