Look at the other side. AS a former employee of a large chain of nursing homes in Canada where we, like Great Britian have socialized medicine, I set up the trust fund administration accounting system. Each resident was given about $50 per month over and above the cost of staying there, for things like hairdressing, housecoats, gum, whatever. The home/hospital had to deposit this money in an account, and pay interest. I had several residents who had spent most of their lives in institutions who had thousands of dollars in assets tied up. I know nothing about the British System but in Canada, the monies belonged to the government upon death. It is also a fact here that if the person going in did not have anyone to take care of them their assets (house,bank accounts, jewels, furniture etc.) were seized, sold, and the balance added to their account. I cannot in any way imagine a country with a socalized medical system would require any form of financial support. My Dad recently got $10,000 aprox. from a distant relative who died 12 years ago in Britian. The company that did the research and contacted him charged 25% of the money for making the arrangements. I wish I had some rich great uncle somewhere.