@Dogfood
On the basis of your assumption anyone partaking in a "risky" activity should be removed from the right to use the NHS. This is wrong on several counts.
1. Define risk. As I have already said the risks are very, very low. You're fine to wear a helmet, that is your choice, but please dont slag off those that choose not to. IIRC you're something like 5 times more likely to suffer a severe head injury in a car.
2. Other "risky" activities we subject ourselves to through choice include eating poor quality foods, smoking and drinking alcohol. Should these people be forced to pay for private healthcare? They carry far more in the way of risk of disease or injury than cycling. You want to see A&E on a friday night through the weekend.
3. The point is we've paid our taxes, its not means tested because there are just too many variables. We're entitled to treatment if something does happen.
4. Are we really qualified to say what a helmet has contributed, given the very spurious nature of some of the research (esp that used by BHIT and Headway)? Personal anecdotes should always be taken with a pinch of salt, and even when a doctor says it "saved your life" you have to weigh up if this is just a bedside manner to put your mind at ease after a really rather shocking incident.
5. As I said earlier - turn your concerns into something positive and make your voice heard on road safety measures. Educate yourself on other countries and how their roads and safety measures work. This is the most important thing, its no good sitting back and whinging at others on a forum, YOU have to take positive steps and let the authorities know that you're not happy with the way things work.
Even if a helmet is or was proven to have stopped an injury the sad fact would be that it would have been far better to have prevented the behaviour that lead up to the crash in the first place rather than dealing with the result.