trousers

Agree, but I would say it's better to pour additional money into a system that's been fixed first. Dodgy analogy alert... If you've got a leaky bucket, it's better to mend the bucket before pouring more water into it. Or something...

I wonder if VvD was there, or whether he was "unfortunately double booked" again...?

One problem with providing a "free" service is that human nature kicks in and it gets abused. (e.g. people not turning up for appointments). A while back, I seem to recall reading about a trial that was run in a country (can't remember where... Australia maybe? Not sure) whereby they issued a 'dummy' invoice to everyone that used any national healthcare service and the result was that there was a significant decline in the amount of people misusing/abusing the service when they knew how much each consultation or procedure cost. I still maintain its not just about the absolute level of funding, it's more about how smart you are with the funds in the first place.

If anyone ever needed any evidence of how amateur and tinpot that club is, exhibit A right there m'lud.

Are the people that lost 96 pence in the pound to allow Pompey to be in the position they are now "excited" too? Or has Eisner pledged to do the honourable thing and reimburse all the creditors that lost out?

I sometimes wonder how much of that is due to local (mis)management and how much is due to lack of funding from central. My local hospital (Frimley Park) is, like all hospitals, under increasing 'supply and demand' pressures but it is often held up as a beacon for other hospitals to aspire to.... http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/frimley-health-trust-ceo-tops-12639280 http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2014-09-26/frimley-park-hospital-praised-as-outstanding/ https://www.fhft.nhs.uk/news/rated-highly-by-our-staff/ http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/frimley-park-hospitals-new-emergency-12954450

I don't think anyone disagrees that 'healthcare' in the UK requires additional investment. It's more about 'how' that investment is sourced and utilised. I'm not qualified enough to know what the best solution is, but I can't help thinking we need a different model to the one we've largely had since the NHS's inception last century.

I can't argue with that as I don't have the stats. All I know is that there is a hell of a lot of inefficiency (aka money not spent efficiently) in the NHS (based on the feedback I get from my relatives that work there). Maybe private hospitals cost more (per procedure) because they are better rather than because they are more inefficient? I'm just not convinced throwing endless cash at the NHS is the utopian solution some hold it up to be

Spooky. Was just about to post the same. We need a 'progressive' solution to finance the NHS. IMO the demand has got too big for a service to be fully funded out of taxation (notwithstanding that taxes are never spent efficiently by cumbersome public services). IMO we need a hybrid system that is "free at the point of service" for people that can't afford otherwise, and a supplementary insurance based scheme for those than can afford it. But, as LD says, this'll never happen because all parties avoid tackling the sacred cow that is the NHS. And, they are probably right as it would be a sure fire election loser given the short-sightedness​ of Joe Public.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/15266000.Bertrand_talks_Puel__rift__and_Saints_future/

Incorrect. There aren't any trolls on this forum. Our eagle-eyed mods would have swooped into action by now if there were.

He knows, but will be delighted that he got a bite

Penalty to City 4-2 Saints relegated...

3-2 City

2-2

City pull one back

...

The Tories narrowly win West Midlands mayoralty

Adam Blackmore‏ @AdamBlackmore Decision is not linked to any potential takeover, with club 'restructuring' leadership.

Southampton FC‏ @SouthamptonFC #SaintsFC can confirm that chief executive Gareth Rogers is leaving the club to pursue new opportunities: https://southamptonfc.com/news/2017-05-05/club-statement-gareth-rogers-chief-executive-announcement

Anyone ask him why his tenure at Disney ended in acrimony? http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2002/08/the_louse_in_the_mouse_house.html

Losing their pebbles as well as their marbles perhaps?

You missed out the bit about UKIP being annihilated...

Perhaps I missed it in my hasty skim read through, but I can't see where they are aiming to repay all the creditors that sacrificed 96 pence in the pound just to keep the cesspit of a football club alive in some shape or form. Surely the honourable thing for a "wealthy investor" such as Eisner to do would be to offer to reimburse those that lost money? A bit like what Liebherr ensured happened when he bought Saints. Or maybe they should just sweep that under the carpet in their efforts to patch up their dump of a ground. Priorities, priorities...

Hook. Line. Sinker