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Healthcare in the UK vs United States?
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What do you feel the quality of care is that you received from the government health coverage?
It's a 100% better than the healthcare many millions of Americans have absolutely no access to..................
....I'm smiling because I have no idea what's going on ...:)0 -
The NHS is incredibly wasteful, expensive and badly run however you are always guaranteed treatment... eventually. Last time I went to a hospital my partner had had a fit and just needed a quick check over from a nurse, however some dirty chav was causing trouble in the room opposite so we had to wait over an hour for a 5 minute checkup while 3 or 4 nurses spent all their time with this drunk scumbag who should have been put out on the street.
Personally I think the implementation of the NHS leaves a lot to be desired but don't know much about the American system (I suspect most people in the UK only hear negative propaganda about it, and believe it) to suggest if it is any better.0 -
Americans haven't got a clue about the rest of the world and must be one of the only civilised countries in the world where healthcare is down to how much money you have.
It is hard to understand why anyone in the USA would be against a public health service, but just listen to the right wing politicians and media programmes such as Murdoch's Fox News Channel where anybody who disagrees with their bigotted right wing views is a left wing loon.
The NHS may not be perfect, but it is light years ahead of America's profit driven system. I am so glad I do not live in a country where the profits of insurance corporations decide on your fate.
To put this into context, could you advise what experience you have of the US healthcare system?0 -
Americans haven't got a clue about the rest of the world and must be one of the only civilised countries in the world where healthcare is down to how much money you have.
It is hard to understand why anyone in the USA would be against a public health service, but just listen to the right wing politicians and media programmes such as Murdoch's Fox News Channel where anybody who disagrees with their bigotted right wing views is a left wing loon.
The NHS may not be perfect, but it is light years ahead of America's profit driven system. I am so glad I do not live in a country where the profits of insurance corporations decide on your fate.ThrowingStonesAtYou wrote: »To put this into context, could you advise what experience you have of the US healthcare system?
I can, whilst on holiday over there a couple of years ago,we needed to visit a medical centre. we were asked to fill in a questionaire first, and bring it back to the reception desk along with a credit card. No credit card - No treatment0 -
ThrowingStonesAtYou wrote: »The NHS is incredibly wasteful, expensive and badly run however you are always guaranteed treatment... eventually. Last time I went to a hospital my partner had had a fit and just needed a quick check over from a nurse, however some dirty chav was causing trouble in the room opposite so we had to wait over an hour for a 5 minute checkup while 3 or 4 nurses spent all their time with this drunk scumbag who should have been put out on the street.
That is the point of the NHS, good and bad. People will not be refused treatment if they need it, or be thrown out on the street. I am sorry you had to wait, but would you rather they left him out on the street or in the waiting room abusing people, or threw him out to - who knows? Maybe he was bleeding, suicidal, or maybe he had significant medical issues that needed addressing. At the very least, people can die from alcohol poisoning. Think of the poor nurses who had to put up with his behaviour and treat him. Thank goodness the NHS has a fair few employees who can put up with that sort of treatment regularly, though it would be far better if they didn't have to.
That being said, it is very wasteful and badly run at times, though I wouldn't agree with expensive, as other posters have pointed out it is cheaper per capita than the US anyway.0 -
I think in principle the NHS is a good thing, and provides good service especially for critical conditions.
As I understand the US system, there is no equivalent to a GP, which I think is a bad thing. I do have private health insurance as well, but have only used it for a couple of things.
The NHS has the principle of allocating on need, not on whether you have insurance or not. That has to be an uncontroversial policy, even if more difficult to apply in practice.
However, I do think there is merit in the New Zealand system where GP's make a charge per visit - it is graded according to income level of the patient, and in the case of children under six is usually free. I feel with the current NHS system there are some people who regularly attend the dr for no real reason. My local doctors does seem something of a social club for some people. A very small charge would be no bad thing.
I think the US should adopt a policy more radical than that currently proposed by President Obama, and have a radical means tested policy, with very cheap primary health care for the middle class and below, and free acute care for those people as well.
We have to live with the hand we are dealt in terms of health. By having a public system, we are saying to our neighbours we will share their burdens, and they ours regardless of income level.0 -
I've rarely used it. Wasn't born in a hospital, haven't broken anything yet, not had any real illnesses (just usual childhood stuff), I visit the GP about once every 5 years, not had any tests or operations.
I hope it's still there when I need it as I've already paid in over 30 years' worth.0 -
I can, whilst on holiday over there a couple of years ago,we needed to visit a medical centre. we were asked to fill in a questionaire first, and bring it back to the reception desk along with a credit card. No credit card - No treatment
Fair enough, but as a foreign national things are different. I think it's hard for anybody who hasn't lived on both sides of the atlantic to give a balanced opinion of the relative pros and cons of each system.0
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