Most people who watched the Panorama programme ‘National Homes Swindle’ were completely engrossed by the tragic stories of people trying to cope with the terminal illness of a loved one, having to deal as well with the State seizing their life savings in the form of their home, to pay for what other less wealthy people were receiving for free.

The programme showed many moving cases of families dealing with Alzheimer’s, Paraplegia, Dementia and dealing with the added trauma of having their homes taken. Panorama showed footage of Tony Blair making an impassioned speech in which he said he did not want children brought up in a country where the only way pensioners can get long term care is by selling their home. “The present Govt. criticised the Tories for forcing 40,000 pensioners a year to sell their homes. Paraplegic Pamela Coughlan brought a test case, which gave hope to many; it proved that the NHS in severe illness or disablement should provide sick carefree.

Nicole Mackintosh said, “What is happening is that vulnerable older people and younger people who are severely ill are being charged for which should be free under the NHS. When I say free, of course we all pay for throughout our working lives by means of tax and national health insurance contributions, so it is another double charge implemented by the Exchequer.” Similarly, although not mentioned on the programme, are the “Claw Back” provisions “Social Security Recovery of Benefits Act 1997” which is raising the cost of insurance for the ‘man in the street’ because it claws back payments for the cost of personal injuries and car accidents to the NHS. Once again the public is put in the position of paying twice, as injury compensation that should have been used to make the victims life more comfortable are taken for their medical care, which would otherwise have been free. Of all the claw backs, perhaps was the former Labour Home Secretary David Blunkett’s determination to charge wrongfully imprisoned victims of miscarriage of justice, £3000 per year for board and lodging for each year they were wrongly imprisoned. Blunkett’s fight was described as the sickest of sick jokes.