Brits still struggling with health care

[Winter_123]

BBC NEWS | Health | 'I skip meals to afford my medication'

Seems as though they ought to get a little more than this for the considerable taxes that they pay.

Winter

 

[aspapi]

At least those considerable taxes pay for a National Health Service for the Brits. In any case, the lady in question has cancer and does not have a Prescription Plan.

 

[Winter_123]

At least those considerable taxes pay for a National Health Service for the Brits. In any case, the lady in question has cancer and does not have a Prescription Plan.

She doesnt have a prescription plan because she is covered by the National Health Service and this is what she gets, a chance to choose between eating and her meds.

Winter

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

isn't free health insurance fantastic

 

[Reuben]

isn't free health insurance fantastic

Actually it's not a bad system.

I've moved back to California after living in the UK for the past 20 years. Both my children were born, zero cost. Their mother nearly died six weeks after giving birth, best treatment possible, zero cost. I ended up in the kidney unit of the hospital 9 years ago for 2 weeks, best treatment no worries.

Medication costs a flat rate of $18.00 US conversion per perscription. This rate does not change.

The NHS is a bit outdated, there's not been any real changes to the system, other than admin. since Bevin put it together in the 1950's.

The problem is that people are living a lot longer nowadays and the sysytem isn't really geared up for that knock on effect.

Some medical treatments are not covered by the indivdual, local health authorities and there is an associated increase of cost involved. Over 12 years ago BUPA, a priviate medical insurance company really began to increase it's membership numbers as more and more people wanted options to the NHS.

I had BUPA coverage when my kidneys went on strike. I was able to bypass a delay in treatment with the NHS and get what was needed privately.

That said, there isn't really a waiting time for serious illnesses.

I find it rather sad that many would slam the notion of universal health provision in this country in favor of keeping things as they are.

I wish those people could have rode along with me 20 + years ago when I was an EMT in Los Angeles, so that they could get an excellent perspective of how things are really wonderful.

A 16 year old gives birth to her child in the back of an LAPD squad car. After we took the baby and mom to the ER, they were seperated, She to L. A. County hospital, and the baby to Ceder Sini hospital. There's a small distance of over 20 miles between the two. The reason for the seperation?

Insurance. She wasn't covered, but the baby, due to the circumstances of birth, was. By the way, the baby was healthy, no medical problems.

I never found out how long those two were seperated, but imagaine what it must have been like.

The NHS in the UK has it's faults, but the point of service, the quality of health care, both short term and long term, would give Kaiser, et al. a good run for their money.