How good is your health system?

[manning]

We in america are debating on how health care should be handled. Some want universal health care, some don't.

Please give your insight on how your system works and how well it works.

Thank you very much.

 

[higgy66]

This is such a hard answer to give as each region within the UK offers a different service.

Where I live it's excellent.

If I need to see a GP today I phone the Dr's and get an appointment. If it's not so urgent I can go online and then choose an appointment (within the next 2 weeks) with the GP of my choice at a time to suit me.

If my GP says I need to see a specialist then this is usually arranged within 6 weeks and then after that you're within the hospital system.

This is where the levels of service vary greatly. So far in my experience I've never had to wait long for treatment and any treatment I or my family have received has been excellent.

HOWEVER, you will get lots of replies on here that will contradict that and I appreciate how lucky we are living in the catchment area I do. I would not actually move anywhere which meant I would have to change Dr's as i'm so happy with the service we receive.

I know the NHS takes lots of knocks but I still think it's a great service that is provided free of charge. I just wish that they would use the lottery funding to plough money back into it so that everyone could receive excellent treatment and as soon as it is required.

 

[emily1982]

As the previous poster said it really is a postcode lottery. My doctors is a big practice with over 13 doctors, although i have a named doctor i don't think i've ever met him. I can phone for an appointment and it varies whether i can get one or not, (they don't let you book more than 48 hours in advance).
I've just had an operation and luckily we had private healthcare, otherwise i would probably still be waiting for the operation. It does cost and i see the same surgeon as i would if it was NHS, it's just at a private hospital and had the op quicker.
We still pay presciption charges on the NHS, which at the moment is about $12 per item, but if i drove an hour away to Wales it would be free, so it's where you live.
I feel we are lucky over here to have the NHS, but i don't think it is run aswell as it could. But then it is nice to know, if we needed an ambulance and emergency hospital treatment we wouldn't have to think about payment.

 

[buzz for boys]

My experience of the NHS has always been fantastic. I have a large drs practice where we only see our dedicated dr and ours is fantastic. Our local hospital is fantastic and we have never waited more than 6 weks for an op that we have been refered for.
The treatment that my ds has had for cancer at the childrens hospital is econd to none we have even had a dr come in who had retired when my ds needed to see a consultant urgently and his replacement was in a seminar miles away.
Whenever we need a dr we can get in on the day and one phonecall to the childrens hosp is all we need for ds to be seen and again thats usually that day.
I personally am so glad wwe have an NHS because we would hav had to fundraise to save my sons life otherwie as private healthcar is far too expensive for us.
Again though I do recognise that other areas do not goet the same excellent service as we do.

 

[jen_uk]

At my doctors if it is not an emergency the average wait to see a doctor is 10-14 days which I think is really poor. The local hospitals are dirty and horrible, when I was in one a few years ago I begged to go home as they were so vile.

 

[carolfoy]

my healthcare is fantastic, I can see any doctor thats available if an emergency, if I want my appointed doc then I can see him usually within a couple of days. I get free physio, 3 health checks a year which include blood, water and adrenalin tests, I get results within two weeks. also free contraception, free well- woman checks (smears etc).
we all pay national insurance contributions for this, you can choose private healthcare if you want, at a cost, and if you are scheduled for an operation you can choose to go on a waiting list for a free op or pay for private.
prescriptions are £7.10 per item, but you can get a pre payment certificate if you aren't entitled to free (claiming benefits or pregnant etc) and get regular prescriptions.
my only drawback is that the nearest hospital to me is around an hours drive and a hazardous route in bad weather, apart from that I do believe we have the best health care system in the world.

 

[manning]

I've just had an operation and luckily we had private healthcare, otherwise i would probably still be waiting for the operation. It does cost and i see the same surgeon as i would if it was NHS, it's just at a private hospital and had the op quicker.
.

This is confusing me. One argument here is that private insurance would not be needed. The idea is to have it all under one system.

 

[scottish mum]

I'm in scotland and my healthcare is good. If its an emergency I can be seen almost straight away or my doctor will come to the house. As for just a regular appointment you can usually get an appointment the same day with any doctor or if you want a particular doctor you may have to wait for a couple of days. Our prescription charges are just £5 although all children and senior citizens ones are free. We also get free eye test.
The NHS is really good as no matter how much money you have, or don't have, you still get the same healthcare with no worries of how you are going to pay for it.

 

[higgy66]

This is confusing me. One argument here is that private insurance would not be needed. The idea is to have it all under one system.

The NHS is free to everyone but some people who have the cash are offered the chance to "opt" out and pay for treatment in which case they go private.

In an ideal world the NHS would have so much cash that there wouldn't be a private system as everyone would be happy with the service and speed at which they are seen.

You will never do away with Private healthcare as you miust always give someone the option of how they are treated. Just like other things in life - e.g we can all travel on the same plane but some people choose to travel first class. That's just how life is!

 

[wideeyes]

My local doctors is good. I usually get an appointment the next day and for a child they will see them same day. My gp also sent out meds to my house when I was to ill to go and collect them. My vast experience with hospitals is mixed, they can be short staffed so you don't always get the best care and support.

 

[CustardTart]

Private insurance isn't needed in the UK but it's always an option. We have private health insurance provided by my DH's employer and it has been a godsend for dealing with certain health issues that have required swift resolution but aren't prioritised by the NHS. One health problem my DH had was resolved within 3 months privately whereas the NHS were taking approximately 2 years to refer similar cases for surgery... I also had a health problem that the NHS in my local area didn't feel was serious so I opted to pay for a private operation to improve my quality of life...

However, on a day-to-day basis we use the NHS and see a local GP (general practitioner) for minor healthcare issues...

 

[Dimplenose]

This is confusing me. One argument here is that private insurance would not be needed. The idea is to have it all under one system.

Private health care isn't essential here but it can give you choices that you won't otherwise have.

The NHS isn't free as we pay for it through our taxes and national insurance payments but apart from presriptions there's no payment to use it.

To keep the NHS cost effective the majority of hospital beds/ operating theatres etc. have to be planned to be in use all the time. This makes it difficult to cope with emergencies. For example my Nan broke her hip and needed a hip replacement immediately which she had (without extra charge), but the person already scheduled to have a non-emergency operation that day would have had theirs moved to another day (it's not uncommon for scheduled operations to be cancelled at very short notice.)

My son needed grommits when he was younger and as DH has private health insurance with his job we were able to choose when and where he had the operation.

I think the the NHS is great in an emergency but not always for routine matters.

P.S. Dental care and opticians tend to be private these days unless you are entitled to totally free care you are expected to pay.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Lynne gets on her soap box

What really bugs me is how some people are NEVER away from the doctor, snif, away to the doctor, sore neck, away to the doca, sticky eye away to the docs, now this is from personal experiance, what more it is the folks that dont work that have time to do this, I was meant to get a hrnia op on the nhs and it did not happen as it did not bother me enough,arrgghhh, so I had to pay bupa, pathetic, never been to the docs for years and they wouldnt fix me, cheesed me off completly. Personaly I think if you can work the nhs, ie know how to get apps etc you are laughing, my dh had a few nose bleeds, it is ALWAYS more than a week before we can get an appt However my SIL I reckon books an app before she leaves just in case.

Did you ever watch bread?

Ah, of my soap box.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

I'm in scotland and my healthcare is good. If its an emergency I can be seen almost straight away or my doctor will come to the house. As for just a regular appointment you can usually get an appointment the same day with any doctor or if you want a particular doctor you may have to wait for a couple of days. Our prescription charges are just £5 although all children and senior citizens ones are free. We also get free eye test.
The NHS is really good as no matter how much money you have, or don't have, you still get the same healthcare with no worries of how you are going to pay for it.

You dont live in Kelty then thats for sure, it must vary hugely, sometimes it is 10 days, i am not joking! I say I will be dead or cured by then so dont bother.
That is another thing, my sil picks up prescription for everything under the sun then doesnt use them because in my op and hers obviously they did not need them, but she gets them free.

 

[PoppyAnna]

Private insurance isn't needed in the UK but it's always an option. We have private health insurance provided by my DH's employer and it has been a godsend for dealing with certain health issues that have required swift resolution but aren't prioritised by the NHS.


However, on a day-to-day basis we use the NHS and see a local GP (general practitioner) for minor healthcare issues...

This is the same as us. When DH was self employed and we didn't have private cover we also paid on an adhoc basis for some Heamatology tests to be rushed through when I was pregnant.

We have a wonderful GP surgery, they always see the children the same day and I've never waited more than 24hours for an appointment.

I think the issues arise when health care is needed on an elective basis, generally the emergency services and operations are run well, it's when waiting lists complicate things that the NHS let down it's clients. I also think outpatient services could always be improved.

My DD is having a Tonsiloctomy at a local private hospital on Monday as the waiting list for this on the NHS is months and months, she is suffering so regularly with it this winter that we want it resolved quickly, if we use private healthcare we can choose a day during school holiday thus minimising her time off school too.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

This is the same as us. When DH was self employed and we didn't have private cover we also paid on an adhoc basis for some Heamatology tests to be rushed through when I was pregnant.

We have a wonderful GP surgery, they always see the children the same day and I've never waited more than 24hours for an appointment.

I think the issues arise when health care is needed on an elective basis, generally the emergency services and operations are run well, it's when waiting lists complicate things that the NHS let down it's clients. I also think outpatient services could always be improved.

My DD is having a Tonsiloctomy at a local private hospital on Monday as the waiting list for this on the NHS is months and months, she is suffering so regularly with it this winter that we want it resolved quickly, if we use private healthcare we can choose a day during school holiday thus minimising her time off school too.

I hope your daughters ok, I never had it done til I was 25,the best thing I ever done!Every time I get the cold I thank god that I have no longer have tonsils

 

[manning]

I'm in scotland and my healthcare is good. If its an emergency I can be seen almost straight away or my doctor will come to the house. QUOTE]

That's surprising to hear. House calls here have gone the way of the horse drawn carriage. It is either go to the doctor or emergency room.

 

[wideeyes]

I don't think house calls are that common anymore, I know here the doctors don't do them as much and will say go to a drop in centre if it is an emergency. They does seem to be an increase of drop in centres in south manchester lately.

 

[emily1982]

This is confusing me. One argument here is that private insurance would not be needed. The idea is to have it all under one system.

Alot of companies now offer free private healthcare for their staff, my moms being one of them. So when i got ill we used this as we got referred quicker. I went in and was seen and my operation was within a few weeks.

Private healthcare is availble to people who want it, but if its a normal doctors appointment obviously i would just use the NHS. It just covers you for the bigger things.

 

[scottish mum]

I don't think house calls are that common anymore, I know here the doctors don't do them as much and will say go to a drop in centre if it is an emergency. They does seem to be an increase of drop in centres in south manchester lately.

I think because where I live is so remote we do get house calls as our nearest a&e is 50 miles away and I'm not sure if there is a drop in centre there or not but there is certainly none any nearer.