English only: do you find your health care system to be of value?

Question

from usa, i hear of problems. but overall, do english people find it worthwhile or just want to chuck the whole thing?. or is there a systemic change that should be implemeted that would alleviate a major problem or problems. usa people point out problems with nationalized health care in uk, so curious about the reality from the consumer;s point of view.

Answer 1

The NHS in the UK is good if you're an immigrant but not so for the natives.

Answer 2

To Nightvis....

I'm sorry that you and loved ones had bad medical care--wish I could undo it--but I just wanted to point out to you and others that the US, in spite of it's very high cost health system, still has over 100,000 hospital deaths/year due directly to mistakes made by doctors and other healthcare staff.  "Getting paid" does not always guarantee that the doctor is a good one.

In fact, our 'high-pay' system lends itself to people getting 'over-surgeried' and 'over-medicated.' Surgeries often go wrong (as happened in my case, for knee pain----I was walking on the side of my ankle, on a leg that had decreased 2" in length thanks to an overzealous orthopedic surgeon (although he had an excellent reputation). I had to have a 2nd surgery (a lengthening cage) to correct the 1st surgery, and my leg remains deformed to this day, something that I'm self-conscious about because it's so noticeable. My knee is also a lot more painful that it was prior to surgery.

  I would have been bettter off with an Engish doctor who probably would have discouraged surgery.

ANOTHER THING: Many US doctors will prescribe anti-biotics for viruses, even though anti-biotics have no effect on viruses at all (they're for bacterial infections).  

A news reporter went to 4 different doctors to see if this was true.  3 out of 4 prescribed him anti-biotics.  When the reporter confronted one of the doctors later, she said, "Well, when people come in to a doctor, then they expect something for their money. I want them to come back." [Ie., in the US, being a doctor is a business].

I wish we in the US had a system like Canada's or England's. People lose their homes to medical care in the US.

Footnote:  If anyone out there, esp. Americans, think that Medicare is a freebee for the elderly in terms of hospital costs, it isn't.  My 94 yo father has been healthy and athletic all his life (he's won dozens of medals at the Senior Olympics for basketball shooting) until the past 5 years. Dad is now in and out of hospitals and rehabilitation centers periodically. The criteria for 'whether or not Medicare will pay' is now based on 'whether or not the patient is making progress.'  

Well, a 94 yo man who is now suffering from dementia is not always going to make progress.  So sometimes my family gets bills for $10,000 for Dad's medical care and sometimes we don't.

Answer 3

I would rather keep the NHS with all its faults than adopt a totally private system. Sadly our government is doing just that, and for those people who say they aren't should have a look at what is happening. Its the best system in the world, and never let anyone tell you different. I have had treatment in both private, because i was persuaded that was the best course and NHS and know that i got better treatment in NHS than i did in private hospitals who are just in it for the money

Answer 4

My own personal experience is good.  We hear all the time of failures and low standards in our health care system but I can see my own GP on the same day if it is urgent, same day if I am willing to see another doctor in the practice for a non-urgent consultation.

I recently had non-urgent minor surgery at our local hospital.  Waiting time was minimal, the care was really good and the staff were efficient and caring.  Follow up was good also, no complaints  at all.

I know there are concerns, money is spent on the wrong things, such as high numbers of  admin staff, computer system that are not fit for purpose, agency workers who make high bonuses by providing doctors and nurses from overseas.  That money would be better spent by paying higher salaries to doctors and nurses who presently work in  the NHS and attracting, training and recruiting 'home grown' staff.  But overall I think we have a health service we can be proud of, with staff who are dedicated to  their profession.  It does need to be improved in certain areas and with the right management and the money used in a more efficient manner much could be achieved.

I would like to see it  kept free for all British people who need it.  Health comes before anything else when yours is at risk and people need to feel that the best is available when they need it most.

I would not like to see any of our NHS privatised, that is not the way forward here in UK, we need to be able to have free healthcare, that is what we understand, know and expect.

I have known of a top surgeon who works both in private and NHS who advised a patient to have his major operation done at the NHS hospital and not at the private one, (although he was to perform the surgery either way.)  The reason was the facilities and after care would be much better, and it would be free.  That surgeon put patient care before his fat fee.  I think that says it all.

Edit.

And another thing.  Oh you've really got me going on this one LOL

Another thing is.  Medication.  certain groups of people are allowed free medication.  One of the groups is over sixties.

No one over 60 pays for medication, no matter how rich or poor, it's free!!!

Thanks Haz.  Hands off our health system, right!!!!!

Answer 5

The NHS is the jewel in our crown.

Free for whoever, whatever, whenever. The epitome of a civilised and caring society. I feel absolutely passionate about it.

I know that sometimes it goes wrong but I have family all over the world and trust me NOTHING compares to what we have got.

People do need a major wake-up call in this country about how precious it is, how we should fight to preserve it. My husband as a nurse has many times bore the brunt of poor funding bad management ..whatever. But he would fight till he drew his last breath to save it and I would be alongside him.

PURPLE19-You are so right with your comment' judge a nation by how it treats it's poorest citizens'..

EDIT- I've just revisited this Q and I'm getting all emotional at the others answers especially AURORA'S and MRS GROHLS...I hope it will indeed remain forever safe in our hands x

Answer 6

The NHS is a wonderful concept being ruined by poor management and funding. I am and will continue to be grateful for the NHS but if I had the money I would go private because in my area alone there have been so many c**k-ups that shouldn't have happened and people have died as a result. Including my Gran, and also nearly myself.

Answer 7

If yu are sick or dying you get medical care, no matter, if you have insurance or not.  You could be dirt poor eating dog food, and if you cut your mouth on the can you get it stiched up for FREE!!  

The American system is a money grab for the insurance companies, and it is sickening that they treat their own citizens that way.  Whole families who worked their whole lives going broke overnight because someone needs cancer treatment, losing their homes and lifes savings, because they can't afford or can't get overinflated insurance, or buy the drugs at the haniously expensive prices.  

I'm a capitalist, but my one socialist view is free healthcare for all a countries citizens, I think it is the governments DUTY to provide this for it's people.  After all, it's the people that make a country grow, thrive and become great, not the government.

Watch the documentary Sicko.  Truely sad.

Answer 8

lol an american lecturing britain about healthcare.  hilarious

the US is the only country in the industrialised world without nationalised healthcare

if youre trying to suggest that the entire industrialised world has it wrong and USA has it right then i suggest you save up for brain surgery

judge a nation by the way it treats its poorest citizens

UK - healthcare that is free at the point of use for all people

USA - around 50 million citizens without health insurance, and so without access to healthcare

enough said

Answer 9

One of the best arguments I've heard in favour of nationalised health care is "pooling of risk".

I mean, in the USA everyone has private insurance, so it's fine, right? Well, you try getting insurance if you're over a certain age, or you have a serious illness, or some sort of genetic disorder... at some point you either become uninsurable, or insurance becomes prohibitively expensive. A healthcare system that only treats perfectly healthy "consumers" (or very rich ones) is frankly not much of a healthcare system.

Under the UK NHS, everyone pays the same amount of national insurance no matter how old or ill they become, therefore everyone shares the same risk burden.

The UK is not perfect, but I think it is a much fairer society than the USA. In America, everything seems to be disproportionately loaded in favour of the rich.

Answer 10

I love the NHS..

Answer 11

Personally I like the idea that if I get sick I will get looked after and not have to worry whether my insurance covers it.

On the down side it means we have to wait for some things that if we funded it through insurance we wouldn't have to wait for.

Overall I have to say that I think it is worth it's weight in gold when you need the help. Waiting to get my teeth straightened I can live with. Dying of something because my insurance doesn't cover the cost sort of stinks I think.

Answer 12

Of value? It's priceless.  I've experienced the French insurance-based system as well as the British (British, not English, by the way), and I have no hesitation in saying that with one exception, the waiting time for elective surgery, the British system is every bit as good as the French, and costs quite literally less than half what the French pay in tax and insurance.

If we had a government that funded it better, and rooted out overpaid, wasteful, private sector style management, it would be better still.

Answer 13

overall its a great system - it could do with more funding though

Answer 14

As Purple19 says, the US is the only first world country with a third world health system.  They deliver a far better service than that available, to all but the wealthy or heavily-covered, in the US at a fraction of the cost.

Answer 15

It's an excellent system - so good that people come from all over the world to defraud it!

I now live in the UK but lived in South Africa where you had to think twice before going to the doctor, and whether or not you could afford treatment.

Here it's free - there is an abuse of the system, but basically it is good.  It is overstretched at the moment, and there is a lot of mney wasted (I work in a pharmacy), but it is great.  I've had two babies (with free pain relief - something I never had innsouth Africa) and one operation, my daughter has had an operation, both my daughters wear glasses and see a dentist every six months.  One has had orthodontic treatment.  I've had my full value out of the NHS.

Answer 16

I am very grateful for the treatment I have received from the NHS. I know a lot of people grumble about the state of the NHS however the principle remains that everyone gets access to good health care. Some people get less services and this has become known as a postcode lottery, which means that some local authorities provide treatment such as a certain drug and others do not. I think the national health service is a very good thing.

Answer 17

like most, the nhs is handy for being able to see a doc, or have hospital care without worry,

at the most all we pay for is outpatient medication, which is a fixed price about £7.50 per item.It does have problems, but thats largely due to poor management at the board level, putting funding into the wwrong areas, and sadly there are some fatalites that there shouldnt be, and some areas dont have access to things they need due to budgets.Id truly hate to be living in america where you have to be insured to have healthcare.its realy sad that america is reported to be such a huge superpowr with a massive economy and aids other countries yet has its citizens die needlessly.

Answer 18

IT CREAKS UNDER THE STRAIN A BIT BUT ITS SAVED MY LIFE BEFORE SO IM GRATEFUL FOR  IT,

IF YOUR KNOCKED DOWN IN THE STREET HERE THEY ARNT GOING THRO YOUR POCKETS TO SEE IF YOUR INSURED LOL

Answer 19

The NHS covers the whole of the UK not just England.

Yes it is worth while, I work hard and if I lost my job I would worry about covering my rent etc, but I know if I lost my job due to medical reasons I wouldnt need to worry about forking out for medical bills as well.  It means that no matter how poor you are you can still get the medical attention you deserve.  In the UK we arent as judgmental of people on how worthy they are compared with how much money they have.

Haz - thanks!