How good is your health system?

[paulh]

Um, not sure where you got that from but it's not correct. We're taxed significantly more than residents in the USA.

in 2007 usa 40.% of gdp was taken as tax.in uk 38% was taken as tax.i stated as a hole on all taxes.in the usa 18% of gdp on health care uk 8% of gdp on health care,so if they didnt declare independance they would be paying less tax.funney that the boston tea party was about paying tax to the uk
Paulh

 

[Lizzybear]

I haven't had vast experience of the NHS (very very rarely go to the doctors, never had a serious health issue that needed attention) but it does seem to vary an awful lot going by the experiences of others I know.. My mum recently had a knee replacement and it was done in a brand new centre which was definitely as good as any private hospital (in fact I think they do private ops there aswell) but for another issue to do with her foot she basically has to wait for it to get worse before they'll do anything for her on the NHS, since it's not life-threatening, and it's already causing her a lot of pain now so my parents are seriously considering having it treated privately as it could be done almost immediately. Despite it's flaws though, i'm glad that we have it as the alternative is a little frightening.. I know my mum wouldn't be able to get medical insurance in the US without paying astronomical premiums for having pre-existing conditions.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

I just cant get over all those posts that say they get a docs app the same day no probs, I think I am going to get tough with my docs, It doesnt seem right that I have to wait a week at least.
Not that I mind others having a gd service obviously but is is just bugging that there is such a differance.

 

[Tinkerbelle32]

I live in the states and feel that we have excellent health care. There will never be a end all be all fix to any problem that will accomadate every person in our country, and that includes healthcare. I for one would rather keep things the way they are , than to have my taxes raised dramatically (sales tax, etc.) I've never had to visit any type of finance office due to an illness or emergency. I'm afraid that if Obama changes things around, we will be the ones waiting 6 weeks for surgeries, counseling, etc.

 

[mushumadness]

my local doctors surgery is rubbish, you call for an appointment and its 7 days even an emergency one!

they even turned away my 3 month old and I didnt think they were meant to say no to babys (thankfully I took him to a&e and it turned out to be an allergy)

Think our waiting lists are a joke though!, I was put on the waiting list for a scan concerning pcos, got told its nine months lol have now paid and its Monday!

cant fault the local labour ward though, they were great during labour. the after care was rubbish on the ward

I would prefer to go private at least I know its good fast care.

 

[poppyolivia]

I cannot and will not ever complain about the treatment we get here in Scotland, at the end of the day we are damn lucky to have the NHS.
Where I live if you need a doctors appointment (emergency) then you get it that day, mind you I'm never there but I had to take my son in January as he was pretty bad and they could not have done enough.
I'm also getting orthodontic treatment quoted between 2k-3k for free, I really am so happy with the NHS...
I don't take it for granted and seriously do count my lucky stars!

ps my husband works full time and so did I but stay at home now with the children.

 

[Aardvarks]

The NHS is not in an open market so there is no need to reduce costs or improve services.

If you live in an area with go ahead Practice based Commissioning groups, then you may get the services locally that you need.

However, you may be in a jobsworth, I've hit my 1000 points Quality Outcome Framework points level, therefore I dont need to improve.

The NHS is in reality a sickness service and not a health service.

We have a great local nurse lead trauma/ minor injuries clinic which runs from 7.am until 11pm each day.

However, in my area, if you have to work for a living, there is no access to a GP outside of office hours. No weekend surgeries.

For me, a visist to a GP or nurse for blood tests or other advice/tests to keep me healthy means I have to take a day off work at a cost of £150. Some of us working in the new UK ecomic climate work for agencies that do not pay out for sick leave until day 3 off sick.

Bring on the new Darzi centres I say, It will give people like me who have to work long hours the opportunity to actually see a health care professional.

I appreciate that there are people who get lots of great free support from the NHS, but sadly it is the people who work flat out that are disadvantaged.

Also, give a thought to the poor people who need expensive treatment for advanced or metaststic cancer and who live in an area where the local PCT refuses to fund treatment. There options are to pay for the cost of treatment themselves or move to a region that will fund such treatment.

Too many inequalities in the NHS for it to be seen as gold standard

 

[Goodlife]

I can't speak highly enough of the NHS. When I read on the US board of people having to visit the finance department of some ER rooms BEFORE they have treatment I am aghast! (recent thread on the community board).

In defense of the US health system, not every person has to visit the finance dept first. In my experience, in a true emergency it has always been treatment first then payment issues on the way out. We have some people who use the ER as a primary care service, which is not what they are designed for.

My GP will see me the same day or will make advance appointments. My son's doctor detected a heart murmur when he was about 2, on a routine visit, and within 2 hours we were in front of a pediatric heart specialist. Same thing when he was about 6 months old, she didn't like the way his head was growing and within a couple of hours we were in front of the specialist. (The same doctor who separated the Eqyptian twin boys).

I can't complain. I do have insurance, which I choose the level I want. I can pay more or less. My federal income taxes do not pay for it. I am in the
30-35 percent tax bracket. I really don't want to pay more to the tax man because the tax man does not allocate it the way I would. If we have to, we make changes in our budget to get the insurance coverage we want. Most families we know do this. That being said, for those families without insurance they have access to the same healthcare, sometimes they have to work out a payment plan. And if they say, "I can pay $10 a week" the healthcare provider has to say "ok". That is why you see pregnant Mexican women crossing the border to have their babies in America. They cannot be refused medical care, and if they have to pay something it is usually very little.

I think sometimes the US healthcare system is seen as unfair, unjust, etc and
I just have not seen much of it.

 

[hildasmuriel]

i think it would be difficult to introduce universal health care anywhere now. You have to get everybody who is in the middle or upper income bracket to accept that they will be paying for poorer peoples' health care. Too many people do not like this idea. For example, I often read on the US community boards that people are fed up with people who receive Medi Care Aid thing (sorry don't know exact terminology).

In the UK we are used to this concept - having had the NHS for more than 60 years. I know my taxes pay for my elderly Dad's care, or the unemployed man down the road, or ...yes, even the illegal immigrant. But I am fine with that.

As a side note - a thread on the US board last year started by one person concerned their child who had pushed over another child at a playground (or similar) and the other child sustained injuries needing hospital treatment. (It was young children - not criminal act or anything). The advice to this woman included the fact that she would probably find this family would claim this cost against her medical insurance. See to this Brit, that sounds so complex and confrontational. Here - something happens - you go get it fixed. No forms, no claims, no pre-pay, no excess, no phone calls to see if it is covered - just straight on to the medical. When you're patched up - you go home - no more forms etc....and certainly no worries that you now have a pre-existing condition which may cause difficulties being treated in the future.
If I want to apply for a new job I don't have to worry about what the medical package is like, or be concerned about leaving my present scheme.

To me, at least, it's all good.

 

[Aardvarks]

There are three of us here who work full time and pay out a fortune in Tax , national insurance etc etc.

We are probably the second highest taxed nation on earth ( I think Norway has the edge)

What we get is a basic, no choice sickness service with average standards.

For example.

It took three visits to the ER for them to identify a broken arm and a broken leg in a three year old child who had fallen down stairs!!!!

It took two visits to set a broken wrist correctly in a lady of 40 something.

The same lady of 40 soemthing had previously broken a foot in the same year.

Can we get a bone density scan out of the NHS to see if she is developing osteoporosis...........can we carrots.

And if you want physiotherapy, you go at the back of a long waiting list as you are classed as low need, needles to say we pay cash and go private.

If you go to the GP with flu like symptoms and you work in forrestry or complete outdoor activities in these areas, are you offered a test for Lyme disease , my bet would be no.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_disease

However, if you do get an appointment with a GP after taking a day off work to visit them during office hours, they will measure you, weigh you, take your blood pressure and then ask you if you have ever smoked before you even get to discuss what your concern my be.

And then you will be prescribed the cheapest generic medication available, because if you get prescribed the good stuff, your poor GP will get penalised by his local PCT.

If we could stop paying taxes and pay for a private scheme where we had some choice in the level of service that we get, then this would suit us much better.

I have a good friend who is married to a lady from Lithuania. When their child was sick and a visist to the ER room in an English hospital gave them no support, they got on a cheap flight to LIthuania and lo and behold, the child actually needed IV antibiotics as it had a serious infection. They were given copies of all the tests that were carried out together with a list of likley causes, all typed out in english.

Sadly we pay a fortune in tax so that my family and another 20 families that dont pay tax, can have access to a one size fits all sickness service.

I can see how, if you are low income that the UK system looks like nirvana, especially if you are a recent arrived person from abroad with no such state service, but if you need a service that will help you to stay healthy and keep in work and keep paying your taxes and mortage, then I would be for the american system.

Edit, none of us here gets employer private cover, if we go private, we spend our savings

 

[mark&sue]

I've often wondered what happens to pregnant ladies in USA as over here you get pre care, the birth and after care (as well as free densist care while pregnant etc) for as many children as you want and at very young age (we have hight teenage pregnancy rates in UK).

How is pregnancy and birth paid for in the states?


Susan

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

There are three of us here who work full time and pay out a fortune in Tax , national insurance etc etc.

We are probably the second highest taxed nation on earth ( I think Norway has the edge)

What we get is a basic, no choice sickness service with average standards.

For example.

It took three visits to the ER for them to identify a broken arm and a broken leg in a three year old child who had fallen down stairs!!!!

It took two visits to set a broken wrist correctly in a lady of 40 something.

The same lady of 40 soemthing had previously broken a foot in the same year.

Can we get a bone density scan out of the NHS to see if she is developing osteoporosis...........can we carrots.

And if you want physiotherapy, you go at the back of a long waiting list as you are classed as low need, needles to say we pay cash and go private.

If you go to the GP with flu like symptoms and you work in forrestry or complete outdoor activities in these areas, are you offered a test for Lyme disease , my bet would be no.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_disease

However, if you do get an appointment with a GP after taking a day off work to visit them during office hours, they will measure you, weigh you, take your blood pressure and then ask you if you have ever smoked before you even get to discuss what your concern my be.

And then you will be prescribed the cheapest generic medication available, because if you get prescribed the good stuff, your poor GP will get penalised by his local PCT.

If we could stop paying taxes and pay for a private scheme where we had some choice in the level of service that we get, then this would suit us much better.

I have a good friend who is married to a lady from Lithuania. When their child was sick and a visist to the ER room in an English hospital gave them no support, they got on a cheap flight to LIthuania and lo and behold, the child actually needed IV antibiotics as it had a serious infection. They were given copies of all the tests that were carried out together with a list of likley causes, all typed out in english.

Sadly we pay a fortune in tax so that my family and another 20 families that dont pay tax, can have access to a one size fits all sickness service.

I can see how, if you are low income that the UK system looks like nirvana, especially if you are a recent arrived person from abroad with no such state service, but if you need a service that will help you to stay healthy and keep in work and keep paying your taxes and mortage, then I would be for the american system.

Edit, none of us here gets employer private cover, if we go private, we spend our savings

The issue here is that you are taking your experience with the NHS (which I have to say sound awful, and should never happen!) and generalising that into "the NHS is all bad everywhere". Which is totally untrue.

I work for the NHS (so i am slightly biased I suppose, but I can see it's good as well as bad points).

For the issue of bone density scans - I work for the Family Planning Service and we routinely send patients for bone density scans if they have been on injectable contraceptives for 5 years - no problems with getting these scans at all!

My DH dislocated his knee 2 years ago - he was referred to Physio - got his sessions within 4 weeks.

The standard of Medical care does vary (even within private care) - if you have issues with your GP and are unhappy with your level of care - you are entitled to a second opinion, or go to another GP.

FWIW, I've seen quite a few patients transferred from private to NHS hospitals because their treatment needs were not being met, in fact the standard of treatment in the private hosp was appalling and worsened the situation!

The NHS is not perfect, but neither is private healthcare. In the US if you have a pre-existing condition you may find your premiums become exorbitant, I've heard shocking stories on the DIS, as well as in the media, about families becoming practically bankrupt because their premiums have gone through the roof after a serious illness.

IMO the US system is great - until you actually become seriously ill, and if you then develop a long term condition after that...

It's easy to criticise the NHS, but if we didn't have it, we'd really be unhappy! It's not perfect and the standard of care nationwide should be standardised, it's top heavy with managers, we need more staff on the ground....I could go on and on. But I hope we never go the way of the US system.

Di x

 

[daipp]

The NHS is fantastic. There's always well publicised "bad-stories" but they are few in comnparison to the thousands who are delat with every single day throughout our country.

The last thing you want to worry about at a time of illness or emergency is cost and how to pay for treatment.

We nearly lost our NHS in the 1980s due to the appalling government we had but I think it will now be safe for some time.

This is Anerin Bevan who was voted the greatest Welsh person of all time in the biggest-ever poll of our national heroes. The Labour politician is regarded as the “father” of the National Health Service. He would be very proud of our NHS.

David

 

[wishspirit]

my local doctors surgery is rubbish, you call for an appointment and its 7 days even an emergency one!

they even turned away my 3 month old and I didnt think they were meant to say no to babys (thankfully I took him to a&e and it turned out to be an allergy)

Think our waiting lists are a joke though!, I was put on the waiting list for a scan concerning pcos, got told its nine months lol have now paid and its Monday!

cant fault the local labour ward though, they were great during labour. the after care was rubbish on the ward

I would prefer to go private at least I know its good fast care.

If ypou are having problems with your GP, esspecially if they are turning sick kids aweay, complain to you PALS (Patient Advisory and Liason Service (i think) or directly to your NHS Trust. They can't do anything without being told the issue. If you get no reply, take it to the local news!

 

[Aardvarks]

If ypou are having problems with your GP, esspecially if they are turning sick kids aweay, complain to you PALS (Patient Advisory and Liason Service (i think) or directly to your NHS Trust. They can't do anything without being told the issue. If you get no reply, take it to the local news!

Yea, I rang my pals about finding an NHS dentist.

I emailed them about an NHS Dentist

I wrote to them about an NHS dentist

Eventually 3 years later, I found my own NHS dentist. It took me over 60 phone calls. I even have to take a day off work at no pay to go to see my NHS dentist as he is 100 miles from where I work.

previous posts

Is it acceptable for a working man to wait 4 weeks for physiotherapy for his dislocated knee when he goes to work each day in pain.

Just because we are used to accepting such a low standard, doenst mean that this is acceptable or right.

If you live in a rural area, good luck to finding another GP who covers your catchment.

The NHS is top heavy with managers who have no medical training who make clinical decsions for whole towns of people. There is wholesale waste of resourses, lok at the billions of pounds paid into the new computer system that is worse than the old system. There are PCTs with hundreds of staff and lots of loveley clean MRSA free buildings that actually do nothing other than make decisions and more around bits of paper

For every person who posts saying that have nothing but admiration for the NHS, there is one that can post the contrary.

The system is not perfect, the standards vary across regions, the waste varies across regions. The NHS is on its a**

edit, I wont post anymore on this topic as I have said enough already

 

[hildasmuriel]

The NHS is top heavy with managers who have no medical training who make clinical decsions for whole towns of people.

I can't imagine the CEOs and other mangement of US medical insurance companies are any different. I'm sure they have their shiny offices too - and they need to keep their shareholders happy.

For every person who posts saying that have nothing but admiration for the NHS, there is one that can post the contrary.

Well of course I can't disprove it, but I seriously, seriously doubt this statement. I don't know anyone who would write off the NHS. I know a few people who have had a less than satisfactory experience but who would still choose NHS everytime over the alternative. That's just a few of my friends and family. By far the majority are very happy with it.

I'm sorry for the people who haven't had the treatment they are due - but that is NOT the norm or the standard.

I am really sorry for people who object to paying so that non-tax payers receive treatment. But that's a whole other story.