Brits: Is your socialized medical care *that* bad?

Question

Of all the arguements we hear against socialized medicine, the word "Britain" alone conjures more hesitation and fear than all the balance sheets and reactionary elitism in the world. Images of people dying in the waiting rooms of your NHS adminstered hospitals flash through our minds as we ignore whatever the heck is happeing in Canada or the rest of the developed world. Is it even really that bad over there or is this more snow that has been blown in our direction? I'd really like to live in a world where I can change jobs without losing my freaking insurance or having to pay outlandish COBRA premiums.

Don't lecture me on the shortcomings of the American system, I'm well aware of that. I'm just curious if those of you in the UK feel that your system is lacking compared with other countries, specifically the US.

Answer 1

I am alive today  because I was living in England when I had a pulmonary embolism. I would have been dead had it happened in the US. Socialized medicine may have its shortcomings, but people can get preventive care, emergency care, affordable prescriptions and more with ease unlike in the US where people have to choose between food and prescriptions, have ready cash or a credit card to get emergency care, and where preventive care is made unaffordable by copays.

Answer 2

The NHS could be a lot better. I'm just in general a sick person, I've got Hypermobility Syndrome (HMS) among other things. Not only did it take the NHS the best part of my life and the wrong treatment to figure out what it was, but after several of my family members had the same symptoms as me and were diagnosed with HMS. Every doctor I've had until now have said my case was different.

I don't expect the NHS to be as great as private health care. But seriously, waiting so long to see a doctor that you die? Every time I've gone to the hospital, I've gotten there on time but I see people who's appointments were after mine go in before me.

Once just about everybody in the waiting area had left and I was still sitting there from my appointment which was 3 and 1/2 hours ago. Turns out they deleted me from their system, because they thought  hadn't turned up even though I'd checked in 20 minutes before my appointment.

The NHS needs a reform of sorts.  

Answer 3

I am a Canadian with dual citizenship. I've lived in the UK for 17 years. 5 years ago I went from being a healthy person to a wreck with what docs can only describe as a 'mystery virus.' I cannot at all complain about ANY of the care I had here at any time. I sometimes would see my dr twice a week,no problem. When my eyesight suddenly went I was in for a brain scan and lumbar puncture within 24 hrs and saw a specialist at the hospital for weeks after. I had a follow up appointment which did take about 6 months to get  but it wasn't urgent. Since then I have had a follow up scans, an endoscopy,and nerve tests--maybe a few months wait for these but no more. Not one penny did I pay other than what was taken in my taxes.

  The worst was coming in to casualty (emergency in the  US) which did require a wait, but the nurses assessed you and if you got worse you would see someone more quickly.

  I do think it probably all depends on where you live though,some areas have better services than others.